Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1849-01-26
WHOLE NO. 22s.
MILITIA CAPTAINS with ANEc-
DOTES aTO MATCH 4

- AH1a cnCWu GHdps, " ltllsltA OHdAopedIcs
great some achieve greatness and s some rs h S0
greatness thrust upon Them The Militia
Captain is partly born great, and partly a.
chieves greatness BY his Own transcendent
abilities: .--z.-. Is ...,s sf7
From the earliest childhood, or as soon as
he can carry tin sword, his destiny seems
revealed to him. Cooked hats, silver lace, and
red feathers, are ever dancing before his eyes
and rolling of drums, and the screaming bf
fifes, sound perpetuaiiy IN hls ear and be be-
comes at once conscious that it is not in the
quiet walks of peace; in the dull and bloodless
strife Of the Senate or FORUM, that he is to win
undving renown. but On the stern battle field,
at the May Inspection add the Regimental
! Review. Fired with this idea; he at ah early
age devoted his whole time tU military affairs
and the service of his country Alexander.
Cesar and Napoleon become his models of i'm
i:ation, and joining some cotnpahy 6f {" string
| beans,' he rises rapidly from one post of dis
tinction to another-from private to corporal,
from corporal to sergeant, from sergeant to
lieutenant; till at last he finds himself that
Hottest of mortals. that exposure of all eyes,
and Z" observed of all Observers the military
chieftain Of the town of Horribly.
All, little think We, who never drank of glo-
ry's intoxicating draughts--- who never pressed
the cup of double distilled happiness, brim-
ming to your lips-litte can your cold imagi-
nations and placid souls conceive of the &c
static throbbings that swell, with almost over.
towering delight the heart of military
Gaping" as cheering by the huzzas of drag
kie-tailed boys. he struts like turkey cock
before corps of the sons of Mars, the first
time after his election a a4ss p. IS.
L A Al A,>no L. Al
thousand might be added; illustrating this
turkey cock sense of greatness in militia cap
taihs. All have heard of that fierce son oil
tons at home, the day after his election; pitch
ed head-long down stairs and to his affrighted
wife, who ran to his rescue and inquired if he
was hurt. replied contemptuoasly-
eco away, woman! what do you know a.
bout WARP es f s
| We have read somewhere of another militia
captain, whose sense of personal dignity was
SO great, that he marched three miles under a
hot July sun, with his sword held perpendicu-
larly by his right side, without relaxing the
stiffness of his face, or erooking bis head to
look after his company; and when he did in
terrupt the sweet flow of his complacent mn
sings, and turn to his followers, he found they
had "mizzled," and left him " alone in his
glory'' They had deserted in couples, and
were making bee lines for home as fast as
their g. grass tanglers'' would LET them. while
he for the last two miles had been strutling on
alone! ~t' ',-'~ss--'-1 -'iz = i.''} ''
We recollect a captain in these " diggins,"
who, in training raw corps, formed them in
line fronting a barn, and bawled out to them.
"Charge bagnets!'' .... .,,, ..-.. ...-., 49,.
They instantly rushed toward him; where
on, full of fright lest he might be pierced
through by the giittering instruments of death,
and forgetting in his terror the military word,
he cried out" Stop, darn you - taa
The row of bayonets still advancing, he
made tremendous jump to the right, like a
tree-toad before harrow-but finding escape
hopeless, and that he must inevitably he stuck
close to the barn. and falling on his knees,
stretched out his arms, and begged most pite-
Ously-- ...-.. -,
"Don't! oh, don't that's good sogers r'
We know another " Down East captain,
who claimed promotion for the signal cool
ness and courage displayed by him in saving
his men from drove OF cattle. 1t was parade
day, and the company had just wheeled round
the corner, when they encountered the Zero
cious " critters coming right towards them
With astonishing presence of mind, our hero
ordered his company to 'form straight paral-
lei lines with hole between 'eln'-and so,
letting the cattle through, saved the soldiers
from destruction. Equally characteristic is
the aneedote of another desciple of Scott, who,
having long sighed for captains clamshell
hat and nodding plume, was at last elevated
to that honor. and undertook on the DAY of
his.election, TO astonishg his sdbordinates by
his profound knowledge of military tactics -
Marshalling his" string beaners' on the bank
of river, he led them through various intri-
cate manGrvres, such as opening to the right
and left obliquely, &c, till at last, forming
them in a line facing the stream, he ordered
them to "advance l-double quick time p
They moved rapidly towards the water, and
were fast nearing the brink, when their leader,
waving his sword in the air, vainly endeav-
ored to recollect the military word " halt."-
On they still moved till, despaiting of the
right phrase, our hero threw himself OH his
knees before the Supplied spectators, and with
arms outstfetched and elenched hands, cried
out in voice of anguish, "Do for IS
sake stop them, Mister, or they will go into
the river.'' s.4. a Il ha# :.>57~ E ~
Another anecdote, equally illustrative. Is
that OF captain in the last war, who on the
eve of battle, feeling chock full of courage,
closed a most stirring appeal 10 his company
by the furious and truculent command :" FOL
Low mel" sa+.-t4l 1sse 5-z Off
He advanced two steps-gaye one look at
the enemy-and took to his heels. 1t is need
less to add that his order was strictly obeyed.
But the richest story of malicious" valor,
is that of the bold captain whose experience
of wars horrors was confined to fighting with
powder in sham fights. He was once in a real
battle, and seemed to enjoy it with keen zest.
Nothing could exceed his ardor; he Sourished
his sword most fercely marched. counter
marched, and blazed away with great gIee.-
Suddenly bullet wfhiizzea through his cock
ed hat. At first amazenent stupefied him );
his brains seemed carried away. Then, un =
covering, he gazed at the hole which the lead
perforated in its hasty tour through his cha
peau, and with voice indicative Of the fer
cest indignation at such tfeachefy, he e3claim-
eds By - they are firing balls,'' and few
as if thunderbolt was chasing him. ga
The truth is, as another has said,i that mill
tia captains are the Legitimate sons of Mars,
and having no burning desire to win immortal
reaown at the expense, of mortal existence,
they can. hew the air with great GOODNESS on
the niuster-6eld, but when a target for musket
or cannon balls, their courage is very apt 10
become Bob Aereish. and ooze out at their fin-
ger ends They have little Of that spirit which,
fred the Scottish chieftain; when he declared
his discrimination 10 exulf IN victory, u'9Sa. s4a
"a - = ss=-a =