The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1883-09-13
An Irish Captain.


/ tolls as any in the three kingdomsp ?
said an officer, showing a pair to ;
young student of his acquaintance
land have done execution befor'
now; at the slightest touch, off they
| go, as sweet as honey, without
either recoiling or dipping. l nev
er travel without Them
II never heard OF highwaymen il
this part of the country"
"Nor t. replied the officer, "and
if | had l should not trouble my
self to carry the pistols on their ac
count. Highwaymen are species
or sharks who are not fond of at
tacking us Holsters; they know we
are little too hard to crack. No,
my dear sir, highwaymen know
that soldiers have not much money,
and what they have they fight for.
'Since that is the case, how come
you to travel always with your
pistols?'
Because" answered the officer,
Il find them very useful in accom-
modating any little difference i
may accidentally have with friend
or which one friend may chance. to
have with another"
do you often settle little differ
ences in tn at way?"
''Why, l was twice out before l
arrived at your age. The first
time was with relation of my own,
who said he would see my courage
tried before he would contribute
with the others towards the pur-
chase of my first commission; so 1
sent him word that 1 would be hap
py to give him one proof the very
next morning; and when we met /
touched him 30 smsrtly in the leg,
that he has halted every since. But
all his doubts being now removed,
he cheerfuliy contributed his quota
with the rest of my relatives, and
we have been quite good friends ev-
er since"
''Pray what gave you occasion
for the seeond2' said the young
student,
"How it began originally is more
than l can tell" answered the cap
tain; sail / know is, that a large
company of US dined together; we
sat long and drank deep, and 1
went to bed rather in a state of for
getfulness, and was awakened in
the morning from a profound sleep,
by gentleman who began long
story, how I had said something
that required explanation and al
so, that L had accidently given him
a blow, but he, supposed 1 had no
intention to afront him, and so he
continued talking in 2 roundabout
kind of way, without coming to
any point. So was under the ne
cessity of interrupting him, upon
my conscience, sir, (said /, am
unable to declare, with certainty,
whether L had any intention Of af-
fronting you or not, because my
head is still little confused, and !
have no clear recollection OF what
passed, nor do / fully comprehend
your drift at present, but L conjec-
ture that you wish satisfaction
if so, must beg you Will be kind
enough to say so at at once, and l
shall be at your service Finding
himself thus cut short, he named
the place and the hour. l met him
precisely at the time. His pistol
failed fire, but 1 hit.hlm in the shoul-
der. At his second shot, the bullet
passed pretty near me, but mine
lodged in his hip, and then he de
clared he was quite satisfied. So
as 1 had given a blow the precad-
ing night, and two wounds that
morning, upon declaring himself
satisfied, said 1 was contented."
"You would have been thought
very hard to please, ifyoq had made
any difficulty
II thought SO m myself," rgjoined
the captain, "and so the affair ended,
he being carried home in a coach
and L marching from the field of
battle an foot
"Pray, may ask if you ever was
in battleP'
NO." replied the captain with
sigh, II never was; never had that
good fortune, though L would give
all the money 1 have in the world,
and all the money 1 am owing,
which is at least treble the sum, to
be in one tomorrow"
provided you had good
cause" replied the young student
81 should not be squeamish res
pecting the cause, provided L had a
good battle; that, my dear, is what
is the most essential to a conscien-
tious officer, who wishes to improve
himself in his profession. L have
much reason, therefore, to wish for
a war; and at the present juncture,
it would be much to the advantage
of the nation in general, as it is
dwindling into a country OF plough
men, manufacturers and merchants.
And you know, too, that L am pret-
ty fortunate, having stood thir
teen shots, and 1 never was hit but
once"
"No, mop replied the captain,
''the last shot fired at me completed
only my sixth duel