The Republican journal., 1870-08-11

the words, though Captain Nj vOciteratcd
them TO the full compass OF his powerful
bass
So in every company. the men promptly
obeycd every order but this one; and that,
not one man obcyed. Not a word, not even
a defiant look accompanied their disobedi-
ence; they simply stood like so many statues
and moved not a muscle in answer to the
command. The captains threatened. begged
and some swore; and neither their anger
nor their humility had the least effect upon
those seven hundred determined men.
After half an hour of unavailing effort.
despalring OF accomplishing anything them
selves, the commandants repaired to the
colonefs tent, and astounded him with the
news that his regiment was in open mutinv
He listened with angry impatience to the
particulars they gave him. and then hasten
ed to buckle on his sword.
"Come with me" he said by heavens.
| don't think they'll fail to obey when gave
them the order"
lie was mistaken; as much 50 as the
captains had been before him The line
stood motionless behind the stacks when he
reached the parade; and ordering the officers
to take their places, he took his own in front
of the centre. Drawing his sword, he shout
ed in the voice that no man in the regiment
had ever yet disregarIed:
''Take-01Uls r And still not q man
obcyed
The colonel was profoundly excited moro
SO than lie had been since he dropped his
plough-handes and mounted one Of tho
plough horses to raise his regiment, on hear
ing of the Presidents proclamation. He be-
gan by inviting the ringleaders to step out
and inform him of the object of this mutiny
The ringleaders wisely remained in their
places in the ranks; but half dozen voices
in which no individual voice was distinguish
able, cried out:
eve want pay and clothing, like the other
regiments
''fou shall have BOTH" the colonel eager
ly responded. "Only take arms and return
to your duty and will Immediately repre-
sent your grievances ut healquartcrs''
A tumult of answering cries followed his
words, uttered in anger, derision, and in
creduity. Its all work and no pay with
rs" 'Wc're the ragged scarecrows Of the
brigade" ''We've heard that story before y
''Iell that to the marines" Mo pay. no
muskets.n
''Attention p shouted the colonel; and the
regiment instantly came back to silence and
position.
Thcreupon the colonel made an earnest
and impassionatc harangue of fifteen min
uted, while dozens of curious spectators from
the neighboring regiments stood about view
ing the extraordinary scene. He promised
the men that he would give his personal at
attention to their grievances until they were
redrcsScd; he represented to them that their
mutny would certainly be Intellectual for
the purposes they sought; and he begged
them to save the good name of the regiment
from the disgrace with which their disobedi-
cncc threatened it, Hardly doubling that
his address would produce the desired effect,
he concluded it with the repetition of the
command:
"Takc-0f1HS :"
Each and all stood like rock; and not a
single hand moved toward the muskcts
The mutiny was becoming serious. For
more than an hour the entire regiment had
stubbornly refused to resume their arms, and
the persuasion and authority as we'll of the
commanding officer rs of the line had fallen
idly upon their ears. Thc excited colonel
ordered, ''Breal1 ranks" which was quietly
obcyed and calling for his horse, he rode
off on 4 gallop to brigade headquarters
Our brigadicr had come from the regular
cavalry to accept his command in the volul-
teers; and he was one of the best discipln-
arians that West Point ever gave to the army
He was much past the middle age and had
seen ardu0us and distinguished service in
Mexico and the West. He was a man of
medium height, OF perhaps something above
it, with hair dashed with gray. sandy whis-
kers and moustachc. a massive forehead,
and face with the wrinkles OF service, and
bushy eyebrows, overhanging a pair of keen,
inciSivc eyes His presence was habtualy
stern, somewhat forbdding; the habitual
expression Of his face was one of determina-
ton, Yet he had one Of the kindest of hearts.
and his commands invariably learned, before
he had done with them, that their comfort
and safety We're at all times the objects of
his anxious solicitudc. He was far braver
than generals are apt to be- when his troops
went into battle he was always upon the
line with them, exposed to the fire; and not
Sheridan himself was more careless of per
sonal danger, more reckless of bullets, at
Opequan and Cedar Creek, than was this
man. His troops of course loved him-when
they knew him.
He listened to the story of the colonel this
morning with evident displeasure, which
found expression in i few words which were
more forcible than elegant but | venture
to say that no officer in the armies would
have said less under the circumstances. He
listened attentively to the details Of the
mutiny as the colonel gave them, and when
the latter had finished, he said:
''1'hey won't take arms-eh -
''Nn, sir, they won't Any order they'll
obey, but not that"
''Well. sin, are any Of your officers in this
business ~
Not one, General, nor any OF The orderlies," ="
was the eager reply.
The General took one turn across his tent
floor.
"Return TO your camp, sir" he said, ..and
assemble your officers in front of your tent
I'll be there in a few moments"
The colonel rode away, not very easy in
mind, and wondering what was about to hap
pen. The general ordered his horse and call |
ed in his aides,
sect up your horses Immediately Cap
tain -, ride over to Captain -; give him
my compliments, and tell him to bring sec
ton of his artillery to the camp of the -t the |
Ontonagan Infantry immediately Lieut. |
enant -, hasten to Colonel and Colonel
- Commanding regiments of the brigade) |
and tell them, with my compliments, to
march their commands, under arms, to the |
same place. You will accompany them
there"
few moments later the men Of the rebel |
|ious regiment, gathered into knots in the
company streets and about the parade, and
comforting in whispers together, saw the gen
eral, followed by a single orderly ride
n 4 n