Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1847-11-26
TERMS: So so in advance.
WHOLE NO. 1877.
From the New Orleans Picayune, News
IN THE L. s DRAGONS
Special Correspondence OF the Ficoyune
CAMP BUENA VISTA, Sept. Ii, 1S17

PUNISHMENT IN THE L. s DRAGONS |
Special Correspondence OF the Ficaxu,,
CAMP BuENA VISTA, Sept Ii, 1877.
An amusing incident occurred on our recen,
trip TO Pesquera Grande, between the Lieut.
commanding, Mr.. Bmford, and two of his men,
in the way of punishment, exhibiting great
tact on the part of the officer in giving his
soldiers lessons at single stick" in prefer
ence TO the vulgar science Of self-dcfence, or
pugiIism Two of his men had been engaged
in settling little difference by the approved
method of knocking one another down and
pummelling each others faces; and so hard
did the blows resound on the empty pateS of
the dragons as to attract the attention of their
commander. He Immediately FASTENED to the
spot, when the comhatants deSsted and were
about separating, hut the Lieutenant stopped
them, and ascertaining the cause "f the quar-
REL informed them that he was willing to gra-
| tify thcir desire to thrash each other, hut that
! it must be done in a better and faircr manner
He accordingly despatched the sergeant of the
guard for three good stout sticks, and upon
their being brought gave one to each OF the
men, and the Sd to the sergeant, and placed
the two men within fair striking distance
Now" said the Lieutenant. "Smith, YOU
are number one, and YOU, Jones, are number
two. When | say number one, Smith will
strike Jones, and when call ont number two,
Jones will strike Smith Now. then, make
ready: Number one" Whack! come the
stick Of Smith upon the shoulders of Jones
d" Number two" Crack come down number
tWo's stick on number ones head, and as :" one
| tWO''-'' one, two" were called in rapid sue
cessiOn, the dust flew out of the COmhatants'
Jackets in fine style At length number one
began 10 think that what was fun for the com
pany, who were all glgglmg or grimly smiling,
and watching the curious combat, and for the
Lieutenant, W no conducted the exhibition with
4 face as stern and unmoved as 4 marble mon
ument, was all but death for him, and raising
| his stick as number Two was coming down
upon him like 6 ten hundred bricks" he war
ded off the blow. "Stop,' cried the I.cucn-
ant, sternly. How dare you guard off his
blow, Smith Such proceeding cannot he
tolerated, and you must receive double blow.
Hit him again, number two The order was
obpyei.
off the Lieutenant Please murmured the
discounted Smith, as he WINGED under the
flaggeation of number two, g | don't think
that's fair, sir
:" No matter what YOU think" replied his
superior, g think it is, and that is all suiIi-
Gent Make ready: Number ="
{" If the Lieutenant pleases,'' hastily inter
posed number one, g I'm perfectly satisfied
g Oh, you are and what are your views on
the bject, Mr.. Jones :" blandly inquired the
officer.
The same. sir, if the Lieutenant pleas
es," replied number two, rubbing his shout
ders
Every well, then, you can go; but let me
hear of no more quarrellng or fighting in the
company for the next six MONTHS The
scene was so perfectly ridiculous, and the
poor fellows were so thoroughly laughed at
by their comrades, that they soon shook hands
and became friends.
HIDEoPATHIC CURE.-Upon the same expe-
dltion enc of the men rode into the encamp-
ment very drunk and Just able TO stick upon
his horse. One of his comrades seized his
horses bride and endeavored to hold the ami
NAL, but the rider was obstnately drunk. and
digging his spurs into his horse he sprung from
the grasp of his comrade and dashed off at A
terrific pace. After driving up to a thick wall
and striking his head againit it violently, he
wheeled and bolted of in Il different direction
the rider was thrown forcibly upon the ground,
and it was thought killed. Upon examination,
however, he was found TO be stunned only,
and to have received no injury of a serious
character. "The big drunk was upon him
very strong, though, and the Lieutenant or
dered buckets of wafer to be brought, and the
drunken man stripped After half a dozen
buckets of water had been dashed over him,
the operators withdrew and the man began to
''come TO-" He raised himself up and looked
about him vacantly, but almost Immediately
lay down again and relapsed into his drunken
fit. A few more pals of water nearly rcsor-
ed him, and upon the Lieutenant's calling out
his name, he uttered a very thick and puding-
~ d" S-w-r - "Gct up, sir" said the officer
After several ludicrous and Intellectual at
tempts he raised himself and braced up u
gainst Il tree. Where are your clothes, sir;
demanded the Lieutenant, sternly. The poor
wretch surveyed himself from top TO toe with
the most bewidered expression of coun.enance
as if to assure himself that he was not dream
ing, and, apparently not perfectly convinced
of the reality of his being in Il most complete
state Of nudity, he passed his hand over his
breast and shoulders, and then turned to his
r officer with most indcscrlbable air, he re.
piled, " 1t makes no difference" taking anoth
er survey of his person and then of the sol!
diers who stood about him. he cried ont in Z
, most ludicrous tone of command, "Bring an.
= other bucket of water amidst roar OF laugh
ter. A frequent application of the pure ele
ment not in ininitesimal doses, soon restored
him sufficiently TO admit Of his being buck
ed" under the wagon for several hours
There was no more drunkenness upon tina
trip. J. E. D.