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Si Klegg Novel Chapters
List of most recent chapters published for the Si Klegg novel. A total of 1823 chapters have been translated and the release date of the last chapter is Apr 02, 2024
Latest Release: Chapter 1 : Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book One PREFACE."Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty,
Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book One PREFACE."Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born more than 25 years ago in the brain of John McElroy, editor of The National Tribune, who invented the names and characters, outlined the general
- 1 Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book One PREFACE."Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born more than 25 years ago in the brain of John McElroy, editor of The National Tribune, who invented the names and characters, outlined the general
- 2 WHEN Josiah (called "Si" for short) Klegg, of the 200th Ind., drew his canteen from the Quartermaster at Louisville, he did not have a very high idea of its present or prospective importance. In the 22 hot Summers that he had lived through he had never
- 3 But Si was fully bent on being a loyal, obedient soldier, determined to make the best of everything without any more "kicking" than was the inalienable right of every man who wore a uniform.For the first time in his life Si went to bed hungry that night
- 4 CHAPTER VI. DETAILED AS COOK--SI FINDS RICE ANOTHER INNOCENT WITH A GREAT DEAL OF CUSSEDNESS IN IT.IT WOULD have been very strange, indeed, if Si Klegg had not grumbled loudly and frequently about the food that was dished up to him by the company cooks. I
- 5 "No, sir! I gave the command according to Hardee, 'Load--in--nine--times!' and ef yer hadn't bin in such a hurry you'd 'a'found out what that means. Yer'll git along a good deal faster ef you'll go slower. Yer ought ter be made ter carry a rail,
- 6 CHAPTER IX. SI GETS A LETTER AND WRITES ONE TO PRETTY ANNABEL, UNDER DIFFICULTIES."COMPANY Q, tumble up here and git yer mail!" shouted the Orderly one afternoon, soon after the 200th Ind. turned into a tobacco patch to bivouac for the night. It had bee
- 7 "Now this is something like!" said Si, as he squatted on the ground along with Shorty and half a dozen messmates. They surrounded a camp-kettle full of steaming ears and half a bushel or so of apples heaped on a poncho."Wish we had some o' mother's b
- 8 Si whistled softly to himself as he watched the Wisconsin boys. They were hitching and twisting their shoulders about, evidently enjoying the friction of the clothing upon their skins. There was a general employment of fingers, and often one would be seen
- 9 "Let's see! Blouse--blouse--take off the 'b' 'n' she spells l-o-u-s-e, louse! Great Scott, Shorty, is that a louse?""That's jest the size of it. Si. Ye'll have millions of 'em 'fore the war's over 'f they don't hurry up the cakes."Si looke
- 10 [Ill.u.s.tration: SUPPER UNDER DIFFICULTIES 115 ]The ground was flooded, and their blankets and garments were fast absorbing the water that flowed around in such an exasperating way.Sleep under such conditions was out of the question. Si and Shorty put on
- 11 [Ill.u.s.tration: "DON'T STAB ME." 123 ]"Look-a-here, pard," said Si, "don't stab me with that thing! I jest can't git along any furder till I blow a little. You please lemme be, an' I'll do as much for you. P'rhaps some time you'll get played
- 12 "Shorty," said Si as they sat by the fire,--"I'm goin' to drop dead in my tracks before I'll fall out again.""Why, what's the matter?""Oh, nothin'; only you jest try it," said Si.Had it not been for the "fun" the soldiers had in the army to
- 13 out o' them ere dod-gasted mules!"Seizing the whip at the small end of the stock he began laying on right and left with the b.u.t.t, taking care to keep out of range of the heels.During these persuasive efforts he was shouting at the top of his voice wo
- 14 A bullet from one of the other fellows made the splinters fly from a rail a foot or two from Si's head; but he was getting excited now, and he didn't mind it any more than if it had been a paper wad from a pea-shooter.It makes a great difference with a
- 15 Si hesitated; it was human nature. The offer was a tempting one, but he remembered his responsibility to his country, and his stomach appealed in vain. Duty came before stewed chicken or roasted sparerib."Can't do it!" said Si. "You've got hold of th
- 16 Si didn't propose to take any chances, and so he marched the old contraband back and delivered him to the officer, who kept him till morning and then suffered him to go on his way.Once more that night Si was called, in addition to his tramps with the "r
- 17 "Gimme your canteen, too, Shorty, and I'll fill it!" he said."Here, Si, you're a bully boy, take mine!" "Mine, too!" "And mine!" said one after another of his comrades. Si good naturedly complied and they loaded him down with about 20 canteens.[
- 18 "Say, Shorty," said Si, "'taint very wicked to smoke, is it?""Guess not!" was the reply."That's the way it 'pears to me, 'n' I've been kinder thinkin' lately that I'd learn how. The soljers all seem to enjoy their smokin' so much.You know.
