The Republican journal., 1870-08-11

the officers Of the regiment had made:
we shall sec if they'll disobcy me-"
Inc assembly was sounded The compa-
mes formed in their streets. and were march
70 their places in line behind the stacks. The
iaceS OF Inc men were grave and serious, but
generally showed no abatement of purpose.
nat purpose was, 1t altcrward confessed,
not to resume their arms until the nav
master and the quartermaster should hayn
actually visited them and given them their
dues of pay and clothing. But in many
OF these faces there was anxiety rs well a,
uetermlnatlon visible, and all, officers and
men, awaited the generals proceedings with
such feelings as had never before been there
lhcy had not long to wait. Two reoi
ments OF the brigade marched upon the
ground, and under the direction of thc aides
were formed in a long line, facing the mutt
neers, at shouldered arms, perhaps seventy
yards distant. Captain -, with two pieces
of artillery, came up before the formation
was finished, and by similar direction one
piece was posted upon each flank of the line
in such manner as to enfiade an entire
wing of the mutineers
For half a minute after these ominous dis
positions there was an awful silence 1t was
broken by the voice of the general in the
stern command:
LOAD -
The long line of muskets went TO the
ground with shock, and the ringing of ram
mers IN the barrels, and the humping in the
hore OF the cannon, sent thrill to the nerves
OF those who looked and listened.
LOAD with grape" was the command to
the artillery Then followed the orders
"Ready!-Aim !"
The aspect of the scene when the general
rode between the lines, pausing in the cen
tfe ana 1aclng the mutineers, was such a.
might we'll have carried apprehension 10 the
stoutest heart At least one thousand briUbt
muskets barrels were levelled, ready for the
word that would hurl their deadly contents
INTO the breasts before them. while upnu
either flank was Il field-piece charged with
grape, the gunner standing lanyard in hand.
only waiting for the word to belch out de-
strUctlon upon the misguided men.
Let the officers retire behind the brigade
line, the general commanded.
They did so.
Men OF the regiment" he said. in
stentorlan tones, 'isten to me | shall nnt
stop now to inquire why you have ,iisgraced
yourselves and the command this morninu by
disobedience to your officers | shall mere
" give you one order. If you obey, well il
not--you will have no other chance In that
case, shall move to the rear OF the brigade,
cry man of you to destruction :"
lie looked the threat. as well as uttered it
and then, in voice OF thunder, he gave the
command =
"Take-ARMs"
1t was done on the instant Never did tia
regiment execute that order in better time.
the stacks were broken aud the mutineels.
falrly frightened out OF their folly, again
stood with shouldered arms.
The whole command was brought to an or.
der; and the general, speaking with Difficult
ty from the emotions ofthe moment, address
ed the regiment with such Kindness is brought
tears to the eyes of many Il tall soldier lie
briefly pointed out to them the magnitude of
their act as military offence, and made
them understand that muliny in any army
can never result in anything but discrcdit or
worse, to those who undertake il and he re-
minded them that the cause in which all
were engaged was most injured by such act.
of INSTRUMENTATION. Their causes of com
plant were just, he said, and it their oni-
GERS Were III fault they should be punish
ed Tor 1t. ''Full justice shall be done YOU
and speedily" he said ''but in future. ncy-
er let me hear from you in this way. There
are other and better ways to correct evils in
the ranks than this"
lie left the ground with the respect and al'-
lection OF every man there; but his interview
with the officers, which immediately follow
ed, was of a different character Addressing
himself to all, but more particularly To the
colonel, he gave them an cxcoriatinr lecture
upon their carclessnesS and gross neglect of
the interests of their men
Il should be glad to think, ," he concluded.
that none OF you are troubled with incom-
potency rs well as carelessness. You are al
OF You to blame in this matter; nothing OF
this kind ever happens unless the officers are
in fault, And give you distinctly to under
stand that if anything of this sort ever occur,
here again I'll court-martal every one ot
YOU
lie never had occasion to execute the threat.
The regiment was paid up and clothed
within week and from this time forward
every man and every officer of it made it his
duty to etface the Stigma cast up
on the regiment by this affair. That they
succeeded, the records of the arduous cam
paigns and bloody battles in which it horr Il
heroic part, and which are written in the his
tory of their country, Will attest