, 1877-12-07
What Was in the 0vercOat.

1t was during the late war, and imme-
diately after one Of those sharp, hotIy-
conteste skirmishes which are so apt to
befall the tianks, or 0utposts, of big, OPP
posing armies. Having been mostly
cavalry scrimmage, there were an unusual
number of bad-lOoking wounds as COM
pared with the number of deaths. AS
soon as the fight was over, the wounded
were borne from the field, and hospital
improvised in AN old barn, which offered
plenty of room, though not much pro-
lection from the weather.
Among the wounded was Corporal Sllas
Timms, one of the very bravest ana best
natured of our men. A bullet had shat
tered one of the bones Of the leg, between
the knee and the ankle, but he had man
aged, with the aid OF two muskets lor
crutches, to make his own way to the
barn. When there, however, the eilort
told upon him so severely that he tainted
dead away, and was lifted 10y some of his
comrades to a grain chest which CHANGED
to stand near.
Not long before this event squad of
assistant surgeons, fresh from the medical
schools, had joined the army, and two
of these 'young gentlemen" in search Of
information, fell upon poor Silas. They
found the bullet-hoe in the leg, and
quickly determined that bone had been
broken.
"Say, Tom" said one to the other,
"here's just our opportunity. Now Well
determine about the bifurcation of that
popliteal artery, and see whether there
are more than two branches"
Sawbones Number Two jumped at the
chance, and a case of new and untried
instruments was opened.
One of the lieutenants Of Silass com.
pany was in the barn, and near enough to
hear the remarks of the tledglings, and
to see their CHASTITY preparations. He
didn't believe there was any need of cut
ting that leg off, Aud, mercy! the butch
ers were going to cut the leg off above
the knee. Aye--they meant to have the
whole popliteal space for examination
The lieutenant Indignantly interfered.
He protested against any amputation at
all until the regmental surgeon could be
consulted.
The young surgeons had learned the
privileges of their position, They turned
upon the presumptuous lieutenant tow
eringy. They would have him kicked
out from the barn if he did not take him
self off out of the way. They were able
to take care of their own affairs. And
they proceeded to strip the wounded leg.
Ordinarily the lieutenant would have
planted his fist in the face of such a
heartess fellow, under such provocation,
but Just now his wish was to save the
poor corpora's leg, and, most likely, his
life. And he started off eagerly inquiring
for the surgeon.
At this point man stopped him-an
elderly man, wearing the overcoat and
cap Of hospital steward-and asked
what was the matter. The lieutenant
told him.
Come and show me" said he
And the two went together to the grain
chest, where the would-be amputators
were trying to asphyxiate their victim
with chloroform, and he, just returned to
consciousness, struggling for dear life.
"Hallo! gentlemen, what is all this2"
The high and mighty twain turned and
beheld, as they supposed, an antiquated
hospital steward, probably of the regular
army. They did not stop to consider
that another man, suddenly called from
his rest, might have thrown on the first
over garments that came to hand. They
looked at the presumptuous mortal with
ineffable contempt and the spokesman
was selecting the words with which he
should reply, when loud voice at the
entrance of the barn cried out:
us the Surgeon-G General here"
"Aye--what is it4" replied the man in
the stewards overcOat.
"Ah, General, Doctor Rowe would like
to see You at the house just over the way.
Colonel Bangs is badly"
"All right. I'll be there in few mo-
ments. Now, young gentlemen, what is
the trouble herel"
We need hardly tell how those two
youthful experimenters "went back into
their boots" Suffice it to sey that Silas
Timms is living to-day, the owner of two
good legs; and he knows that he owes
the blessing to his devoted lieutenant,
and to the elderly gentleman in the hos
pital stewards overceat.-S. @. Jr, IN
Nelo York Ledger.