The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1881-05-20
BLOOMSBURG, PA. FRIDAY, MAY 90, 1881 GHHGg
The Story Of n Veteran


Last night in fashionable saloon on
Kearny street, two distinguished looking
militiamen were recounting their nu
merous campaigns at Sacremanto and
San Bruno, when man with one sleeve
of his coat empty lounged up to the bar.
As he 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 I'm al
ways kind of careless when any of the
boys in blue are round. ] used to be
one myself. .
The warriors in blue and geld did not
deign to respond, but the stranger was
not on the alert for any obvious
Sights.
81 lost this arm" he continued, 'at
Vicksburg. And this cough" he added,
as he shook on n spasm, 81 got at the
same place"
"Rather poor recompense, wasn't it?'
asked one of the mlitiamen. 'Couldn't
you get anything better"
Eyes" said the wreck of humanity,
with touch of genuine pride. 81 got
this too;' and he threw back the lapel of
his rusty coat to exhibit a small
medal.
AS he unclasped it and handed it over
for inspection, he said 81 got that for
being the best dressed soldier in the
Thirteenth Army Corps at Milliken's
Bend, before the capture of Vicksburg.
We had been slashing around Nicks
burg whole month. and for change
had gone up the White river and taken
Arkansas Post, with 5000 rebs. When
we got back to Nicksburg again we were
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
Milliken'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 medal. We all went
to work scrubbing and polishing, but it
was no use. A fellow couldn't rub the
mud out of his clothes, and if he washed
it out, the minute they got half dry
they looked as bad as ever Most
of the fellows gave it up for bad job,
but I'd made up my mind l was going
to get the medal. had pretty good
uniform, and after I'd sewed it up Oh the
elbows and tackled the skirt of the coat
up it looked well enough, only for the
mud. 1t was about as good as any Other
uniform in the corps, but, of course, that
wouldn't amount to nothing | wanted
it to be better. What do you think
did?"
''Bought new one l suppose" said
the bar-keeper.
The veteran smiled. 81 went dowr
and stood in the Yazoo for an hour before
parade. I'd FURNISHED up all the button
and blackened my shoes with piece
of burned leather and pork fat,and wheI
| walked up with my wet suit / jus
paralyzed the crowd. | looked as if II
come out of bandbox when | stuck OF
my shoes and cap, and threw my muske
over my shoulder"
"And you got the medal q said one o
the miltiamen, handing back tn
trophy.
"Yes, | got it. and more too. | go
the rheumatic aud Pneumonia. 1t wa
in January. you know, and it set i'll t
blow from the west, and before the pa
rade was over,I was most froze to deatl
To finish me, the Colonel was so tickle'
with my appearance that was detaile,
for orderly duty at headquarters anC
had to march around for four hour'
until the icicles were hanging out of m
elbows and coat tails, and do You kno
:. what Grant said after tn e parade"
"What?'
'IIe remarked with considerable fee
, ing, It's long time between drinks.
! The barkeoper showed three glassC
= over the mahogany, and the militi
! men both put their hands in their poe
cts.
"Yes, gentlemen" said the veteran, ;
he wiped his grizzly moustache on his Coz
sleeve and edged toward the door.
y got the medal, and don't you forg
y it,"
y 81 shouldn't wonder" said the ba
, keeper, as the veteran fitted throus
= the doorway 'If that fellow isn't {
~ eighteen carat fraud and lost his arm
6 a sawmill."
- "You do him an injustice,I assn
y YOU" said a thoughtful but dilapidat'
;S person, bending over the lunch count'
,mr m Il recognize him as an individual WI
s had a limb shot off in Virginia City VIII
- robbing wood pile"