Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1881-05-07
THE STORY OF 4 VETERAN.
Told for = Drink in q RarrOOm and
COrrObOrated by q Cough
and q Medal.

IAN Francisco Chronicle
Last night, In fashionable saloon on Kear-
Ley street, two distinguished looking militia
men were recounting their numerous cam.
pajgns at Sacramento aud San Bruno. when 9
man With one sleeve OF his coat empty loun re-
up 10 the Oar. AS he oil 80 ne touched Inc
elpoW OF one OF the bullion )und warri ora.
alo at once apologized TO the fierce military
beg pardon" said he, "but I'm always kind
OF careless when any OF the Buys Ia blue are
i9 Tho ! used to De one myself
the warriors In blue and gold did not datyn
10 respond, but the stranger was not on the
alert for any OBVIOUS Sights.
II lost this arm,' he continued, ''at Wick,
onrg; Ana this cough he added, as he shook
"hataer poor recompanse, wasn't it?" aske1
one OF the milit1amen. Couldn't you get any
thing be5Ier?r
yes said the wreck of humanity, With a
touch Oh genuine pride. 81 got this, Joo:" an3
ne threw back the lapel OF his rusty coat TO
exhibit q small medal
AS ne unclasped it and handed it over for In
spect1On, he said: II got It for being the basE
dressed soldier In the Thirteenth Army corns
az MlllGen's Bend before the capture OF Vlck5-
ourg. we nad Oeen slashing around vicksours
whole month. ana for hange mad gone u5
me white river and taken Arkansas Post, with
1000 reba When we got back to VIcksnurg
again na we were pretty tough looking crowd:
that every shower used to make a slough of.
and the Fellows were mud all over, TIE law
BEFORE Grant tonE command at Milliken's Band
We aE1 oldefs 10 hx up for the occasion, and 1t
was gwen out that the best dressed man In
escn regiment would get medal. We all
went 10 Work scruoolng and polishing, but it
was no use; A fellow couldn't ruo The mud
minute they got half dry they looked as bad as
ever: Nest OF the fellows gave it up tor q bad
1o0, put Id made up my mind was going to
YET tne mccall l had pretty good uniform,
ana after "a sewed it up on the elbows aud
tackled the skirt OF the coat up it looked cool
enough, only for the mud. It was aoouG as
gOO0 as any other uniform In the corps but, OF
CouIse; that wouldn't amount to nothing;
dtd?" 'N 'D'''0
Bought new one suppose" said the bar.
keeper.
stood up TO my chin In the Yazoo for an hour
before parade. I'd FURNISHED up all the but
tons and blackened my shoes with piece OF
burned leather and pork fat and when l
&alEed up With my wet suit l Just paraiyZed
the crowd. looked as If III come out OF a
oanooox when ! stuck on my shoes and cap
ana , threw my musket over my shoulder"
Ano you got the medal?' said one OF the
miitlamen, handing back the trophy.
"1es, got it, and more too. Igot the rheu-
MAUI maui, and pneumonia It was In January, you
Know, ana IL set In TO blow from the west and
before the parade was over, was most rrnzs ro
death. To finish me. the colonel was so tick,ed
V Wild my appearance that was detailed for
around for four hours, until the icicles were
hanging out Of my elbows and coat tails. and
90 you know what Grant said after the
Iarsde?" "N
'What?r
''He remarked, with considerable feeling.
Its long time between drinks"
The oaIkeeper showed three glasses over the
mahogany, and the m1lit1amen both par their
hands In their pockets to pay.
'Yes, gentlemen" said the veteran. n, he
wiped his grizzly moustache on his coa5 sIeaye
and edged toward the door. IL got the medal
and don't you forget it,
Il shouldn't wonder" said the barkeeper. AZ
the eteran fitted through the doorway al
that fellow isn't an eighteen carat fraud and
lost his arm In S8wDtll."
''You 90 him an injustice, assure you,
said q thoughtful but dilapidated person
bending over the lunch counter. Il Recognize
him as an Individual who had limb snoI Oh
In Virginia city while robbing wood pile"