Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1879-07-03
Helena, Montana, Thursday, July 3, 1879.

|
vile, of the Third Infantry, was the ranking Of
| hcer IN the Department, instead Of Gen. A $.
Johnston; but the latter is violent secessonist
and had been especially assigned by the Presi-
dent. The very air is thick with treason, and
fear our dear flag will soon be lowered, and the
lone star raised in its stead. The troops are be
ing scattered in small detachments, and those
under Northern men are kept at the most remote
posts. Changes of companies are being contin
ually made, and it is suspicious that the new
post commanders nearly all come from this side
of the Ohio.
November 26th.-IIeard that Lincoln is elect
ed. Hurrah for Abe A man Of my company
was confined to-day by Lieut.. S. for making
disturbance in quarters; he cried out, "Three
cheers for Abe,' just as the Lieutenant was pass
ing. l should not consider such an action as
this calculated to make the Southern feeling pop
ular with the men. Every Texan one meets
now, except they be Germans, wears the lone
star in his hat, and talks of how the reg lars will
be just eaten up alive if they don't join the chiv-
alrous Southerners and help to send that ape OF
railsplitting Lincoln back to his Illinois shanty.
| January 9th, I8oI.-What frightful day this
has been to me, but, l thank God, have not
| suffered SO much mental distress for nothing /
was in the office this morning, when Lieut.. S.,
| They seemed very much excited, and were eat
| ing up Yankees at tremendous rate. Before
going into his own room, Lieut.. S. stopped to
tell me to take horse and ride at once four
miles down the river, where l would see an OK
| train corralled and to tell the wagon master
| that the post quartermaster wished to see him.
| went down towards the corral, and met with
| the very man | was after then returned to
| the office, where found the door Of the inner
| room shut, and heard voice Captain B.'s
| think) exclam: ''Thats Jolly! Old Twiggs is
shire ewd man, but how will he carry us to San
| Antonio to give us up? These Id Yankee
hounds will be smelling mouse If he's not
careful, and Bonneville or some other scoundrel
| will march his regiment down and stop the fun"
'Why, sir, the order will be here in a few days."
| answered Lieut.. S. Just at that moment | in
cautiously raped at the door, The three officers
jumped up as | entered, and l never saw such
white faces as theirs. Lieut.. S. passed quietly
| behind me, and, locking the door, put a cooked
pistol to my head, and asked me what had
| overheard. thought it safer for me not to pre-
| tend entire ignorance, SO said | had heard HIM
say something about an order. After whisper
ed consultation together, they bound me by
solemn oath not to utter syllable of what had
heard to anyone, and went away, taking the
papers on the leutenant's desk, found the fol-
lowing letter: "My dear S.-The old man will
assemble his forces at S. A. about the middle of
next. There we shall meet malicious men, who
will make us see stars on the ground, and put
bars on our shoulders. When the order comes,
be ready-Loring." Here was something def
mite, but what to do with it. If could only
send it TO Col. Waite, there might be some hope.
have sounded the men, and could count the
macontents on my fingers. Let me think this
out. Lieut.. S. will surely miss the letter to-day,
unless he gets drunk over the good news, and
then he will naturally suspect me. Have just
talked with Hawley, who was discharged yester-
day. He will carry the letter to Col. Waite,
starting tonight gave him good pony, out
of the herd we captured from the Klckapoos.
1t won't be missed, as the animals are never
counted, except at the end of the month, and
then l can get the herder to cover it with an
affidavit l am willing to lie little myself, just
now, for the right cause.
January 8th.-As l expected, the loss of the
letter was discovered by Lieut. S. yesterday. He
questioned me closely about it, but fatty de-
MED having such letter in my possession, or
knowing its present whereabouts How can
tell where Hawley is?) Was relieved from the
quartermaster's department, and Captain J. asked
me to resign my position as sergeant, which OF
course did.
January 23d-The order has come at last.
We are to start for San Antonio the day after
Tomorrow do not know of any ranking o.
fcer to whom l can entrlst my secret, and it
would be useless to tell it to lieutenant. All
hope for is that Waite will get here in time.
January 2sth-The companies fell in at a.
m., and we marched out of the post. Just be-
Lot of 1yh
and yelling, on to the parade ground. Their
leader announced himself as "Captain Limb, Of
the Texas militia, by Cd, SIR" and was not
the sort of man should like to meet on dark |
night. After the u S. flag had been hauled
down, this gallant officer reeled up to the flag
staff, and, pulling out of his trousers pockets a
piece of dark blue Calico about three feet square,
with white star stitched to the centre of it, |
fastened it to the halliards and raised it to the
peak, amid loud cheers from his ragamufhn fol- |
lowers. The whole crowd then adjourned to |
the sutler store to wash down speech, and left
the parade ground entirely deserted. had re- |
NAMED behind the command in order to see the !
camp women and children into their wagon, |
and, filled with an intense feeling of rage and
shame at seeing this dirty rag toying with the
breeze from the top Of our flagstaff, ran out, |
and. without being noticed, lowered it, tore it |
from the halliards and hid it away under my
blouse. When regained the command put it |
into my knapsack, where it is now. The emil
ish" have not come after it yet, so guess it is
not missed.
Plum Creek, February 6th.-Heard that Texas
has seeded. |
February I4th.-Reached San Antonio at 4
D. m. Are encamped near the San Pedro
Spring. General Twiggs drove into our camp
and had long conversation with Major Ward,
but did not see the old traitor. There are
great many different commands assembled around
San Antonio, but they are scattered here and