Produced by David Widger SI KLEGG SI AND SHORTY, WITH THEIR BOY RECRUITS, ENTER ON THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN By John McElroy BOOK No. 6 PUBLISHED BY THE NATIONAL TRIBUNE COMPANY, WASHINGTON, D. C. SECOND EDITION COPYRIGHT 1915 Contents: CHAPTER I. SHORTY BEGINS BEING A FATHER TO PETE SKIDMORE CHAPTER II. SI AND SHORTY COME VERY NEAR LOSING THEIR BOYS CHAPTER III. THE PARTNERS GET BACK TO THEIR REGIMENT AT LAST CHAPTER IV. THE RECRUITS ARE ASSIGNED TO COMPANIES CHAPTER V. THE YOUNG RECRUITS CHAPTER VI. SI KLEGG PUTS HIS AWKWARD SQUAD THROUGH ITS FIRST DRILL CHAPTER VII. SHORTY'S HEART TURNS TOWARD MARIA CHAPTER VIII. SHORTY WRITES A LETTER TO MARIA KLEGG CHAPTER IX. SI TAKES HIS BOYS FOR A LITTLE MARCH INTO THE COUNTRY CHAPTER X. THE BOYS HAVE A COUPLE OF LITTLE SKIRMISHES CHAPTER XI. SHORTY GIVES THE BOYS THEIR FIRST LESSON IN FORAGING CHAPTER XII. THE OPENING OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN CHAPTER XIII. THE FIRST DAY OF THE ATLANTA CAMPAIGN CHAPTER XIV. THE EVENING AFTER THE BATTLE CHAPTER XV. THE FIGHTING AROUND BUZZARD ROOST CHAPTER XVI. THE 200TH IND. ASSAULTS THE REBEL WORKS AT DAYBREAK CHAPTER XVII. GATHERING UP THE BOYS AFTER THE BATTLE CHAPTER XVIII. AN ARTILLERY DUEL CHAPTER XIX. SI AND SHORTY ARE PUT UNDER ARREST CHAPTER XX. SHORTY IS ARRAIGNED BEFORE THE COURT-MARTIAL 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 enlarged somewhat by the author. How true they are to nature every veteran can abundantly testify from his own service. Really, only the name of the regiment was invented. There is no doubt that there were several men of the name of Josiah Klegg in the Union Army, and who did valiant service for the Government. They had experiences akin to, if not identical with, those narrated here, and substantially every man who faithfully and bravely carried a musket in defense of the best Government on earth had sometimes, if not often, experiences of which those of Si Klegg are a strong reminder. The Publishers. THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED TO THE RANK AND FILE OF THE GREATEST ARMY EVER MUSTERED FOR WAR. THIS IS NUMBER SIX OF THE SI KLEGG SERIES. SI KLEGG CHAPTER I. SHORTY BEGINS BEING A FATHER TO PETE SKIDMORE. "Come, my boy," Si said kindly. "Don't cry. You're a soldier now, and soldiers don't cry. Stop it." "Dod durn it," blubbered Pete, "I ain't cryin' bekase Pm skeered. I'm cryin' bekase I'm afeared you'll lose me. I know durned well you'll lose me yit, with all this foolin' around." "No, we won't," Si assured him. "You just keep with us and you'll be all right."