The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1875-12-08

NJ LIEUT.. ,. DARK CHANDLER.

Among the many distinguished
commanders who gave vitality to the
Union forces during the war against
the rebellion there were none Drawer,
mere competent or better beloved by
their men than Major General John
Sedgwick. 4 soldier in his soul,
thoroughly the officer aud gentleman,
whether upon the Geld or by the
Preside. be Won mems hears by the
innate nobleuess Of his own. He
was a ma Of most kindly impulses
aud possessed a fond of rich bumor
that not anfreqnently bubbled over
and sometimes when least expected,
gave puagency 20 reproof in a way
that never failed to be remembered.
An incident 10 the point came under
the knowledge Of The writer 10 The
summer Of 1873, when the Sixth
Borps, under command Of General
Sedgwick. was moving down Lon
don Valley, Virginia, to reach War
enton
There was a standing order, strict
" enforced, against trotting the
Ouarter-master's train mules. but on
D particular day, in the temporary
absence Of Colonel Tolles, Chief
Quarter master OF the corps, the
General called Lieutenant-, OF
the 23 p. V, the acting assistant,
and said:
"Lieulenan;, you have charge Of
the corps train to-day, ! believe"
"Yes SIR
We'll, there is an order, as you
know, against trotting the mules, bul
to day | think you may have 10 dis
regard it a little. IL is very essen.
tial that you should keep out of the
way Of the troops, aud you must keeT
your train closed np constantly, even
if you trot a little; but be as mercifu
10 the beasts as You can"
81 will look to il. General" and
the train officer departed to spread
the injunction through the park.
The DAVIS march was a hard one,
lasting well into the dusky shade OF
evening. Just when ii was too dark
20 see, orders were received TO park
the train across a small stream neal
Uniontown, Faquier county. The
Lieutenant saw the head Of bis trsiI
In park and rode back TO the bridge
over the stream to hurry up the lag
CARDS. As each wagon master woul'
come up be would remark:
hurry up your mules, there; weir
Just going into park"
This state of things went on 10
some time, until the Lieutenant
growing impatient at a particular,
wide break, yelled out;
"Trot up those mules there.'
walk those mules!" said a grav.
quie. voice from u the darkness Of
the opposite side of the road.
Never mind those mules" replies
the Lieutenant tartly, and there wa
silence for a few moments, excep
the noise of the train, which toile,
on until another break showed itsel
aud brought the command:
Hurry up these mules"
"Walk those mules" said the voice
out of.the darkness.
Don't bother yourself about thos'
mules, over there, ifyou don't wan
TO get into trouble" shouted the ex
a~sperated train officer. Then anotbeI
hiatus occurred and re yelled desper
ately:
Light out with those mules."
"Walk those mules" said The
cool. monotonous voice from tb,
shade.
This was by several degrees more
than the temper of the much tried
Lieutenant could stand, and be ripped
out
Look here; by heavensl | don
know who you are, aud ! don't car
a euss, but | want you TO understand
that I'm Lieutenant--, Acting
Assistant Quartermaster of the Sixth
Army Corps. Ny orders are from
Major General Sedgwick, and if
don't punch your head"
"Ah yes, Lieutenant" the voic'
responded. my name is John Sedg
wick, by courtesy called General
end my orders are from the Presi
dent of the United States; and if yo1
don't walk those mules I'm id if
don't put you under arrest"
Walk those mulesl" yelled To
Lieutenant as be disappeared in tn
darkness down the road, followed b,
the hilarious shouts Of To,les, No
Mahon, Pratt Van Ness, and othe
jolly members of the staff, who, wit
the General had been resting them
selves in the dusk by the wayside.