Dodge City times. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1876-1892, 1879-02-15

been forgotten The army is the plac,
where a man can be meaner than dir
and uglier than a wolf and yet retair
his place in the ranks, or he can be $
white man all through and receive nc
reward except the gratitude of his tent
mate.
Now, never saw meaner private
soldier or more sulky and mOrose
terminate than luck gave me in the win
ter Of 1864 '65. He came down 10 us in
the fall a recruit having enlisted for the
big bounty, and at that time the old, vets
who had faced shot and shell tor sever
al years had an edgewise feeling against
these ''fresh fish, who had pocketed
five or six hundred dollars and came
down to- spend the winter ina warm hut.
Some of the recruits realized this and
by their good nature and pleasant ways
seon banished the feeling so far as they
were concerned. Otners were nettled
and indignant and were not. inclined
that the old vets should get relieved, of
one single camp duty because of the ar
rival of new men.
Fate or luck sent me slim Shanks !"
for tent mate. He was Jim some one
else, but the nickname was very appro-
pirate. He was logged and sulien from
the first, and we hadn't known each
other two hours before we had quar-
rel. Next day We fought again, and
after that we did not exchange a word
for three weeks. When | saw how
mean he was and found that kind words,
kind. wishes and friendly interest
would not touch him let him alone as
far as could and contented myself
with knowing that every member of
Company "E" hated him as much as
did.
One night band Of twenty-five men
moved out of our camp for scout across
the Loudon Valley, then held by Mosby,
and luck placed Jim Shanks alongside
OF me. He was selected by accident, it
being the intention to take better man,
but he was there just the same silent,
sullen and ready to elbow OF bayonet
any one who accidentally brushed him.
That night as we filed along the muddy
highway, speaking only in whispers, / |
saw Jim in front of me and whispered
to myself:
Jim Shanks, if you don't get killed
down here you'll be hung for murder |
before you are out of the army year,"
just in the gray of the morning, and
when within mile of Union Town, Jim
Shanks and myself were sent forward |
10 reconnoitre. would have sooner
gone alone and ten times sooner had the |
company of any one else, bu. luck de-
cided it. We said not a word. watch
ed Jim and saw that he vas AS cool as |
an old soldier. He knew as well as |
lid that we were advancing on Mosby's
but he stepped out boldly
md with no change in his demeanor.
When we had nearly reached the
'hurch standing on the hill above the
own and facing the road leading away
o Leesburg,I halted, knowing that a
picket post must be near. had not ex-
hanged word with Jim for DAYS, but
low | whispered to him that we must
'roceed with caution 4
III you are tired sit down in the mud
re growled, stridipg along, and after a
minute l followed him, both of us walk
ng on The side of the highway. knew
70 would soon strike the picket but it,
'ss either follow jun or. turn back.
and without . word five or six
,en rose up in our path. had barely !
Scerned them when one seized my |
airline and another tripped me down
lille third growled out: II
: II you make any fuss you'll get a I
allet mighty quick. y isi9uo5S I
4 didn't propose TO make any fuss +
ut Jim Shanks did. The two men who r
raobed at him were brushed OF like d
es, and whirling his carbine around n
S head he cleared a,path for himselfJ "
I'd was lost in the darkness. Moreia
an a dozen shots were fired after him. J
I'd being Intercepted on his retrest o
'wn the road he made for the church b
the hill. Before he reached it there g