Literary cadet and Rhode-Island statesman. [volume] (Providence, R.I.) 1827-1829, 1827-09-01

/ flee: this drummer brought the blood out
upon the right shoulder-blade, which
perceiving, he struck lower on the back
but the surgeon ordered him 10 strike
again upon The bleeding part; l thought
this was cruel; but | learnt after, from
the surgeon himself, that it gave much
| less pain to continue the blows as direct
ed, than to strike upon the untouched
skin.
The poor fellow bore without word
his naggellation, holding his head down
upon his breast, both his arms being ex-
tended, and tied at the wrists above his
head. At the first ten or twelve blows,
he never moved muscle, but about the
twenty fifth, he clenched his teeth, and
cringed little from the lash. During
the second twenty-five, the part upon
which the cords fell became blue, and
appeared thickened, for the whole space
of the shoulder-blade and centre of the
back; and before the filtieth blow was
struck, we could hear "a smothered groan
from the poor sufferer, evidently caused
by his efforts TO stiile the natural excla-
nations Of acute pain. The third speak
Gr, as said, brought the blood, it oozed
from the swollen skin. and moistened
the cords which opened its way from
the veins. The colonel directed look
at the drummer, which argued nothing
advantageous to his interest; and on the
one fifth of his twenty-five, cried out to
him, Halt, Sirp you know as much
about using the cat as you do of your
sticks Then addressing the udjutant,
he said, 'send that fellow away to drill,
tell the drum major to give him two hours
additional practice with the sticks every
day for Il week, IN order to bring his
hand into-a-proper movement
/ The drummer skunk away ut the order
Of the adjutant, and one of the others
took up the cat. The colonel now look
ed at the surgeon, and could perceive
a slight nod pass, in recognition OF
something previously arranged between
them This was evidently the case; for
the latter instantly went ovcrto the pun
ished man, and having asked ham ques-
ton or two, proceeded formally to the
colonel, and stated something in low
voice; upon which the drummers were
ordered to take the man down. This
was accordingly done; and when about
to be removed to the reginentaI hospital,
the colonel addressed him thus: your
punishment, Sir, IS at an end; YOU may
thank the surgeons opinion for being
TAXED down So soon. Every one knew
this was only preteyt have only
to observe 10 you, ,hat as you have been
always, previous to this fault, a good
man, l would recommend you to con-
duct yourself well for the future, and I
promise to hold your promotion open to
you as before
The poor fellow replied that he would
do so, and burst into tears, which he
strove in vain to hide.
Wonder not that the hard cheek of a
soldier was thus moistened by tear;-
the heart was within his bosom, and
these tears came from it. The lash
could not force one from his burning
eye-lid; but the word Of kindness-the
breath Of tender feeling from his respect
ed colonel, dissolved tho stern soldier to
the grateful and contritc penitcnt.
May this be remembered by every
commanding officer, when the cat is cut
ting the back Of tho soldier. May they
reflect that both the back and the heart
have feeling; and'hat the tear ofrepen.-
ance is ottcner brought from the culprits
eyes by kindness than by the lash.