The Arkansaw traveler., 1883-04-21
MILITARY INGENUITY.
II never will forgive the Confederate

government said Colonel Wartick. shen asked 10 relate war reniaiseenoe. :. l started out with ripe determination: of doing everything Tn my power for the cause. but men who had more author ny thsn l had pulled against me. and consequently stepped aside. They even wen, far so as to eeur-mar;iAl me. Nox f there is anything in military life that takes mans appetite it is 10 be court mariialed. Its pretty bad Tn civil :ise to Dc tried before d justice af he peace. but tha, .sn', anything b compare with a cour,-martial. ard especially when he knows full well tha; he has done nothing to men; such severe handling.
 Why were you oour-mar,iale,:. Colo ael :. asked one of the company.
 " For the simple discharge 0: my duty lust abou; the time |, oehooved the Con federaey 10 make every edge ou, ,ha, could. was sent into d community ie press guns. and 10 draft and arm every available man. Well. went 10 work and discharged the duty in accordance with my oons,rueiion of the order. 4. one place we seized large number of double barrel shot guns. In examining them we found many that were damaged so greatly tha, only one barrel could be used. told my men no, to throw them aside. hn. 10 keep them, ,ha, they would come in handy. In this community there were a great many saw-uills and family feuds and consequently there were a great many one-legged men. One day issued an order that all the one-legged men 10 be found within radius of twenty five miles should be brough, into camp. The order was strictly obcyed and within two weeks We had seventy-iive cr;pples. Forming them in line one day ordered the disabled sho. guns ,o be brough; out When took up gun whose nght barrel was useless. ! would sISe ]: to mar wao had los; the use of his fishi les. and so on until the seventy five men were armed. This was strictly ap- propfiale. for we had no other u,e io. the crippled guns, ard the coun;ry certainly hai no o;heT ase ior the crippled inen. l took srea; pride in ik;s crippled com pany. wanted II ,o makc name i: ~an.ed each man ,o feel proud Of him. self. They elected as captain. q ,all fe.- ios who los; his lei, leg while rafting logsx We presented him. attended by disabled ceremony. with d broken sword and double-barre.ed pistol. with one hammer gone l. would have iiokied you to death to have seen them on dress parade. and their quiek-time would haze made Napoleon pull of his hal and grin We'll. pretty soon, had occasion 10 use them. The enemy came upon me uneN- peCiediy. and in the hurry incident upon such occasions. l placed the one-legged company Tn the wannes, par, of the field. The hai.le lasted several hours. and was draw fight. My one-legged company suffered greatly. The captains peg was shattered by bail. and during the fight he sent an orderly into the woods 10 make him another leg. Other members of the company were similarly served. and. sir. the amour; of splin,ers on the battle ground ~as simply astonishing. The enemy had fired low, and three out of six wooden legs were disabled. Before complete repairs could be made. my general come along. and not being able 10 understand why so much kin Hing wood should be scattered over a battle field. asked the reason. explained. ex- pecting him to compliment me on m, ingenuity. but tae uaapprecia,ive fellow had me court-martiaiei. l Jeff the ser vice, and during the remaining time of the war. aided the cause by capturing mules from the Union men and burning cotton tha, might have fallen Tn posses sion of the enemy.