The Council Bluffs nonpareil. [volume] (Council Bluffs [Iowa]) 1857-1867, 1860-07-07
CUT BEHIND.

When General O'Hara was Governor OF
Gibraltar, be was said to be perfectly crazy
on matters Of military dicipline. He went
90 far as to have the shoes taken off his
mule on purpose that he might so night
rounds, and visit the guards in the most ST.
lent manner, without being heard until he
was close upon the sentinel. : But to our
story: a.
AS had been the long established practice,
O'Hara always attended the grand mounted
parade on tho sands at six or seven O'Clock
in the morning; and he took so much no.
tice of the officers of the several guards that
he could generally, during the remainder Of
the day, name them all. One day he was
proceeding out Of South Point in his car.
riage, when he passed an officer gong into
the town, and whom, as the instant he re-
membered as having passed in review before
him that morning, as commanding the south
guard. Upon this, the general Immediately
determined on satisfying himself as to the
fact, and to convict him OF the heinous
military crime of quitting his guard, and
ordered the coachman to drive with speed to
the south guard. Away they went, at the
rate of ten or eleven knots an hour, along
the saluting battery and in a short time
the horses, out of wind and covered with
Inthcr, reached tho south guard, a mile or
more from the place where the general had
passed the suspected officer. At the usual
distance the running sentinel called the
guard to "tufn out" which was obeyed
with oil the aiertness desirable; and the
officer advancing unobserved by the gene
raj, at quick pace from near the carriage,
drew his sword then, opening ranks, pre-
sente1 arms and saluted in the best manner.
At the sight of this officer, every doubt had
been removed. "By Jove, it is himselfw
thought the general as he ordered him to
turn in the guard, and beckoned him to come
up to the carriage.
spray sir !" impatiently inquired O'Iiara,
s'did not see you, but a few moments ago,
walking very deliberately into town, near
Smith Port? ?"
/" Me, sir !" exclaimed the officer pretend
ing the greatest simplicity, and extreme sur
prise at the question, 81 am guard here,
sir"
"Well, well, know that: you need not
have supplied me with that valuable piece
Of information. Did not, sir, ask you
again, did not see you going into town as
came out by South Point 2" his excellency
said, raising his voice, and his face REDEEMED
with anger at the offenders attempt to con-
ceal the fact by his eyasive reply.
The officer, after a moment, in no way
Disconnected, or showing any signs OF TIM
idity, looked the general in tho face, and
with great politeness, said
"Will your excellency have the goodness
to state to me. whether that question is put
to me By his Excelency, General O'Hara,
Governor of Gibral,er, or from yourself,
in the capacity of private gentleman"
The off hand manner in which this ques-
ton was put to O'Hara, struck the right
chord and, after n few moments hesitation
be replied, wl.h smile on his conntenance:
"Well, sir, as priv all. Individual | wish
to obtain the information"
"Then, sir, Il freely confess, that you did
meet me at the South Point"
"Well, sir, that is honest. Now, sir, |
want to know how you could get here on
foot, as quick as did in my carriage. and
that. toe, without any discoverable fatigue?f
.sSir, shall conceal nothing from you
in the private capacity you have selected
On meeting you, strongly suspected that
you knew me, and when you stopped the
carriage to speak TO your coachman,
guessed your motive {: SO feeling that If my
eoniectures were correct, had no means Of
arriving at my gusrd at the same time as
yourself, got up behind your carriage, the
only means left me Of securing that object"
By Jove. sir :" exclaimed O'liara, al
like your candor, and still more, the dex-
teritv and readiness you have displayed, in
ex;ricating yourself from position of the
greatest danger. without which you would
undoubtedly have lost your commission. l
admire a man who, when he gets into
serape. can jump out Of it at once. You
must dine with me Tomorrow" giving him
a hearty shake of the hand. "Bat, take
care, You mus. never leave your guard
again, or, by Jore, II! break you!"