- 19 "Good morning, stranger," said the officer, "have you any corn on your place?""Haint got a dog-goned ear left!" was the surly answer. "Some o'you-unses men wuz out here yisterdy 'n' tuk every bit I hed."This may or may not have been true. Inqui
- 20 Si easily divined his thoughts, for something of the same nature had already caused his own heart to palpitate in a reproving way."Of--c-c-course--I d-d-don't--mean th-th-that. Shorty," he stammered "but she's a nice girl, anyhow, 'n' she's gittin
- 21 "Whydn't the Ord'ly say last night there 'd be guard-mountin' at 9 o'clock this mornin'? I s'posed that fer a man to be mounted meant straddlin' a boss or s'mother kind of an animal.""Ain't ye never goin' to larn nuthin'," said Shorty, wit
- 22 THE GREAT MILITARY TRUTH THAT IN THE ARMY THE MOST LIKELY THING TO HAPPEN IS SOMETHING ENTIRELY UNLIKELY.COL. TERRENCE P. McTARNAGHAN, as his name would indicate, had first opened his eyes where the blue heavens bend over the evergreen sod of Ireland. Nat
- 23 Stop that band's ijiotic blatting. Get into line there, quick as love will let you, you unblessed Indiana spalpeans. Without doubling; right face! Forward, M-a-r-c-h!"Col. McTarnaghan, still wearing his parade grandeur, was soon at the head of the colum
- 24 After all, Si was only a kid of a boy, like thousands of his comrades.'True, he was past his majority a few months, but his environment from youth to his enlistment had so sheltered him that he was a boy at heart."The like precurse of fierce events and
- 25 On many a well-worn field When to our starry emblem, boys, The trait'rous foe should yield.But now, alas, I am denied My dearest earthly prayer, You'll follow and you'll meet the foe, But I shall not be there."Wilse Hornback knew by the hush of the ca
- 26 Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book Two PREFACE "Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.These sketches are the original ones published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, re
- 27 "It's strictly against orders.""You mean it was against orders several hours ago. I can't see nothin'on that hill over there. I've been watchin' for half an hour. There's nothin' movin'. Mebbe the orders has been changed, an' you haint heard a
- 28 "Forward, Co. Q!" yelled Si at the top of his lungs. "Surrender, you consarned rebels, or we'll blow your heads off," he added, as he and Shorty jumped forward into the opening and leveled their guns on the squad."What'n thunder was you fellers mak
- 29 "Blast mules, anyhow," said the driver, coming up with his whip in his hand. "I didn't hev nothin' for them to eat but a cottonwood pole that I cut down in the bottom. But they must have smelt fodder over there somewhere, and they broke for it like t
- 30 fightin,' that's the sort o' fightin' they like. I'm different. I don't.When I fight it's for something that I've got an interest in."While the discussion was going on Si had been studying the appearance of the prisoners. In spite of their being
- 31 They joined the squad which was driving back the rebels who had started out to break the fence.Presently the cavalry wheeled about and disappeared in the woods. The rear was scarcely out of sight, and the 200th Ind. was just beginning to feel a sense of r
- 32 "Get out of the way, and let him run himself to death. That's all he's fit for.""You've no business in men's clothes. Put on petticoats.""Go it, rabbit; go it, cotton-tail you've heard a dog bark.""Chickee chickee skip for the barn. Hawk's in
- 33 "If somebody else didn't get them, we did," said Shorty, as they turned and rushed back into the cedars.The rebels were only checked momentarily. They soon came swarming on, and as Co. Q crashed through the cedars the rebels were yelling close be hind.
