The People's vindicator. [volume] (Natchitoches, La.) 1874-1883, 1881-06-11
The Story Of a Veteran.


iny mili,iamcn were recounting their
numerous campaigns at Sacramento
and San Bruno, when a man with one
sleeve of his coat empty lounged up to
the bar. As he did 50 he touched the
elbow Of one Of the bl,llion-bound war
riors, and at once apologized to the
fierce military glare fastened on HIM.
"Bey PARDON said he, ''but l'm al
WAYS kind OF careless when any of the
boys in blue are round. l used TO be
one myself
The warriors in blue and gold did not
dcign to respond, but the stranger was
not on the alert for any obvious Sights.
~ lost this arm," he continued, eat
Vicksburg. And this cough" he add
ed, as he shook on q spasm, II got in
the same place." .'.
"Rathcr poor recompense, wasn't
it?" asked one of the militiamen.
"Cou|dn't you get anything better?': b.
EYES," said tho wreck of humanity,
with i touch of genuine pride. II got
this, too and he threw back the lapel
of his rusty coat to exhibit a small
medal. "''. g. ~ 3D. ',.>.'.. .
As he unclasped it and handed it over
for inspection, he said: II got it for
being the best dressed soldier in the
Thirteenth Army Corps at Nlilliken's
Bend, before the capture of Vicksburg.
We had been slashing around Vicks-
burg Il whole month, and for a change
had gone up the White River and taken
Arkansas Post with 5,O0Orcbs When we
got back to Nicksburg again we were a
pretty tough-looking crowd. We were
stationed in swampy timber ground that
every shower used to make slough of,
and the fellows were mud all over. The
day before Grant took command at
MiIlikcn's Bend we had orders to fix up
for the occasion, and.it was given out
that the best dressed man in each regi-
ment would get u medal. We all went
to work scrubbing and polishing, but it
was nj use. A fellow couldn't rub the
mud out of bis clothes, and if he washed
it out, the minute they got half dry they
looked rs bad as ever. Most of the fel-
lows gave it up for bad job, but I'd
made up my mind was going to get
the medal | had a pretty good uni
form, and after I'd sewed it up on the
elbows and tackled the skirt of the coat
up it looked good enough, only for the
mud. It was about as good as any 9TH
er uniform in the corps, but, of course,
that wouldn't amount to nothing; |
wanted it 50 look better. What do YOU
think did?n e., IT,.
g Bought a new one, suppose" said ]
the bar-keeper. .
/ The veteran smiled. IL went down
and stood up to my chin in the Yazoo
for an hour before parade. I'D burn-
i>hed up all the buttons and blackened
nv shoes with 4 piece of burned leather
and pork fat, and when walked up,
with my wet suit I Just paralyzed the
crowd. I looked as if I'd come out of
handbook when I stuck on my shoes and
cap, and threw my masket over my
shoulder.'' .,f ...f'n .s,.,..,., ~; -.
ttAnd you got the .medal?'''' said one
of the militiamen, handing back the
trophy. '''' '''''. ""
| eyes, I got it, and more too. I got
! the rheumatic and pneumonia. It was
III January, you know, and it set in to
tlow from the west, and before the par.
ade was over, I was most froze to death.
10 finish me, the Colonel was 50 tickled
with my appearance that was detailed
for orderly duty at headquarters and
had TO march around for four hours, un-
til the iciclest were hanging out of my
elbows and coat-tails, and do you know
what Grant said after the parade?'' -
| ssWhat?" IT, tays o. ne,t ~,
i stHe remarked, with considerable
feeling, Its a long time between
drinks.'''' .,..........,~,..., 49,, e,n4
The barkeeper showed three glasses
over the mahogany, and the militianen
both put their hands in their pockets to
pay. II ..', 3ts'i~."''' 't.ssn",5'
| s Yes, gentlemen" said the veteran,
as he wiped his grizzly mustachel on his
coats sleeve and edged toward the door.
II got the medal, and don't you forget
i" ''''''" '"''5 d ~ "h'h''"i ''T z
IL shouldn't WONDER" said the bar
keeper, as the veteran fitted through
the doorway, ''if that fellow isn't an
eighteen-carat fraud and lost his arm in
q sawmill.''
.'You do him an injustice, 1 assure
you,'' said a thoughtful but dilapidated
person, bending over the luneh-counter. 4
~ recognize him as an individual who
had q limb shot off. in Virginia City
while robbjns !. a. ooqd-pilee, "' .
Francisco. Chronicle. .. ~,