Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1883-11-10
THE CAMP FIRE,
The Man Who Always Wanted to
Shoot an Officer.

One type of the soldier of the Union army
was always threatening to shoot his officers.
Debarred from talking back when scOlded or
abused compelled to trudge through the mud
for mile on mile while his commander rode on
horseback; ordered about and punished when
he disobeyed; this style of soldier worked him
self into frenzy and balanced accounts by
threatening to shoot the particular officer in
question in the first battle. He never did, be-
cause he was never in the first battle.
An irritable lrishman, called Sandy Short or
Short Sandy by the boys. had his eye on an Off
Ger to be shot in the next engagement. Sandy
resented every long march. every long watch on
picket guard every hours work in the intrench-
ments, and, holding the colonel or general in
command strictly responsible. swOre with redun-
dancy OF profane expression that he would shoot
said officer in the next battle. Short ratiOns. or
the absence of paymaster at the appointed time
or the failure to draw clothing when Sandy
needed pair of socks, or notice to quit camp
when Sandy had just got his ''shebang'' in order,
brought upon some unlucky officer the prOvs-
DRY sentence of death.
Sandy was violent in his anger and was
bully He had nearly killed two or three men
in the regiment, and was held on all sides as
dangerous man.
tunity to shoot somebody, a whole regiment
being in sympathy with him, but he didn't shoot
brgader Quartermaster shot man down for
refusing to obey when ordered to take his place
in the ranks with squad forming for fatigue
duty. The killing of man ON such a Slight
prOvOcatiOn aroused the regiment to fury.
The man had been shot within a few feet of
headquarters Gen. j. d. Cox, in command of
the post. ordered the quartermaster at once
under arrest. Just as this order was being exc
fI,uf<
cdinped on the hill back of headquarters had
mutlnled, and the men were coming with guns
to kill the murderer. Gen. Cox standing bare
headed and without arms. started on a run for
a break in high wall. through which the men
must come. He arrived at the opening lust
moment before dozen furious men came up.
painting ter breath. They were the advance of
500 who were pouring down the HILL followed by
their officers who were trying to control them.
Sandy led the way, holding in his hand a
loaded gun. He was as like mad bull as a
man could be. Supported by the many other
men behind him. he was courageous and de-
fiant. The spectacle Of general stopping the
way was new to him. He raised his gun. and
the boys who feared his arm and believed his
threats expected to see the general in command
tall. The quiet. decisive 'stop' caused Sandy
to look up. and to snarl out, Ito hill wild yer
orders. man-git out of this, or yer dead
man" In reply came. PUT down yer guns,
men? 1 am unarned, you see. / come here
thing. You may shoot me. but that will only
insure your own death. You may shoot the
man guilty of the murder, but that will not avail
anything. | pledge you that he shall have
fair trial and be punished as he deserves to be-"
AS Sandy moved forward the general pushed
him back, saying, mo. sir; not man passes
here. Now you go to your quarters" Whether
the generals arm was strong or whether his
voice disturbed Sandy. something influenced the
fellow to do as he was ordered. 1t was not
~
men and the general remained master Of the
situation.
When the boys returned to their quarters
Sandy was smoking his pipe and watching his
exclaimed one irate man. Sandy ground up
some tobacco between his two hands, deliber-
ately refilled his pipe, and. after puff or two
to light the fresh tobacco, drawled out: 1T was
sSo nng to t So Sa nyer N
would know that did it. Thin sur he is
gintleman and scholar, be CAD And he
talked the right thing. and whin q man comes
that on me, be CAD. am as wake as kitten"
Sandy never shot an officer. He was wake
as kitten whenever a battle doomed up, and
missed every engagement in the earlier part Of
the war. When Rosecrans moved out of Nash
vile to attack Bragg, at MurfreesbOrO. Sandy
was deceived, and in spite of all his efforts to
battle. When the final charge routed the reb-
els and the army moved forward in pursuit. on
the afternoon Of January Q, Sandy was in his
element The regiment ran on rebel battery
in the dim light, that opened upon them f1-
riOus fire. Down went every man in the mud,
but one poor fellow passing in the rear was
struck by a shell and horriSy mangled. His
groans and signs drew the fire of the enemy.
Sandy, hugglng the ground closely, turned to
belch out a terrible oath at the wounded man,
and after a TRADE Of abuse, ordered him to be
quiet. A great unwieldy German lying along
side raised his arm without word and struck
Sandy terrific blow in the mouth, at which
there was cry Of "bully" down the line.
The next instant the long expected order to
charge came and Sandy had an excuse to re-
main where he was. He never figured in n