- 34 "Better stay here, and not go wanderin' off into that mob," remonstrated Shorty. "You'll git lost entirely, and never find your way back."{85} "I'll not get lost," responded Si. "I've got the lay o' the ground in my mind. If I did," he contin
- 35 They were both awake by this time, and looked around in amazement."We went to sleep nice and comfortable, under a wagon last night," said Shorty, slowly recalling the circ.u.mstances. "The two Lieutenants and the Orderly had the upper berth, and we sle
- 36 "It's certainly a Commissary wagon," said Shorty, after studying it a little.{102} "Yes, I'm sure that it's one o' them wagons we was guardin', and I recollect it was loaded with hard tack."The mere mention of the much-abused crackers made both t
- 37 "Good gracious, it is noon," answered Si, looking up at the sun. "I believe I do want some dinner."They had scarcely finished dinner-eating when the 200th Ind. was ordered to move over toward Stone River. It halted on a little rise of ground on the ba
- 38 [Ill.u.s.tration: SHORTY THINKS SI DOES NOT LOOK LIKE A GHOST. 118]"I'm sure you're not a ghost, from the way you eat," said Shorty, who was beginning to recover his propensity for sarcasm. "If ghosts et like you there'd have to be a steam bakery an
- 39 THE NEXT day Sunday after the battle dawned as clear, bright and sparkling as only a Winter's day can dawn in Tennessee, after a fortnight of doleful deluges. Tennessee Winter weather is like the famous little girl with the curl right down in the middle
- 40 They fell to with a will, even the Captain a.s.sisting, and, after a good deal of trouble and more cut hands, succeeded in getting the piece of tin on top of the pen and bent down across the ridge-pole. Si and Shorty proceeded to secure it in place by put
- 41 [Ill.u.s.tration: SHORTY CONFISCATES THE CABOOSE DOOR. 143]"What'd they want with your old car door? Get away from here, before I lose my temper and do you damage."The Conductor walked away muttering: "Blasted thieving whelps o' soldiers, what'll th
- 42 "Yes, we had," replied Shorty; "but we was too well raised to track it into anybody's parlor.""Parlor," echoed Sol, with a horse-laugh. "Lord, how fine we are, just becaze one o' us happens to be a measly little Corporal. In some armies the Wagon
- 43 "Why, father," remonstrated Mrs. Klegg, "how kin you ever git along in them camps, and live the way them soljers do?""You forgit," said her husband, with a touch of dignity, "that I druv team for a whole week in the Black Hawk war. I wanted to enli
- 44 [Ill.u.s.tration: THE FREE FIGHT. 169]The combatants came together with the hearty zeal of men who had been looking for a fight for a straight month. The soldier beside Mr. Klegg s.n.a.t.c.hed up the umbrella and began laying about him. The crash was fear
- 45 "Can't say that I did," responded Mr. Klegg rather indifferently. "There was lots of gas-lamps burning, and I was rather taken with them, so that I didn't notice the moon or stars. Besides, as I told you before, I turned in purty airly, for I was tir
- 46 "I say it is a king," said Billings. "I got him into the row half an hour ago, and crowned him. You knocked the crown off when you moved.""I know better," said Shorty. "I've been watching that piece right along, and he's never been nearer the kin
- 47 "Glad to see you, Mr. Klegg," said Shorty, reddening and grasping the father's outstretched hand; "but you orter 've broke that boy o' your'n o' lyin' when he was young.""He never did lie," said the Deacon cheerfully, "and I don't believe he
- 48 "I remember that I did, Pap.""Well, Si, I'll give you that colt, and take good care o' him till you come home, for that 'ere checker board."When they arrived at their house Si and Shorty arranged the things so as to give the Deacon a most comfortab
- 49 "Here, Uncle, give me your kittle. I'll git it filled for you."Without a thought the Deacon surrendered the kettle to him, and he took his place in line. The Deacon watched him edging up toward the spring for a minute or two, and then his attention was
