The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1883-06-09
THE PRIVATE SOLDIER.
HUMOROUS ACCOUNT OF GOVERN
MENT'S GRATITUDE

Somehow Private Ran,,anfile always
wore the expression of lonesome man
three years in four. There is a wander
ing roll of his eyes, a searching glance,
as of man seeking for something he
hash It exactly lost, and never expects to
find. lie fought "into the war; and
often have listened to his well-worn old
army stories, merely as an act of Chris
tian charity to Rankanfile 1t seemed
to do him good. He would come out of
a two hours monologue about fields
where he had fought and bled and run
and entrenched and marched by various
TANKS and advanced himself on the right
and held the center with his left a little
refused and did various other things ex-
trelnely puzZling to a civilian, brighter
and happier man. And | would go
away feeling as good as martyr and
carrying with me sort Of impression
that Private Rankan6le had great deal
to do with the manuuvreS of the corps
of which he was Il private gentleman
and associated almost exclusively with
generals and colonies.
But when | met him the other day
there was a glad look in his eyes and lie
grasped my hand eagerly.
You must be here on the 29th,' he
said, gravely: 1.-the old One Hundred
and Eighty -seventh is going to have re-
union. I'll see all the old boys; gallant
old follows haven't met since 60
There was nothing lonesome about
Rankanfile now. Civilian as | was. | re-
ioiced at the prospect of his meeting his
old friends.
1t was splendid regiment re-
marked. 1.-THE old One Hundred and
Eighty made gallant record.
Where is General De Resparaid now?"
ooh, he's Collector of Internal Reve-
nue.
So he is; l had forgotten. And Col
onel Echelon p"
Hes Postmaster
"Sure enough. And Major Ramp
stuhlo"
He's Sheriff"
And Captain Tompiou ,"
United States Consul to-Gutta Per-
cha, believe it is.
And Lieutenant Colonel Roudstep?"
UNITED States Marshal"
"And Captain Tumbril?'
:" He is Judge of the United States
Court"
"Oh, yes; and Quartermastcr Salt
horse -
lie was in the Treasury Department
until last week.
And where is he now?'
They don't know" said pri ate
Rankanfile, evasively. They think he
is in Canada, bnt they haven't found him
yet
All, yes; and where are the other
officers OF your regiment?'
" In the Legislature; all except Sur
geon Greensash-he is in Congressional
Adjutant Tcn>hun, who is in the Pension
Bureau"
What are you doing?" asked.
II am shipping clerk down here at
Hide & Tallow's, and with a troubled
look-"they won't want me after the
first of June; they have to make place
for old Tallow'S nephew But I'll find
something, reckon. I'm never out of
y,l
when we get together on the 99ih. won't
you" and all he trouble died out of his
face at the thought of meeting the old
boys again.
| looked after him as lie limprd away.
His gait is ungraceful. because he has a
stiil knee, stiff as Il bone. 1t was shat
tered at Antietam. The bullet went
crashing into it when he ran back to
pick mp and save the regimental flag that
had fallen from the dead hands of the
color sergeant.
" Don't tell me that republics are I'M
grateful, said the big hearted private
one day. his eyes swimming in grateful
tears. Look here. all this Just for a
little thump like that He had Just
drawn his pension. Eight dollars
month"; he said proudly, "for stiff
knee
His old commander, General De Res
paraid, get a great deal more than that
and never got a scratch in the army
But he has something mysterious, with
long Latin name, that has affected
some four-svllabe portion of his anat-
omy. Every time Rankantile hears of it
which is every time he meets the gen
| eral-he Shudders, and says THAT thing
will carry the general eff one of these
days
| would not be surprised 1t is big
enough to carry off rhinoceroS.
But | wondered no longer that Private
Rankantle seemed lonely. He is think
ing, perhaps, of his comrades, the other
privates in his regiment. There were
several private soldiers in the army
Rankantie, whom l know, WAS one. The
name of the other one has escaped me.
Nor do | know where he is. lie may be
dead. Perhaps he is married. Some
thing has happened to him, certainly.
| look for him in the Legislature, but his
captain tells me he is not there. seek
him in Congress, but his colonel tells me
he has not seen him nor heard of him
since last election. | miss him in the
Cabinet. He doesn't appear to he Con
sui to any place.
And yet if he would only come for
ward and show himself grateful coun-
try has remembered him. lie can secure
a farm Of one hundred and sixty acres in
the far West, after the railroad has Sc
cured all the best sections. twenty miles
from the nearest post officer twice so far
from water and as far as a railway train
can run in day from a coal bank or for
est, ON precisely the same terms as are
accorded to Il man who has been in this
land fifteen minutes. 1t is great boon
and the private soldier should appreciate
it. And undoubtedly he does-in quiet
way. lie does rot make much fuss about
it. And really there isn't very much for
him to grow enthusiastic about.
But the private soldier, though indeed
he is exceedingly rare and marvelously
scarce at intervals, is not entirely lost.