The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-05-11
THE STORY OF A VETERAN.
Told for Drink in a Barroom, and Cor.
roborated by a Cough and n Medal.
Isan Francisco Chronicle. !

rooorateo Dy a cough and n Medal.
Lsan Francisco Chronicle.l
Last night, in a fashionable saloon on
kearDey street. two distinguished-lo looking
militlamen were recounting their numerous
campaigns at Sacramento 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
to the fierce military glare fastened on him.
BEG pardon" said he, but I'm always
kind of careless when any of the BOYS in
blue are round. used to be one myself"
The warriors in blue and gold did not de-
sign 10 respond. but the stranger was not on
the alert for any obvious sights.
81 lost this arm" he continued. at Vicks-
burg: And this cough" he added, as he
shook on aspasm, III got in the same place"
| Rather poor recompence, wasn't it?'
| asked one of the militiamen. Couldn't
you get anything better?'
Yes" said the wreck of humanity. with
a touch of genuine pride. II got this, too"
and he threw back the lapel of his RUSTY
coat TO exhibit small medal.
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
CORDS at Milliken's Bend, before the capture
of Vicksburg We had been slashing around
Vicksburg a whole month, and for a change
had gone up the White River and taken
Arkansas Post with 5000 Rebs. When we
got back to Vickburg 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
regiment would get medal. We all went
to work scrubbing and polishing, but it was
no use. fellow couldn't rub the mud out
OF his clothes, and if he washed it out, the
minute they got halt dry they looked as bad
as ever. Most of the fellows gave it up for a
bad job, but I'd made up my mind / was
going to get the medal. had pretty good
uniform, and after I'd sewed it ND on the
elbows and tackled the skirt of the coat up
it looked good 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; l wanted it to be better.
What do you think did?'
Bought new one, l suppose" said the
barkeeper.
The veteran smiled 81 went down and
stood up to my chin in the Yazoo for an hour
before parade. I'd FURNISHED up ali the but
tons and blackened my shoes with piece of
burned leather and pork fat, and when
walked up with my wet suit Just paralvzed
the crowd. 1 looked as if I'd Just come out
OF bandbox when / stuck on me shoes and
cap and threw my musket over my shout
| der"
And you got the medal?" said one of the
militiamen, handing back the trophy.
Eyes, l got it, and more too. 1 got the
rheumatism and pneumonia. 1t was in jan
uary, you know. and it set in to blow from
the Yves. and before the parade was over, L
was most froze to death. To finish me. the
Colonel was so tickled with my appearance
that | was detailed for orderly duty at head
quarters and had to march around for four
hours, until the icicles were hanging out of
my elbows and coat tails, and do you know
what Grant said after the parade?''
"What?'
HE remarked, with considerable feeling,
| It's long time between drinks"
| The barkeeper showed three glasses over
the mahogany, and the militiamen both put
their hands in their pockets to pay.
Yes, 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 forget it,"
II shouldn't wonder" said the barkeeper
as the veteran fitted through the doorway,
| 'if that fellow isn't an eighteen-carat fraud
and lost his arm in a sawmill."
You do him an injustice, assure you, "
said a thoughtful but dilapidated person.
bending over the lunch counter. II recog-
nize him as an individual who had limb
shot off in Virginia City while robbing a
wood pile