The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1881-06-09
Sii0ul<l,I't wonder.

Not long ago, in Il fashionable saloon on
kcarney street, San Francisco, two dis
tingulshed-looklng militiamcn were re-
counting their numerous campaigns at
Sacramento and San Bruno, when man
with one sleeve of his coat empty loungcd
up to The bar. AS lie did SO he touched
the elbow Of one Of the bullion--bound
warriors. and at once apologiZed to the
fierce military glare fastened on him.
"Beg pardon" said he, but Pm always
kind OF careless when any Of the BOYS IN
bin" arc round. l used to be one N.Y.
self"
Inc warriors IN blue and gold lid not
deIgn TO respond, but tho stranger was not
ON the alert Tor any obvious Sights.
II lost this arm," he continued, cat
Vlcksburg And this cough" lie added,
as he shock on spasm. 81 got in the same
place"
fathcr poor rccOmpense, wasn't it 2"
asked one Of the militlamen. ''Couldn't
you get anything bettcrl"
"lcs, Said The wreck of humanity, with
touch OF genuine pride. 81 got this, too"
and he Il rev back the lapel oil hia ra:,y
coat 10 exhibit Il small medal.
AS he uncasped 1t and handed it over
Tor inspection, he said: 81 got il for being
The best soldier in the Thirteenth Army
Corps at Nlillikcu's Bend, before the can
turc Of Vicksburg We had been slasl1ing
around Vicksburg whole month, and for
Il change had gone up the White River and
taken Arkansas Post, with 800 rcbs. When
we got TO Vicksburg again we were Il prct.
ty tough looking crowd. We were stu
TONED in swampy timber ground that every
shower used to make Il slough of, and the
| fellows were lnIlI nlI cunr frbo L.,, L.,
fore Grant took command at NIillikcn's
Bend we had orders TO fix up for the occa-
SION, and it was given out that the best
dressed man i'll each regiment would get Il
medal. We all went to work scrubbinp
and polishing, but II was no use. a fcl-
low couldn't rub the mud cut of his clothes
and If he washed it out, the minute they
got half dry tncy looked rs bad as ever.
Most OF the fellows gave it up for IA bad
jon, but l made up my mind was going
to yet the medal. had Il pretty good
UNIFORM, and aftcrl had ;w,d it up on TIE
elbows and tackled the skirt OF the coat uD
IL locked good enough, only for the mud.
IL was about rs good as any other uniform
Ill the corps, but Of course, that wouldn't
amount to nothing; wanted il to be bct.c .cr.
What DO you think | ulu."
bought new one, suppose" said
the bur Keeper.
The veteran smiled. 81 went down and
stood up to my chin in the YazDo for an
hour before parade. Id FURNISHED I'D all
The buttons and bluckcncd my shoes with
piece OF burned leather an / pork fut, and
when l walked up with my wet suit Just
paralyzcd the crowd looked as if pd
come out OF The bandboX when stuck on
my shoes and cap, and threw my muskeL
over my shoulder"
And you got he medal :" said one of
the mllLiamLn, handing back the trophy.
"4cs, got it, and more too. gol the
rheumatism and pneumonia. 1t was in
January, you know, and II set in to blow
from the west, and before the parade was
over, was most trozc to death. TO finish
nc, the Colonel was SO ticklcd with my
appearance that 1 was detailed for orderly
duty at headquarters and had to murch
around for four hours, until the iciclcs
were hanging out Of my elbows and coat
tails, and DO you know what Grant said
after tho paradc2"
"What2'
ole remarked, with considerable feel.
ing, It's long time between drinks
The barkeepcr showed three glasses over
the mahogany, aud the milliamcn both
put their hands in their pockets to pHy.
"lcs, gentlemen" said the veteran, as
he wiped his grizzly moustache on his
coat sleeve and edged toward the door,
IL got the medal, and don't you forgcllt.
81 shouldn't wonder," said the bar
keeper, as the veteran fitted through the
doorway, ''lf that fellow isn't All cightceA-
carat fraud and lost h,s arm in a sawmill,"
"You do him an injustice, assure YOU,
said thoughtful but dllapldatcd person,
bending over the lunch counter. 81 re-
cognzc HIM as an individual who hud
limb shot oil in Virginia Guy while rob-
bng a wood plc.'