National Republican., 1885-11-28
A TOWN SAVED BY BOYS.
HOW A COMPANY OF CADETS DISPERSED
A CROWD OF RIOTERS.
The Regular Omcers Refusing to Obey
Orders, BOY Captain Takes His
Corps into Action ut the Word OF
Command.


shortly after the iall OF Ncnmonu htIe
group Of mounted officers was gathered In
tho nrincipal street of the old VIrpinian
go, -, I,nohhuro THAT somo serloua
.o"n oi y,D-'s o. ,...,1I,,,, .a,,,a ~
trouble OF ulsasVer was iinpenuing couiu po
plainly seen in their anxious faces. The
central figure Of the group-whose weather
beoton annearanoe and dinpy uniforms told
taIo 30 r,,,oh o,,osnro ond bar1sb,n- 1vaa
'aio VI NUN W. eApooo asu ~ ,,' ISL, ~,
the general IN command Oh tne Do"n' for
months Lynchburg had been used as adepot
for the collection Of supplies and at this
osnocio1 ,ime tbero was otill on hand n larpe
.,a. po, % -
quahti'y vi S'oIe0'
Richmond gone, ana the war practically
ended, there was no longer need Of supply
ing troops, and the authorities at the time
-, ,,,h,oh ,,o ,,,r,,o ,,,oro ,,al,ino, orron,,o-
VI w. o. "V .,' "o ''S s,.'.S,.',, ai,
ments tor tne systematic ustriDutlon Oh
provisions to the people OF the town. Un-
happily, these arrangements were not yet
completed, While the war lasted no pri-
vation-neither hunger, cold, nor bodily
pain-was TOO hard TO bear. Win fathers,
brothers, and sons at the front, the women
and girls at home, dependent wholly on
themselves, had suffered without muir
mur.
But now, the sight OF storehouses, filled
with soldiers who would no longer need to
be fed, and the thought OF their own fam
ished condition, was more than their weak
flesh and blood could endure.
lnnamed and excited by few leading
spirits, an immense throng-mostly OF wo-
men and children-had crowded into the
street, picked up such missiles as came to
their hands, and with shouting and clamor
were rushing toward the officers.
- Bread Bread we are starvingP' was
their cry, and glance at their distorted
md determined faces showed they would
stop at nothing to secure their end.
On they came, their number swelling
every moment, and their yclls and cries
filling the air. The general, knowing the
terrible results likely TO follow the capture
OF the stores by the mob-there being
and conscious that what was to be done
must be done at once, turned to one OF his
companions and said, captain, order your
company here sir, as quickly as possible,
and II that crowd does not scatter, when
give the word, fire upon them"
The young officer, his face flushing as he
saluted, replied. "General, my men do not
light women and children, and, even were
to give such command, which cannot
do, would certainly refuse to obey It,"
Under the circumstances such q reply
would have been severely punished as a
breach OF military discipline, but distinc-
tions OF rank were almost lost how, and the
general, biting his lips, hurriedly made the
same request OF the others about him.
Each In turn answered substantially as
the first,
The general cast glance at the ever-ad-
vancing mob, and then said, In tone OF
utter despair:
'Do you realize, gentlemen, that that
crowd means drunkenness, debauchery,
pillage, and perhaps murder My God
is there no one who Will obey an order to
prevent these horrors9"
To his amazement voice seemingly at
his stirrup answered: "Yes, general,
WHIP
Looking down he saw lad, perhaps 10
years old, uniformed as cadet captain.
What did you say my boyy,
'My men will obey you, sir" was the re-
ply.
The old soldier gazed at the little fellow
an instant, noted the earnestness and de-
termination In the young countenance, aud ,
perhaps, thinking this possible chance OF
averting the awful scenes OF a bread riot,
saluted him and said :,
VERY well, captain, order your men, "
Swith snght emphasis on tne Worul, IN
line from curb to curb, and then await my
further orders" ,
Inc young captain oisappeareu arouhu a
corner Dut III moment returned at tne
head OF company OF boys ike himseit,
placed them as directed,and then said: "Sir,
my men are ready" :,
"Have them load their pieces with ball
cartridges, captain, and when give the
word II IL becomes necessary, want them
to fire low, but to hre. You understand,
sir ~
les, general
The latter then rode toward the advanc-
ing mob, and the oilicers.drew on one side
looking upon the scene Win mingled ieel-
ings OF shame and dread. The young cap
tain mad, meanwhile, Joined MS company.
Inc command 'lOuu' WIS gwen ana eN-
ecuted with precision and quicEness; then
"ready" and the young soldiers stood
motionless waiting the word 10 1oliow.
The mob, which was now but stone 8
throw from the little band, mad watched
all these proceedings with much interest,
and when they realized that 1t was expected
TO stop their progress, by means OF these
lew boys, renewed their derisive SHOUTS ana
emphasized them into shower OF stones.
The general, as he neared the approach
Ing column, halted, raised his hand to com
mand silence, and in Few plain words re-
monstrated with the throng He reminded
them that he and his companions had SUI
Tered all and more than many In his audi
enee without word. lie promised them
IL they would disperse quietly that before
night each should have something. lie tod
ihem that, II they persisted ana succeeded
in their attempt, the weak and SICK who
most needed the store would get none,
Tho strong ana brutal would get them all,
and he warned them that their attempt
would be resisted. He was interrupted
frequently by shouts and cries oil FOOD! we
will have food ~ and stones flew about his
head.
He paused moment, then rode to the
side OF the little company, drew his watch
from his pocket and, holding 1t in his open
palm, continues:
~ have warned you fairly, my friends
and the consequences are upon your own
heads. i shall give you five minutes In