Civilian & telegraph. [volume] (Cumberland, Md.) 1859-1875, 1863-05-14
Caught a Tartar.

"A w dSulUpbOu COtiOSPohNSoS " oNo
Buffalo Express relates the following
anecdotc of distinguished General of
the Army, and one of the many fools who
have received commissions in the army
during the present war:
A few months since | was passenger
on train of cars between Baltimore and
Washington; upon which occasion a
scene occurred that attracted my atten-
ton, and which excmpiied the fact that
rctribution is sometimes more speedy
than it is expected We had proceeded
on our journey for half an hour, when
loud talking and profanity excited the
attention of the passengers to part OF
the car where sat composedly an elderly
man wrapped in liberal ovcrcoat
A large sized. red faced and very vol
uble person of less years, was standing
in the aisle neal him, using violent lam
guage and gesticulations, attended with
the charge oft repeated that the old gen.
tleman had taten his seat during his
temporary absence therefrom and de-
manding with language more pungent
than polite, that it should be relinquish-
ed to him.
In response to this demand the old
gentleman, in a very quiet and dignified
manner assured the applicant for the
seat, that he was mistaken-that he had
occupied the seat from the start, and
could not and should not relinquish it.
This excited the anger of the contestant,
and he became very abusive and bolster
ons.
At this juncture, two persons occupy
lug the next seat intcrposed, assuring
the ferocious man that he was mistaken
that they had entered the car at the
last stopping place, and found the seat
they occupied then vacant aud took it.,
presumng that it was not taken. 1t
was probably the one he had occupied
ard they were ready to rehnquish it, and
Immediately rose and did SO.
The ferocious man then seized the seat
and threw the back over, that he might
face the the old gentleman to whom he
had paid his respects in the first instance,
for the purpose, no doubt, of cultivating
his acquaintance more intimately. In
performing this maneuvre, he threw
open his overcoat, so as to disclose the
shoulder straps of Captain. This at
tracted the attention of the other party,
when the following colloquJ, as near as
[ can recollect it, eIsucd -
OIL Gentlemam-'By what right do
you wear that insignia ? pointing at the
same time to the revealed shoulder straps.
Ferocious Mun-By the authority of
the United States Government. I am
an officer of the army, aud have fought
and shed my blood for my country, while
such rich old codgcrs, as you are laying
about at your ease, and taking up other
peoples seats in railroad cars, while pat
riots. sir, like me do the lighting.
Then came change in the sceno.-
The old gentleman threw back his over
coat, revealing the stars of Major Gen
eral of the United States Army, and say
ing to the Captain in firm but dignitied
tone, Il am General Couch. sir, and |
order you under arrest for ungentleman-
ly and unoflicer-life conduct. You will
proceed to Washington under my escort.
The fcrocious man was tanned in a
moment, and offered an awkward apollo
gy, but was cut short by the General
and seemed to enjoy the comfort of his
own mcditations for the remainder of the
journey towards the Capitol. | heard a
day or two after, that the ferocious man
was a resident Of Buffalo, and returned
home minus commission and the insig- =
MIA which betrayed him. Evidently he
caught Tartar.