Knoxville Whig and chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1875-1882, 1875-08-04
A WAR INCIDENT.
How Dose of Opium Biockaded the
Enemy.
From the New York Graphio.l

From the New York Graphic.
Lieutenant" said the Adiutan
"report to the Colonel at his quarters
instantly
stop, Adjutant; what's up?" asked
the Lieutenant.
Don't know, on honor" was the
reply. General Gordon was here
yesterday and has just called again.
The Colonel gave me the wink to step
out. It's a big job, though, I'm
thinking, and you are in it,
The young officer hastily uniform.
Colonel met him at his tent-door.
closed it carefully, and handing
stool, said in low tones:
"This is a dark evening, my boy, and
/ have dark work for you. General
Gordon asked me yesterday in our
confidential interview if l had an
officer whose self>control and control
over his men l could implicitly rely
on in great danger. l said yes
named you. He has just left here,
and you will report TO his head
quarters at sunsct for a most difficult
role-the command of the outlying
picket. The enemy will certainly
endeavor to flank us tonight, and if
he gets the position which our lack of
reinforcements has hitherto prevented
US assuming we will be subjected to
disastrous retreat and certain loss.
You take your life in your hands, my
boy, but it is post of great honor.
have no fears. Get ready at once"
The young officer thanked his
superior, returned to his tent, and,
having carefully equipped himself,
| scrubbed a few lines to his loved ones
explaining matters and praying them
not to grieve if he fell-he would fall
bravely if at all-and, besides, they
knew life to him was heavy burden
(how heavy, alas! only the opium
eater knows); and then having sealed
the letter-indorsed :" to be delivered
if 1 fall "-he knelt down and COM
mitted himself and his all unto Him
who neither slumbereth nor sleepeth,
and with whom there are no accidents.
The brave old Colonel showed only
too plainly, in throwing his own can
! teen of brandy over "the boys"
shoulders and nervously pushing him
from his embrace, that he feared it
would be their last embrace on earth.
Jumping in an ambulance the Lieu
tenant soon saluted General Gordon,
| ISCelNSu MS OIucIS, anu at the APP
pointed hour, 10 p. NJ, was safe in
command of the picket force. Two
| hours after, while ON the round, he
felt the time had now come to
strengthen himself with the customary
dose of morphine-nay, double dose.
He unbuttoned his coat and felt for it.
| Oh, horror of horrors in his haste he
had come off and left the morphine in
his valise! He saw that he was ruined,
undOne, and disgrace inevitable.
What should he do? Heavens! the
tortures of that hour a moments re-
tlection-he knows it will take one
| hour for the opium to produce effect !;
that in one hour, without it, his voice,
now clear, encouraging, commanding,
would be as shrill and creaky as that
of an old woman ripe for the grave,
and as wholly untitled for command.
But one course is left, thought he
throw up the sponge and make u full
expose. ITO the rear" cried he to
a corporal; "to the rear quickly, aud
tell Major p. TO meet me at the center
in fifteen minutes.n
Major p. and the now trembling
Lieutenant met.
Major" he whispers, "you must
relieve me, and at once. l am sick
very ill.,"
"Relieve you, Lieutenant" re-
sponded the brave Major, sternly /;
"relieve you, sir-never. Sick ?-the
devil Grin and bear it; be man.
Retire now and you are eternally dis
graced-the stigma coward ever
yours, and you know it. You astound
me beyond measure, and unless you
over yourself with glory tonight,
as we all believed, shall have you
arrested and tried-you know for
WHAT
" Major!n shrieked the whisperer
back; stop-listen am a confirm
ed opium-eater 1 left my morphine
in nay tent-forgot it-and am now
sJilefing for the internal drug"
Major p. sprang from his horse in
an instant. "Will crude opium do
you?n he asked.
Yes; / can make it answer"
He pulled out half pound Of crude
stuff from oil silk, and cut off a big
, hunk.
"Et III, Brute, Major ?"
YES" he responded, use it too
and know how to sympathize will
you. With it we are devils in coo
! courage-without it, cringing vassals
God help US! You will do now,
: know
; And the young officer did "do.'
! Two hours after the advance guard o
the enemy was sternly repulsed. ThC
foe saw he had been betrayed-tha
the rebs were prepared for him, ant
8 after hot fire, sullenly retired ant
I, the COnfederates instead of retreatinI
: advanced at daylight the next morn
- ing.