The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1848-10-03
vol. vIIT.-No. 80.
lA FAITHFUL SENTINEL.

winch tne MeXlcnn war nus HlrnlSncu mnte-
rials, we are indebted for the following anu
sing account Of the exact discharge Of duly
by faithfu Private in Volunteer Rcg-
mcmt: AAt fttt ~
A party Of officers having been of 10 a
Mexican fandango, were thus received by a
volunteer sentinel: .soAF5i t3 o ~
"On tie picket guard, atthc pass that
night was, among others, one Of company G
whose name was Belts. Now, Belts was a
small inan, with nm intelligent counlenance,
keen ego and pleasant appearance; fond OF a
Joke, and pridcd himself, at all times, in per-
forming siriclyihe duties of sodicrin par
,icnIar. He had heard The colonel's com
maud to ihc guurd mentioned bcitre; and,
US tins parIy was approaching, ho was walk
ed carbino a, support. IM Comrades were
al a iiillc distance, soundly asleep around
tho guard fire, for The night was cold. The
officer or the guard had, against the line Of
his duty, left lhc picket aud gone into the
tent Of the camp guard, as said before, about
u half n nile. The white rows Of tents
shown in III moonl ght beyond; but there
were no liga;s there, for all we're asleep
Belts heard The sound OF the lorses' hools
If the coming party before he saw them.
lie stood Greet They cano nearer, two
enicnan,s in trout. 'Who CONES ihcreg . he
challenged in quick, loud, and distinct
voice, that brought them 10 a halt in an in
slant. 'Friends,' was The reply. 1lali! adj
vance. friends, and give the countersign!'--
we havenot gm it. You know us, ! am
Lieut.. Smi,!, acting adjulani, and--illalt
hnd remain where you are,' quickly replied
The sentinel, with II very significant motion
towar IS the lock of his carblno The two
were as.onishcd; while the colonel, behind.
hearing this was much amused, and drew
his horse up 10 see it out The adjulan'
commenced to speak again, but the senii-
nd would hear nothing but The counIersign;
and what that was they knew moi. 9 Colonel
Thomas knew Belts by his voice, and be-
side. could, in The moonlight, sec him plain
". and was really pleased 10 sec his faithful
tc,formauce Of orders. Alter n pause oi
some moments in which he thought th
two ,ieuteuau,s had been sufficiently iron.
bed lo, not having the couulersign, he ad
vsnccd up to their side. 'Mr Belts, siid
he, Il am really pleased to see you prompt
and decided in your discharge of duty; and,
7 trust, the lesson will not be lost upon these
officers: for officers should set an example of
military discipline TO the soldiers. Let
thesc gentlemen IN; and depend upon It, we
think much more OF you for your firmness'
slave you The countersignf' said the scnii-
mel 10 him u reply TO this. 'rhc counter
sjrn-no-it is no. necessary for me TO have
II. You kaow me; Pm your colnnol.' you
can't 90 n,'said lhe sen.iaol, as he drew
himself up erect before thcw. Look at me.
said The colonel, as he advanced out Of ih,
shade of some musquiio bushes, ON the sid,
Of lre road, in The bright moonlight thai
played and glsiened on his large epnuel es.
his broad gold lace, and the gilt head and
scabbard OF his sword. 'Don'l you know me
now. Mr.. Betts?' The sentinel cool!y sur
yeyed him and hls horse 'lmight know you
in he day time, but now donot know you
YOU cauno, 90 in. remain where yon are.'--
q iBut VIC must go n,' said all, as they advanced
their holses'up, 'hcre will be no HARM
Quickly the sentinel threw up his carbine,
with his thumb upon the lock, and bis finger
on thc trigger, and called cut, Stop! you
arc near enough and Stop they did; there
was danger in proceeding. Here is prei-
~ end to (rolc,' said the adjutani, while The
colonel looked stern wilhycxation. Where
is the officer of the gua,df said the colone
10 The sentinel who now had tuned 10 walk.
ing back and forth across tho pass before
them. aud showed no disposition for conver
s,,ion. Gone into the camp, twas the reply
well, send after him them Should like "a
accommodate YOU, gentlemen, but can't leave
my post
Here. then, was a predicamcni. They
dismonn,ed and sat on the ground holding
,hcir horses waiting for the officer Of the
guard Tac night was cool, tho wind was
and had been The whole day from the north
they tried 10 laugh, but they were to cold
They Headed eainesily with the sentinel
but /, was Of no avail, for he, pacing his in
tcrval, would talk no mere. In about five
hours. (Which seemed ten to ihem,) the Of
ficer Of the guard, who had been down al
,hc camp guard fire, enjoying himself finely
thinking iat It was time 10 relieve Belts
came M, and ives astonished TO find the
colonel. adiutln,, aad lieutenant sitting on
The ground. in the cold, without even blan'
ket, sfivering as though they had the ague
lie iet them in at once; and they were gad
10 get 10 their tents and cover themselves
with blankets. Inihe morning when meet
ing Bets in camp, they complimen'ed hin
highly and he brought tolhe colone's recol
lection hts previous order that no one, no
even HIMSELF should pass at night wiihou