- 50 "Thank heaven you did," said the Deacon devoutly. "Think o' your goin'into battle with them infernal things on you. They'd draw death to you jest like iron draws lightnin'.""That's what I was afeared of," Si confessed."Now, don't you ever tou
- 51 "I wouldn't tech a dirty dollar of yours for the world," said the Deacon indignantly; but this was lost on the storekeeper, who was watching the Lieutenant."Don't say a word," he whispered; "he's got his eye on us. There it is in your overcoat poc
- 52 "Whisky," yelled Si and Shorty, with another burst of laughter."That's jest what it wuz. Then one o' the Lieutenant's men jerked the chunk o' cheese away and{283} broke it open. And what do you suppose was in that?""Whisky, of course," yelled th
- 53 The Deacon stowed himself in the wagons with{239} the rest the next morning, and rode out with them through the bright suns.h.i.+ne, that gave promise of the soon oncoming of Spring. For miles they jolted over the execrable roads and through the s.h.i.+ft
- 54 Si turned the wagon off, and had gone but a few hundred yards, when he and Shorty saw a house at a little distance, which seemed to promise to furnish something eatable. He and Shorty jumped off and cut across the fields toward it, telling the Deacon they
- 55 "Go where you please," repeated the Deacon with impatience. "The whole world's open to you. Go to the next County; go to Kaintucky, Injianny, Ohio, Illinoy, Kamskatky, New Guiney, Jericho, or Polkinhorn's tanyard if you like.""Afo' G.o.d, I don't
- 56 "All right," a.s.sented the Deacon, who was falling into camp ways with remarkable facility. "But you've got to look out for that teamster. He's meaner'n dog-fennel. He'll tell everything.""Good point," said Si. "We must 'tend to him. See here
- 57 "Well, you've got to do it now every mornin', and be spry about it, too. Come, don't move around as if sawed out o' ba.s.swood. This ain't n.i.g.g.e.r-quarters. Git some springs in your feet."And he emphasized his injunctions with a vigorous push.T
- 58 Si Klegg.by John McElroy.PREFACE "Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of The National Tribune.These sketches are the original ones published in The National Tribune, revised and
- 59 "'Here, what is the matter? What's all this fuss in camp?' he said."'We've ketched one of them Dutch Jews from St. Louis spying our camp, Major,' said Bob Smiles, letting loose of my collar to salute the Major's silver stars. 'And we are going t
- 60 "Countersign's correct," announced Shorty, bringing his gun to a present. "Good evening. Lieutenant. We have got a man here who claims to belong to the Secret Service.""Yes," answered the officer. "We've been expecting him all afternoon, but thou
- 61 [Ill.u.s.tration: KLEGG STARTS HOME. 45]The boys stood and watched the train with sorrowful eyes until it had pa.s.sed out of sight in the woods beyond Overall's Creek, and then turned to go to their camp with a great load of homesickness weighing down t
- 62 He had been thinking of trying a little shy at the four-spot himself, as he had noticed that it had never won, and two or three times he had looked for it before the dice were put in the box, and had seen the "banker" turn it down on the board before pi
- 63 "He come in, kicked me, unt made me get up, unt then took me out unt set me down at a table, where he had paper, pen unt ink, unt ordered me to take down the names of the prisoners as he brought them up. He'd look over my shoulder as I wrote, as if he w
- 64 "Why, we've got to wear 'em, haven't we, if we go out with you?" asked Si."You wear them when you go out with me--you disguise yourselves," said Rosenbaum, with fine scorn. "You'd play the devil in disguise. You can't disguise your tongues. That
