New Ulm weekly review. [volume] (New Ulm, Minn.) 1878-1892, 1882-07-05
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
moray 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
torting 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 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 I can testify that many
men become better. / remember Nc
Donald, of the Fourth Rhode Island
always faithful to his soldier duties.
He abandoned drinking and profanity
in the army. 1 cannot forget his last
words to me: "How glad l am, Gener-
al, that I am wounded, and not you"
1 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 q
Lieutenant Colonelcy, and till his death,
some years after, exhibited all the
graces Of q pure, constant and self-de-
nying life.
A visitor to an army hospital speaks
OF soldier of the Sixth Corps who lost
his right arm close to the shoulder.
':Day by day I found him CHEEKY and
accomplishing. At first he was over
flowing with fun all the time, but atlast
the terrible heat and strain upon his
system so much reduced his strength
that there was only mere twinkle in
his eye when I came in, and a word of
cordial greeting. - When he
dropped his musket and reached round
to take his useless arm tenderly in his
left hand and walk off the field under
shower of balls, it 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 soldier s name. Take this as a type
of our soldiers loyalty to the country's
flag and of .pnselfish 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 1 mean, Sergeant,
where did the ball strike you?' with
in twenty yards of the top almost up!'
No, no, Sergeant. think of yourself for
q moment, tell me where you are
wounded And throwing back the
blanket, I found his upper arm and
shoulder smashed and mangled with a
shell. Turning his eye to look for the
first time upon his wound, the Sergeant
said: That is what did it. Twas hug
ging the standard to my blouse and
making for the top. I 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 s. His own reg
iment. rallying under the colors that
had dropped from his shattered arm,
was (then) shouting the victory for
which the poor Sergeant had given his
life, but Of which he was dying without
the sight,
l could multiply instances, but these
few are sufficient to suggest that in this
country we may find morality and re-
igion in the army; that soldier is not
depraved to a proverb; that virtue and
piety are not SO rare as to be simply
subjects of ridicule; that profigacy,
libertineism, and infidelity are not by
any means necessary part of asoldier's
uniform; that profanity, drunkenness,
infidelity, and dueling are not the spec
ial characteristics of our army. These
Took Her BY Surprise.
They had returned from Sunday
evening conference meeting, and were
sitting in the parlor enjoying each 9th
er's presence and their good clothes.
Mary said he, in = timorous sor,
of:way, "do you think you could love
me well enough to-to-marry me7''
Henry! You are SO sudden. 1 real.
ly-l cannot tell you until I find out
whether the new minister is married or
not.''
Henry went out beneath the stars,
and vowed eternal vengeance against