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

| IOhaBoh luidhbIy I'LL meuldLely -
Lieutenant -, hasten to Colonel
- and Colonel (com-
handing 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"
A few moments later the men of
the rebellious regiment, gathered in
to knots in the company streets and
about tho parade, and comforting
in whispers together, saw the Gener-
al, followed by a single orderly, ride
through the camp back to the COL
onel's tent. Some of them saw from
a distance that the officers were
formed in single line in front of
the tent, with the field officers on the
right, the captains next, and the
| lieutenants on the left.
The general dismounted, and ia
king brief survey of the faces be-
fore him, turned to the colonel.
"Sir," he said sternly, "do you re-
fuse to perform duty p
mo, sir !" was the emphatic an
swer.
He turned to the line, and passing
down it, addressed the same question
to each officer, beginning with the
Northumberland, and ending with
the last subaltorn. One and all un-
hesitatingl y gave the same response
as the colonel.
"Now, SIR" said the general to the
latter, "get your men in line. I'll
ond this outbreak in ten minutes"
And then he added the same re-
mark that the officers of the regi-
ment had made: ave shall sec if
they II disobey me !
The assembly was sounded. The
companies formed in their streets,
and were marched to their places in
line behind the stacks. The faces of
the men were grave and serious, but
generally showed no abatement Of
purpose. That purpose was, it was
afterward confessed, not to resume
their arms until the paymaster and
the quartermaster should have actu-
ally visited them and given them
their dues of pay and clothing. But
in many Of their faces there was
anxiety as we'll as determination Wis
ible, and all, officers and men, awaited
the generals proceedings with such
feelings as had never before been
theirs.
They had not long to wait. Two
regiments of the brigade marched
upon the ground, and under the di-
rection of the aides were formed in q
long line, facing the mutineers, at
shouldered arms, perhaps seventy
yards distant, Captain -, with
two pieces of artillery, came up be-
fore the formation was finished, and
by similar direction one piece was
posted upon each flank of the line in
such a manner as to enfilade the en-
tire wing Of the mutineers.
For half q minute after these omin-
Gus dispositions 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 a shock, and the
ringing Of hammers in the barrels,
and the humping in the bore of the
cannon sent thrill to the nerves of
those who looked and listened.
"Load with grape" was the COM
mand to the artillery. Then follow
ed the orders:
"Ready Aim -
The aspect of the scene when the
general rode between the lines, paus-
ing in the center and facing the mu-
tineers, was such as might we'll have
carried apprehension to the stoutest'
heart. At least one thousand bright
musket barrels were levelled, ready
for the word that would hurl their
deadly contents into the breasts be-
fore them, while upon either flank
was field-piece charged with grape,
the gunner standing lanyard in hand,
only waiting for the word to belch
out destruction upon the misguided
men.
"Let the officers retire behind tho
brigade line" the general com mand-
ed.
They did so.
"Men Of the -- regiment" he
said, in stentorian tones, "listen to
me shall not stop now to inquire
why you have disgraced yourselves
and the command this morsing by
disobedience to your officers. Ishall
merely give you one order. If you
obey, well if not-you will have no
other chance. In that case, l shall
move to the rear of the brigade, and
then--by the living God, / will blow
every man of you to destruction !"
He looked tho threat as well as ut
tered it and then, in voice of thun-
der, he gave the command
"Idke-ARMs !"
1t was done on tho instant. New
or did the regiment execute that or
der in better time the stacks were
broken, and the mutineers, fairly
frightened out of their folly, again
stood with shouldered arms.
The whole command was brought
to an order, and the general, speak
ing with officially from the emotions
of the moment, addressed the regi-
ment with such kindness as brought
tears to the eyes of many a tall sol
der. He briefly pointed out to
them the magnitude of their act as
C military otfense, and made them
understand that mutiny in any ar
my can never result in anything but
discredit, or worse, to those who I'M
dertake it; and he reminded them
that the cause in which all were en-
gagged was most injured by such acts
Of INSTRUMENTATION. Their causes of
complaint were just, he said, and if
their officers were in fault they
should be punished for it ''but in fu-
ture, never let me hear of you in this
way. There are other and better
ways to correct evils in the ranks
than this"