The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1882-08-16
The Character Of the Soldier.


The soldiery, of course, partook of
all the varied. Kaleidoscope character
of our population, and whether or not
as general rule they become worse
morally in consequence of their army
experience is not easy to determine
Men who get the mining fever and con-
gregate in large numbers, separate from
home, wives, children. and refining So
ciety, are apt to present no very COM
forting phases of human nature The
hunters, the fishermen, the seamen, the
lumbermen, and all men drawn togeth-
er away from the society and influence
of ladies become comparatively rough
in manners. habits and language. Sim
liar effects do we find in the army. but
there is in the service Il cOunteracting
discipline. Wrong-doing is discouraged
and punished, while good conduct is en-
couraged, good deeds commended and
conspicuous acts rewarded. From per-
sonal knowledge | can testify that many
men become better. | remember Me-
Donald, of the Fourth Rhode Island
always faithful to his soldier duties.
He abandoned drinking and profanity
in the army. | cannot forget his last
words to me: How glad | am, Gener-
al, that | am wounded, and not you"
| recall Harry Stinson, of the Fifth
Maine, who learned to look more and
more to his Heavenly Father for strength
while prisoner of war. He was after
ward promoted by several grades to a
Lieutenant Colonelcy, and till his death,
some years after, exhibited all the
graces of pure, constant and self-de-
nying life.
A visitor to an army hospital speaks
of a soldier of the Sixth Corps who lost
his right arm close to the shoulder.
''Day by day | found him CHEEKY and
accomplishing. AT first he was over
flowing with fun all the time. but at last
the terrible heat and strain upon his
system SO much reduced his strength |
that there was only mere twinkle in |
his eye when came in. and word of |
cordial greeting. When he |
dropped his musket and reached round |
to take his useless arm tenderlv in his |
left hand and walk off the field under |
shower of balls, ii was his first time off |
duty, after thirteen battles, since he en- |
tered the service. Low spirits |
or complaint seemed impossible to |
him.
The Hon. E. p. Smith, once Commits |
sioner of Indian Affairs, is responsible |
for the following. / wish he had given |
the soldiers name. Take this as type |
of our soldiers loyalty to the eountrv's |
flag and of unselfish devotion to the /
very end. During the charge up the
Ridge missionary four soldiers were
seen bearing back a comrade on blank
ct. When they laid down their burden
/ knelt down by him and said: Ser
geant, where did they tit you?' Most
up the ridge, sir / mean, Sergeant,
where did the ball strike you?' with
in twenty yards of the top-almost upr
No, no, Sergeant. think of yourself for
q moment, tell me where you are
And throwing back the
blanket, found his upper arm and
shoulder smashed and mangled with
shell. Turning his eye to look for the
first time upon his wound, the Sergeant
said: That is what did it. was hug
ging the standard to my blouse and
making for the top. | was almost up
when that ugly shell knocked me over
If they had let me alone little longer
two minutes longer-I should have
planted the colors on the top Almost
up, almost up His ownreg-
ment. rallying under the eolors that
aad dropped from his shattered arm, !