The Planters' banner. [volume] (Franklin, Attakapas Co., Lou.) 1849-1872, 1870-08-17

rs and facing the mutineers, was such as MIG
g. :, nave carried apprehensions to the stoute
: neart. At least one thousand bright mn
s, kst barrels were leveled, ready for the wo,
tnat would hnrl their deadly contents I'M
20 tne breasts before them. while on eth,
nank was field piece charged with grap
> tne gunner standing, lanyard in hand. onl
e wailmg Tor the word to belch oat destrue
lion on the misguided men.
i Let the officers retire behind the bricad
y iine. the general commanded.
g They did so.
; "Men OF the regiment" he said, i,
stentorian tones, listen TO me, I shall mn
stop now to inquire why you have di<pracei
yourselves and the command this mornino
oy disobedience to your officers. I shall
merely give you one order. If you obey,
well; II not-you will have no other chance.
In that case. shall move to the rear of the
brigade. and then-by the living God | will
o'ow everyone of you to destruction"
Hfa1lkeseL1srihs.' Hfa1lkese1asariah,s a,''
| 1t was done on the instant. Never did
the regiment execute that order in better
| time; the stacks were broken, and the mu-
tineers. frightened out of their folly. stood
with shouldered arms. i
The whole command was brought to an or.
der; and the general, speaking with diff.
Guilty from the emotions of the moment, ad-
dressed the regiment with such kindness as
brought tears to the eyes of many tall SOL
der. He briefly pointed out to them the
magnitude of their act as military offence.
and made them understand that mutiny in
an army can never result in anything but
discredit. or worse, to those who undertake
it; and he reminded them that the cause in
which all were engaged was most injured by
slch acts of insubordination. Their causes
of complaint we're just, he said, and if fheir
officers were in fault they should be punished
for it. Full justice shall be done you, and
speedily" he said; but in future never let
me hear from you in this way. There are |
other and better ways to correct evils in the |
ranks than this"
He left the ground with the respect and
affection of every man there; but his inter-
view with the officers, which Immediately
followed was of very different character.
Addressing himself to all, but more particu-
larly to the colonel, he ghve them an exco-
rating lecture upon their carelessness and
gross neglect of the interests of their men.
II should be- glad to think" he concluded,
''that none of you are troubled with incom-
potency as well as carelessnes. You are all
of you to blame in this matter; nothing of
this kind ever happens unless the officers are
in fault. And I give you distinctly
to understand that if anything of this sort
ever occurs here again. I'll court martial
every one of you"
He never had occasion 10 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 particular duty to efface the
stigma cast upon the regiment by this affair.
That they succeeded. the records of the ar
duous campaigns and bloody battle in which
it bore a heroic part. and which arc written
in the history of their country, will attest.
JAMES ERANKLIN FITrs. Il
The material for the above sketch came
to the writer from al friend, a gentlemen of
the medical staff. who was present at the
time of the mutiny, as assistant surgeon of
one of the regiments. and it is undoubtedly
true. TIE officer referred to, is General
William Emory. afterward distinguished as
of the Nineteenth Army Corps.
He is now (Jan.. IS7O,) on duty with his reg
iment at the West. From personal knowl-
edge of the man, while attached to his staff
on the Shenandoah, the writer recognizes
this incident as perfectly characteristic of
this stern, faithful soldier.