The Union and journal. [volume] (Biddeford, Me.) 1858-1882, 1870-08-19

u we WANT Iuy anu Oioa'h6' hAo e.
other regiments
.You shall have BOTH the colonel ea
gerly responded. Only take arms "nt
return to your duty. and will immedi
aiely represent your grievances at head
quarters
A tumult of answering cries followed
his words. uttered in anger. dcrision, and
incredulity. IT'S all work and no pay
with MS. Were the ragged scarecrow'
of the brigade We've heard that story
before Tell that to the marines. nc
pay, no muskets.' 80 49,, r5,
:Attention! shouted the colonel; and
the regiment instantly came back to ST.
lence and position. Dol. H .-i I. 4.
Thereupon the colonel made An earnest
and impassionatc harangue OF fifteen min
utes, while dozens OF curious spectators
from the neighboring regiments stood
about viewing the extraordinary scene.
He promised the men that he would give
his personal attention to their grievances
until they were redressed; he represented
to them that their mutiny would certain
ly be Intellectual for the purposes
they sought; and he begged
them 10 save the good name OF the regi-
ment from the disgrace with which their
disobedience threatened 1t. Hardly doubt
inc that his address would produce the de-
sired effect. he concluded 1t with the repe-
tition of the command r..
.Take-drmsn
Each and all stood like rock; and
not a single hand moved toward tho mus
kets. r- '.... -.
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
rs well of the commanding officer rs ol
the line had fallen idly upon their ears.
The excited colonel ordered, Break
ranks which WAS quietly obeyed; and
calling for his horse, he rode of on gal
lop to brigade headquarters.
Our brigadier had come from the regu-
lar cavalry to accept his command 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 service
in Mexico and the West. He was man
of medium height, or perhaps something
above il, with hair dashed with gray,
sandy whiskers and moustache, a mas.
sive forehead. and face with tho wrinkles
of service, and bushy eyebrows. over
hanging pair Of keen, incisive eyes.
His presence WAS habitually stern, some
what forbidding; the habitual expression
of his face was one Of determination,
Yet he had one of the kindest OF hearts,
and his command invariably learned, be.
fore 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 into battle he
was always upon the line with them OK.
posed to the fire; and not Sheridan him
self was more careless of personal dan
ger. moro reckless Of bullets, at Opequan
and Cedar Greek. 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 n 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 fin
ished. he said:
They won't take arms-ehP
No. sir. they won't. Any order they'll
obey. but not that
We'll. sir. arc any Of your officers In
this business?
Not one. General, nor any Of the or
deilies,' was the eager reply.
Return to your camp, SIR, hc said
and assemble your officers In front o
your tent. III be there in few mo-
ments.'
The colonel rode away, not very easy
in mind. and wondering what was about
to happen. The general ordered his horse
and called in his aids.
Get up your horses Immediately. Cap
tain, ride over to Captain; give
him my compliments, and tell him to
bring a section Of his artillery to the
camp of the-Ontonag Infantry-im
mediately! Lieutenant-, hasten to Col
onel-and Colonel- Comm anding
regiments Of the brigadc), and tell them
with my compliments to march theil
commands, under arms, to the same
place. You will accompany them there.
A few moments later the men of the
rebelli0us regiment, gathered into knots
In the company streets and about the pa
rade, and comforting in whispers together
saw the general followed by q single or
derly, ride through the camp back to the
colonel's tent. Some of them saw from
n distance that the officers were formed
in a single line in front of the tent, with
the field officers on the right, the captain
next. and the lieutenants on the left.
The general dismounted, and taking q
brief survey of tho faces before him. he
turned tn the colonel.
Sir he said sternly, do you refuse te
perform dutyP
No, sirr was the emphatic reply.
He turned to the line, and passing dowr
Il. addressed the same question to each
officer, beginning with the lieutenant-col'
onel and ending with the last subaltern
One and all unhesitatingly gave tho same
response rs the colonel.
Now, sir said the general to the lat
ter. get your men in line. I'll quell thi:
outbreak In ten minutes
And then he added the same remark
that the officers of the regiment had made
We shall see IL they'll disobey me-
The assembly was sounded. The com
panies formed in their streets, and wer,
marched tn their places In line behind the
stacks. The faces of the men were grave
and serious, but generally showed nc
abatement Of purpose. That purpos,
was, 1t afterward confessed. not to resume
their arms until the psymnster and tn,
qua-terma,ter should have actually visitet
them and given them their dues Of pay
and clothing. But In many OF these face:
there was anxiety rs well rs determination
visible. and all. officers and men. awaitet
the generals proceedings with such feel
ings as had never before been there.
They had not long to wait. Two regi
ments OF the brigade marched upon th'
ground. and under the direction Of the
,,.o,-. g., ,,al s,, lnprv lima faainr