Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1870-08-16

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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, despairing o.
accomplishing anything themselves
the commentaries repaired to the
Colonel's tent, and astounded him
with the news that his regiment was
in open mutiny. He listened with
angry impotence to the particulars
they gave him, and then FASTENED
to buckle on his sword.
"Come with mo-" he said. "By
heavens, | don't think they'll fail to
obey when / give the order"
He was mistaken; as much so as
the captains had been before him.
The line stood motionlcss behind the
stacks he reached the parade; and
ordering the officers to take their
places in front Of the center. Draw
ing his sword, he shouted in a voice
that no man in the regiment had
ever yet disregarded:
"Take-GrmS" And still not a
man obeved.
The Colonel was profoundly excit-
ed more so by far than he had been
since he dropped his plough.handles
and mounted one of his plough horses
to raise his regiment on hearing
of the Presidents proclamation
lie began by inviting the ringIeaders
to step out and inform him of the
object of this mutiny. The ring
leaders wisely remained in their
places in the ranks; but half a doz-
en- voices, in which no individual
voice was distinguishablc, cried out
1--WE want pay and clothing, like
the other regiments"
you shall have BOTH" the Colonel
eagerly responded. "OnIy take
arms and return to your duty, and
will Immediately represent your
grievances to headquarters"
A tumult of answering cries fol-
lowed his words, uttered in anger,
derision, and incredulity. otis all
work and no pay with u.s." "We're
the ragged scare-crows of the brig
ade." We've heard that story
before" "Tell that to the marines. -"
"No pay, no muskets."
Attention y shouted the Colonel;
and the regiment intantly came back
to silence and position.
Thereupon the Colonel made an
earnest and impassioned harangue
OF fifteen minutes, while dozens of
curious spectators from neighboring
regiments stood about, viewing the
scene. He promised
the men that he would give his
personal attention to their grievan-
ces until they were redressed he
represented to them that their mu-
tiny would certainly be Intellectual
for the purposes they sought, and
begged them to save the good name
Of the regiment from the disgrace
with which their disobedience threat
ened it. Hardly doubling that his
address would produce the desired
effect, he concluded it with a repeti-
ton OF his command:
"Take-drmS!"
Each and all stood like rock
and not single hand moved toward
the muskets.
The mutiny was becoming serious.
For more than an hour the entire
regiment had stubbornIy refused to
resume their arms, and the persuas-
ion and authority as we'll of the
commanding officer as of the line
bad fallen lily on their ears. The
excited Colonel ordered, "Break
ranks" which was quietly obeyed
and calling for his horse, he rode of
on gallop to brigade headquarters.
Our brigadier had come from the
regular cavalry to accept his COM
mand in the volunteers; and he was
one of the best disciplinarians that
West Point ever gave to the army.
He was much past the middle age,
and had seen arduous and distin-
guished service in Mexico and in the
West. He was a man of medium
height, or perhaps something above
it, with hair dashed with gray, sandy
whiskers and mustache, a massive
forehead, and face with the wrinkles
of service, and bushy eyebrows,
overhanging pair of keen, incisive
eyes. His presence was habitually
stern, somewhat forbidding; the
habitual expression of his face was
one Of determination. Yet he had
one Of the kindest of hearts, and bis
commands invariably learned, before
he had done with them, that their
comfort and safety were at all times
the objects of his anxious solicitude
He WAS far Drawer than Generals are
apt to be when his troops went in
to battle he was always upon the
line with them, exposed to the fire
and not Sheridan himself was moro
careless of personal danger, more
reckless of bullets, at Opequan and
Ceder Creek, than was this man.
His troops of course loved him
when they knew him.
He listened to the story of the
colonel on this morning with evident
displeasure, which found expression
in few words which were more
forcible than elegant but 1 ventur,
to say that no general officer in TIL,
armies would have said less urdel
the circumstances He listened at
tentively to the details of the mutiny
as the colonel gave them, and wher
the latter had finished, he said
"They won't take arms-eh ?"
"No, sir. they won't. Any orde
they'll obey, but not that"
"Well, sir, are any of your officer
in this business ?"
"Not one, General, nor any of th,
orderlies," was the eager reply.
The General took one turn acrosi
his tent floor.
"Return to your camp, sir" b,
said, and assemble your officers il
front of your tent. I'll be there in ,
few moments"
The colonel rode away, not yer,