- 65 "I think our guns'll be in the way in that room," said Shorty, sotting his down. His face bore a look of stern determination. "They're too long. I'm itching to have it out with that feller hand-to-hand.{79} We'll rush in. You pretend to be goin' f
- 66 "I think I'd go forward and see him," said Billings, sort ov impatient-like. "You'll have no trouble finding him. He's in the third car from here, up at the front end, right-hand side, next to the watercooler. He inquired most partickerlerly for you
- 67 "Then you'll die right now," says the Sergeant, sendin him down as far as his long arm would reach & holding him there until I wuz scared for fear he wuz really goin 2 drown the man. When he brung him up the man whimpered: "Yes, only pull me out--save
- 68 He was pointing out to Shorty, as they munched, the likenesses and unlikenesses of this spring-house to that on the Wabash, when they were startled by the stern command: "Surrender, there, you infernal Yankees!"[Ill.u.s.tration: UNDESIRABLE ACQUAINTANCE
- 69 "You slouch, you ought to go to the guard-house for that."Si retorted hotly: "Slouch yourself! Look where you throwed them coffee-grounds this morning," and he pointed to the tell-tale evidence beside the house.[Ill.u.s.tration: SHORTY AND SI ARE AT O
- 70 At the bottom of the hill a creek crossing the road made a deep, wide quagmire. The rebels were in too much hurry to pick out whatever road there might have been through it. Their leaders plunged in, their horses sank nearly to the knees, and the whole pa
- 71 Shorty was sitting in front of the house bathing his aching feet.The man stopped before him, and looked compa.s.sionately at his swollen pedals."Your feet are in a very bad way, my man," he said sadly."Yes, durn 'em," said Shorty impatiently. "I don
- 72 "Le'me see your best paper and envelopes," he said to the pirate who had license to fleece the volunteers."Awfully common trash," said Shorty, looking over the a.s.sortment disdainfully, for he wanted something superlatively fine for his letter."Why
- 73 "Blamed if that feller didn't make a good line{137} shot," said Si, glancing up just above his head to where a twig had been clipped off the persimmon tree behind which he was standing. "He put up his sights a little too fur, or he'd 'a' got me."S
- 74 Both guns flashed at the same instant. Si saw Shorty's hat fly off, and him stagger and fall, while the rebel dropped his gun, and clapped his hand to his side. Si ran toward Shorty, who instantly sprang up again, rubbing his head, from which came a fain
- 75 "Yes; yes," shouted Shorty. "You fellers keep to your side o' the river, and we will to ours."The agreement was carried into instantaneous effect, and soon both sides of the stream were filled with laughing, romping, splas.h.i.+ng men.There was somet
- 76 Toward morning Shorty grew quite weak, and correspondingly depressed."Si," said he, "I may not git over this. This may be the breakin' out o'the cholera that the folks around here say comes every seven years and kills off the strangers. Si, I'll tel
- 77 "I only come off guard day before yesterday," shouted Bailey."I'm sick, and can't walk a step," complained Belcher, who had walked 15 miles the day before, hunting "pies-an'-milk.""That blamed Orderly's got a spite at me; he'd keep me on guard
- 78 "Well," said Shorty, as he got through, "you're a regler grogshop on wheels. All you need is a lot{172} o' loafers talkin' politics, a few picturs o' racin' hosses and some customers buried in the village graveyard to be a first-cla.s.s bar-room.
- 79 "No, I wasn't," insisted Shorty, still watchful. "You'd no right to order me do something that you was afraid to do yourself. That's no kind o' officering."{179} CHAPTER XIII. THE JEW SPY WRITES SHORTY HAS AN ADVENTURE WITH A LONE, LORN WIDDER LAD
- 80 "Well, I will," said Shorty. "You fix her up with the coffee, and leave the rest to me. I always had a fancy for queer animals, and run off from home once to travel with a menagerie. I'd like to take her up{185} North and start a side-show with her.
