St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1869-01-15

tlon OF my duty, and procuring Tor ms
the name of the most worthless, incorriC
ible deadbeat.
SO matters went on for months, dur
ing which time we had been ordered t,
Washington, and stationed at Fort Lyon
Va. Thoughts of d.scrtion had not nm
frequently crossed my mind, but fear o
the name of coward. invariably cnuplct
with that OF desertcr, deferred me from
SO shameful an act. But nothing KEEP
me from my equally dishonorable course
Of contumacy and defiance of my -uperI.
or. No advice, no urgugS on the parl
of my comrades and sergeants, had any et-
feet upon me set in my way, | wa'
bound to fight it out ON that line TO til,
bitter end. And for my good ii was. thai
finally the bitter end came.
1t was thus. | had been put III the
guard house the previous day (uo rare
thing with me at that time.) and in the
m,rning had been sent out with some 9th
cr prisoner, to work under guard: |
had done this often before. In fact
did more work under such circumstances
than i'll my regular line OF duty. Eu,
the lurking Devil within me WAS chalin-
for a ciSU> beH, and the work hciu" such
;i> 10 offend INV biased sense of righ..
seemed to otler the desired opportunity.
1t was cleaning the regimcmtal sinks.
This Is, thought |, more than | can stand
All my sense rcvolted at it; and whi.c
the rest OF the prisoners set to work will
spade and pick, | threw down my lmplr-
ment with AN oath, determined moi L.
move Il hand in such menial, and rs |
thought, degradin" labor.
\, it happened, Lieutenant Davis wa,
again officer of the day, and shortly al
ter cam on his rounds to inspect the
progress we were making.
"l.ieutenant, Private Ogden, Conpt-
ny G.. won't work" reported the corpo-
raj in charge OF the party.
Ogden again WHY what's the mat
ter now, Ogden p sand he, turning "n
me Il look OF halt annoyance. AMI Last
severity.
spoke not Il work, but CURED my lip
and folded my arms in mute defiance.
"Og len this won't do. Takr up your
spade, and set 10 work."
sill neither word uur motion lrom
m.. Lieutenant DaNi, watched rnr 20
moment, while all land, stopped work
To look ON; my bad reputation ard pr. -
rni ;,tli,u,l. excited a lively intrr.-r lu
the proceedings. and one or TWO loi.crr~>
from tine camp. ini,rI the hv-tandcr-.
ogden, YOU tr'ei this ono. ha-
fore. AMI got no goud from It. D1nI
try it agtin. Pick up that spade and
set TO work"
I'll do neither one nor torh-r :" |
muttered between my tc"ih, >ei:.ug my
self down firmly On my icet, resolved not
20 be beaten Tins time, ior Lieutenant
DNi>'s words were an unpleasant re-
m'ndrr OF my la>t ati'ay with hm. l."
dId not look al hI'A. N1mrh'w | hnr"
that l couI" not look INTO ms steady blue
eye winch lett was liNgd upon m' """,
II calmly ~ IL could INT" mInr, ami l
dld not Try. | iclt an uncertainty, too.
about Ihe result ot thiS coninnacy. "Ii
drove 1t herccIy away, determined TO Il"
or dlr'
"rp"ral sea" one 'i HoHf me" l"r
tie Se' %e'nt' ANA HE "i the -u"d, 'hG
a Palr o: handcuIi>, was the ""'y an
>"cr TO my dl-"bcdIrnt outbreak. IN a
voice. accordingly To ms Wonl' lower ~
he IRE" more angry -.
lla''l'"i7 o" II NOT lul ';'''"-
cults on me- Lieutenant DNla SAID
win AN ell'rt To be calm and dcteIhhI-
cd.
we II see
I'VE Will Ne''
"e '''' '"'''' va" HIS ii'''' ,''''
t'l' "''''''uii,' S''iPI" up ana touc'l'"
MS cap 10 Lieutenant DNl'
W tlio>e IRONS Oh ilN'le '7",h
''Nit
p'n H"" II! IL ScrS'''lt l-'eu'vh-
'"' i''' ~ Nv u" iH' Waning ''""
l won nave those haii"'uii> Put on me.
IL you Try H. yo" IL regret H.
sergeant pun ON .'i">e IRONS OF
"ereu lieu'e'i'h' i'a'i Is curly.
me Ser'rh' s''i pea up 10 me III o"'-
dl'l'ce ~ 'hl' colll'l'Iu' M'" 'ciI'H "N
the attempt, anu cSperlally hH me cool
ness oi ihe iIe"trnan', dashed the ser
g'ant with blow 10 one side AMI S'rode
upon my 'ormch'"r' Out had not "'-
served 'l'at Lieutenant D"V'S' wen N''o"-
ne my temper ami anticipating some
such uP,ho'' had placed h'' hand upon
his revolver, and before l had taken tW"
steps towards hith' hearu lie t'lcN 'l
The hammer rs he cooked IT, ana louni
myself confronted 10y lis muzzle, not three
lee from my eyes