The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1847-01-02
The Gcognition,
OR THE RENEGADE LIEUTENANT.
TALEDF MONTERREY.

Some years ago, when there was a consid-
ernhle military "a &c stationed at Fort Leav-
enworiha young ngicer whose talents and TO-
tcgrty had secured the unbOunded contidenc, 4,
of the Goa ernmeii and his superior officers,
80 20 obiHin fni. him the office OF co.nms-
cary and paymaatcr nt that station, appeared
hsfDre the commander otthc garrison with
flas complaint th 70 lee had been robbed. He
declared That hin pocket hook had been taken
aud chest had br en- broken open. and a large
amount OF his owD a,d the Government
funds taken thetesrnm When asked whom
he suspecied,bt sSidhhat his LIST sergeant had
disappeared, aud rs hs had placed great con-
hdence IT, him, and allowed him free access
to his room, hi' strongly suspected that he
was the thief
The colonel immediately offered several
Officers aud men 10 take different routes and
pursue and arrest the sergeant. They were
soon on hts trick, though from tie start tle de
serter had of hem, there was but little hope
OF his arrest. The Lieutenant who had been
robbed also volunteered, To pursue the thief,
and mounting las horse, took different route
from the other pursuera. Aftera long and
severn ride, The sergeant was nj last overtaken
in the road, on foot, Ibis horse having founder
ed. lie was immediately arrested and search
ed, and on his person was found the sum of
$500. which fact gave strong ifnOt con-
elusive proffof his guilt When he was TAX
en- hack Ia the fort, private was sent TO in
form the Lieutenant Il. of the capture. The
private met the lieutenant returning, few
miles from the fort, when he informed him
that the IL ief had heen arrested.
The lieutenant exhibited some little CON
fusion at the announcement, but expressed
his qualification n, the arrest. AS he felt
greatly relieved by the information commu-
nisaied, be remarked to the private that he
wound takc a bye-paIh and ride over to gro
Gerry in the neighhorhood to buy some presents
fer the men. la this meantime he ordered
the soldier to return Immediately 10 the fort
Accordingly they parted, taking opposite
courses Lieutenant T-neveF returned
TO the fort. nor wns he ever atterward seen in
the United ria'ek His relatives and friends
all believed hun 60 have been killed, either
to- his uWn hnnd, or 10y that of some of the
desperate characters who hang upon our
frontier
The sergeant was brought up for examina-
ton. The proofs were exhibited to him, the
monet, his fight, &C.; his only answer was
Where 10 my aceuser? Bring him before
me, and yssu shall see which is the thief But
Lieutenant r. could not be found The SER
geant then confessed that he had been brib-
ed by Lieutenant T.. to desert and take ii,1on
himselfthe inlhaiy which Justly belonged TO
the leutellanf htrnselS who was defaulter
TO the Government, and wished 60 cover his
crime by the alleged robbery by the sergeant.
That Ne had given him two hundred dollars
and horse, to Nv from the fort, which, after
"A severe conflict with conscience, he az last
con scntod to do, hut that before he had gone
many miles, his horse broke down,and he was
thus overtaken and arrested.
There were few persons who could believe
tlis ingenious story of the sergeant, and the
faaa ll.Aa he had committed serious crime,
though perhaps not the one he was charged
with, prevented the few who believed his sto-
~. from interfering in his behalf. lie was
a'scor,iinsSy delivered over to the officers of
iiislicc, and after fair trial was found guilty
and seul % she peniten,inry for seven years,
sstere iss Hoax ~
on the first 1T Ocrober last, ms the first di- |
ision Of the Mexican army was marching
ar lhc city. the force of Gen. Worth was
lrpwu up IN line Ia. salute them. One ofthe !
officers Of the - Infantry, who was stand
Ius 10 front Of his company, observed, as he /
thought. familiar face in Ihc Mexican ranks |
ii was that ola colonel of one of'their reg
inaonts. As the Mexican force halted for the !
rear 20 come up. the American officer Jeff his |