noon
Si fished his stub of a pencil out of his blouse-pocket , laid the paper on the back of a tin plate , and began : `` Somewhere in Tennessee , December the 27th , 1862 . `` Dere Annabel : We 're movin ' on Murphysboro , where we expect a big fite . There 's bin fitin ' goin ' on ever since we left Nashville , but the 200th Ind. . hai n't had no hand in it so far , except this after noon me and Shorty '' He stopped , stuck his pencil in his mouth , and began to study just what words he should use to describe the occurrence . He wanted to tell her all that was bubbling in his heart , and yet he was afraid she would think him an intolerable boaster , if he told it in just the words that came to him . He was more afraid of that little country girl 's disapproval than of all the rebels in Murfreesboro . There were yells , the rattling of chains , and the sound of galloping hoofs coming toward him .