The spirit of democracy. [volume] (Woodsfield, Ohio) 1844-1994, 1847-01-23
From the New Orleans Delta ]
The Recognition,
OR THE RENEGADE LIEUTENANT.
"A TALE OF MONTERREY.

Some years ago, when there was "A
considerable military force stationed nj
Fort Leavenworlh. a young officer.
whose talents and integrity had Secur-
ed the unbounded confidence Of the
Government and his superior officers,
so as to obtain Tor him the office of
Commissarv and Paymasler, at thal
station. appeared before the Command
erwth the complaint that he had been
robbed. He declared that his pocket
book had been taken, and his chest bro
ken open, and large am lunt OF lis
own and of the government funds Ia
ken therefrom. When asked, whom he
suspected, he said tha, his st Sergeant
had disappeared, and us he had placed
great confidence in him, and allowed
him free access TO his room, be strong
iy suspected that he was the thief.
The Colonel Immediately ordered
several officers and men TO take differ
ent routes and pursue and arrest the
fugitive Sergeant. They We're soon on
his track, though from the start the de-
'serter had OF them, there was but llltle
nope of his arrest. The Lieutenant who
had been robbed, also volunteered to
pursue the thief, and mounting his horse
took u different route from the other
pursuers. Alrera long and severe ride,
the Sergeant was at last overtaken, in
the road, on foot. his horse having toun-
dered. He was Immediately arrested
and searched, and on his person was
found the sum Of two hundred dollars.
which gave strong, If not conclusive
proof Of his gull. When he was taken
back to the Fort, private was sent to
inform Lieut.. T of the cnptnre.--
The private met the Lieutenant return
ing, few miles from the Fort, when
be informed him that the thief had been
arrested. The Lieutenant exhibited
some little confusion at the announce
ment, but expressed his qualification at
the arrest. A IS he felt greatly y relieved
by the information commun Gated. he
remarked to the private that he would
take bye-path and ride over to a gro,
Gerry in the neighborhood and buy some
presents for the men. In the mean.
time, he ordered tie soldier to The Fort.
Accordingly they parted. taking oppo-
site courses. lieut.. r never re-
turned To the Fort, nor was ever after
wards seen in the United States. His
relatives and friends all believed
him to have been killed, either by his
own hand, or by that of some of the
desperate characters who hang upon
our frontier.
The Sergeant was brought up for ex-
animation. The damning proofs were
exhibited to him; the money, his flight.
&C.; his only reply was. ''where is my
accuser-brlng him before me and you
shall see which is the thief" But Lieut..
T could not be found. The Ser
geant then confessed that he had been
bribed by Lieut.. T to desert, and
take upon himself the infamy which
justly belonged to the Lieutenant him
self, who was defauter TO the Gov
ern,nent,and wished 10 cover his CRIME
10y the alleged robbery of the Sergeant
That he had given him two hundred
dollars and a horse, to nv from ,he Fort.
which. after severe conflict with con.
science, he at last consented to do. but
that before he had gone many, miles. his
horse broke down, and he was thus
.overtaken and arrested.
~ There were few persons who would
believe this ingenious story Of the Ser.
,geant. and the fact that he had commit
sted a-serious crime, though very prob
ably. not the one he was charged with,
prevented the few who believed his
story, from interfering in his behalf