- 81 Capt. McGillicuddy listened very gravely to their story."Evidently that old hen has a nest of bad, dangerous men, which has to be broken up," he said. "We can get the whole raft if we go about it in the right way, but we've got to be mighty smart in d
- 82 The newcomer looked them over sharply and inquired: "Who are these men, Mrs. Bolster?""They'uns 's all right. They'uns 's had enough o' Abolition doin's, and hev come over whar they'uns allers rayly belonged. This one is a partickler friend o'
- 83 "That's jest a lovetap," she remarked, "'t let yo' know t' le' me alone hereafter. Now, le's straighten things around here fer a pleasant time."She initiated her proposed era of good feeling by a sounding kick in the ribs of the most obstreperou
- 84 Instead, a rather, good-looking young rebel officer wearing a Major's silver stars dismounted from his horse and, followed by two men, entered the cabin."h.e.l.lo, Simmons," said the Major in a tone of strong rebuke as soon as he entered. "What in the
- 85 The dogs raised a clamor, which directed all eyes to the road. Sol Simmons and the rest could be seen coming on a dead run."What does that mean?" said the Major anxiously.{221} At the same instant there was a series of crashes behind the house; the fire
- 86 "Stand up," said Shorty, approaching Hackberry with the bright crimson rod in his hand. "I'm goin' to measure you for a gra.s.s-green suit that'll last you till Gabriel blows his horn."Hackberry gave a howl of terror. The 'Squire and Mrs. Bolster
- 87 They built a fine fire and cooked a bountiful meal, of which all, including the 'Squire and children, partook heartily. A liberal portion, with big cups of strong coffee, were sent into the bridal couple. As bed-time drew near, they sent the 'Squire and
- 88 "Well, good-night. I must hurry along, an' git back afore the second relief goes off. All my friends air on it. See yo' ter-morrer, if I kin.""You jest bet you'll see me to-morrow," said Shorty grimly, as he heard Groundhog's mule clatter away. "
- 89 Shorty crept back to the point they had before occupied. The rebels saw him coming over a httle knoll, and fired at him. He ran for the fence.He looked over at the road, and thought he saw the blouse lying in the ditch on the opposite side. He sprang over
- 90 "No; it isn't that," said Rosenbaum. "I've known a good many rebel Generals, unt some of them ain't really bad fellers, outside of their rebelness. But old Bragg is a born devil. He has no more heart than a rattlesnake. He actually loves cruelty. He
- 91 "Thats all right," said Si, to whom an idea occurred. "Hustle around, boys, but dont make no noise. Well march off so quietly that they wont know that were gone, and itll be lots o fun thinking what theyll do when they wake up and begin clapper-clawin
- 92 Si Klegg.by John McElroy.Book Four PREFACE "Si Klegg, of the 200th Ind., and Shorty, his Partner," were born years ago in the brain of John McElroy, Editor of THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE.These sketches are the original ones published in THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE, r
- 93 "Stop whippin' them mules. You only make them wuss," shouted one man authoritatively. "Tie stones to their tails.""Tie a string around their ears," shouted another. "That'll be sure to start 'em.""Bite their ears, you fools. Don't you know no
- 94 "Somethin' like that," answered Si."I think there are about three o' these cricks to every mile. Do you really suppose we'll be able to git there before our three years is up?""All depends on the mules," answered Si cheerily. "If this sudden spe
- 95 After a lot of toilsome plodding through the rain and mud which the pa.s.sing wagons had made fathomless, they came to the top of a high hill, from which they could look down on a turbid sweep of yellow water, about half a mile away, which filled nearly t
- 96 "I guessed that was what his West Point lingo meant, if he has brains enough to mean anything. Why didn't he say in plain United States: 'Git down to the edge o' that there crick, watch for a chance to jump the rebels, and keep your eye peeled that th
- 97 The Lieutenant had to comply. They all got safely on, and Shorty pushed off, saying: "Here, sit straight, both of you. Here goes mebbe for New Orleans, mebbe for Libby Prison, mebbe for the camp of the 200th Ind."We're out on the ocean sailin'."[Ill.
- 98 But again they "had hollered before they were out o' the woods," as Shorty afterward expressed it. The gunfire and the sound of their voices so near sh.o.r.e had stirred up the rebels. A canoe with three men in it had pushed out, and, struggling with t
- 99 "Sir, I have the honor to report that I have been across the creek reconnoitering the enemy's lines. I have with me five prisoners four soldiers and one guerrilla."CHAPTER VI. DISTRESSING ENEMIES OTHER THAN THE REBELS AND RAIN, MUD, AND SWOLLEN STREAMS
- 100 This made Si more reconciled to being left behind, and he mentally resolved that, though he might not be with his beloved regiment, he would manage to do his full share in the impending battle for Shelbyville.The "Second Lieutenant and Aid-de-Camp" came