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

FRANKLIN, PA
Gbe &lanters' &al111s,
family Reaoins ano Mems Jtem
THE STORY or. A muTlnY.
1t was during the earlier days of the arm
of the Potomac-if mistake not, short
after Mcclellan had sat down to the siege
Yorktown-and before that army had r
ceived that baptism of fire and blood, q,
had gained that terrible discipline in the SO
dier's duty, which the campaign of the ne,
three years brought it. that one of its infar
try regiments openly mutinied. OF cours,
that regiment was not without its grievance
even the worst of soldiers land these wer
by no means such) never undertook to revo
against discipline and to defy orders withou
cause for complaint. The regiment in cues
ton, although less than six months upde
3efFofe YORKTOWN aud eTsewhefe, triesa me,
had patiently and faithfully done their part
they had marched through long nights owe
muddy roads. when sleep overlook them il
the ranks. while they YEARLY plodded on
they had bivouaced on the cold ground
shelterless and without fire, aud they hat
unmurmingly laid aside the musket ant
toiled in the trenches under soaking rains
Yet all this time they had not received
cent of pay, and clothing was silently ant
tardily furnished them.
Why, it was. never exactly learned; but
those who were in the volunteer service car
readily understand bow careless and incom-
petent officers may cause such injustice as
this to brave and deserving men. For months
they had submitted to, this cruel neglect,
while the other regiments of the brigade had
been paid with comparative promptness. and
the respectful representations they had from
time to time forwarded to their regimental
commander had produced no results. At
FIRST loud and bitter complaints were heard
from them. then. as time passed and their
condition was not bettered, silence sue
ceeded, which the officers should have seen
was ominous of desperate purpose. That
purpose was reached without the knowledge
Of an officer or an orderly sergeant; except
ing these, it had the assent of every man
present with the regiment. Mutiny was
their determination, and the ring-leaders
waited faw days, for an occasion to make
their action perfectly effectual.
The occasion came; just the one that had
been anticipated and desired. The regi-
nent was not. at the time. on duty in the
renches; its labo-s had entitled it to rest,
md it had been drawn back to an open spot
,ome distance from the line of the brigade.
L lay in the prescribed forE of infantry en-
canvas village of ten streets
each bounced by row Of tents on either
ide. and the parade ground directly in front.
Dress parade had been held for several even
ngs. and on that preceding the morning of
he mutiny. the arms we're left stacked in
egimental line with guard over them.
This was probably in obedience to. general
riders to the whole command. aud intended
IS precaution to insure readiness, in case
f a sally by the enemy. After the retreat
TO each ~OODPAoy. taset~s-Als~i
rms were to be taken after the reveille loll
all the following morning; and in the silence
f the night to the men by the ringleaders.
nd the mutiny was ripe. a.
The night passed, and with the gray of
lawn the shrek and rattle of reveille sound-
d successively from the camps of hundred
egiments. and the drum corps of this one
peedily aroused it from slumber. The Off
,ers, hardly awake, heard the confusion, the
,uzzing and humming caused by the calling
# the names of Brown, Jones, and Robin
on, and the rest by the orderlies; and then.
he mingled command from ten throats =
"Take-arms
A pause silence followed; then angry
nd vehement expostulations, but no rattle
II clash, such as the taking of arms from
he stack causes. The command was re-
,eated and reiterated. with more cxpostula-
ion, and next the commandant of each COM
,any was visited by the vexed, scared face
f his first sergeant, and the startling infor-
nation that the company would not take
rms. Some of the officers received the in
with incredulity. some gave vent
o their vexation. and unjustly upbraided the
poor orderlies; but all finally put on their
swords and repaired to the scene of mutiny,
With substantially the same remark: "We'l
zee if they wont take arms for me-"
They did see; and quickly assured them
selves that the men would not put forth hard
% obedience to this particular order.
.''Attention ~ shouted the captain Of the
irst company. and every man promptly
:ame to position. gsg EEE
.Take-arms. not hand stirred.
"Right-face - The command was in1
family obeyed.
"Front!" The company came back to
inc with beautiful precision.
"Take-arms!" But not hand answered
he words, though Captain Al vocife-
ated them to the full compass of his power
al bass.
I So in every company. the men promptly
beyed every order but this one; and that,
lot man obeyed. Not a word, not even
lefiant look accompanied their disobedience;
hey simply stood like 10 many statues, and
moved not a muscle in answer to the COM
nsnd. The captains threatened, begged.
md some swore; and neither their anger
Tor their humility bad the least effect upon
hose seven hundred determined men. After
lalf an hour of unrivalling effort, desparing
f accomplishing anything themselves, the
repaired to the Colonel's tent,
md astounded him with the news that his
eglrent was, in open mutiny. He listened
nth angry impotence to the particulars
hey gave him. and then FASTENED to buckle
u his sword.
''Come with me-" he said. '.By Heavens,
don't think they'll fail to obey when give
hem the order"
He was mistaken; as much so as were the
aptains had been before him., The line
TODD motionless behind the stacks when he
cached the parade; and ordering the officers
0 take their places, he took his own in front
the centre. Drawing his sword, be
houted in the voice that no man in the
egiment had ever yet disregarded:
"Take-arms :" and still no man obeyed.
The Colonel was profoundly excieed; more
o than ho had been since he dropped his