The National tribune., 1886-01-21
CORPORAL 81 KLEGG,
A Nights Adventures as corporal
Of the Guard"

"Corporal Klegg You will 60 on duty tonight
with the camp guard !" said the Orderly OF Co.
Q one evening as the 200th Ind. filed Oft into
piece of woods to bivouac for the night, two or
three days after ST had been promoted.
The chcvrons on his arms had raised 81 sew
eral degrees in the estimation not only OF hlm-
SELF but of the other members of the company.
His conduct in the skirmiSh had shown that
he had in him the material for good soldier.
and even the Orderly began to treat him with
that respect due to his new rank as one OF the
non-ccmmish."
Like every other man who put on the army
blue and marched away all so bold, with gay
and gallant tread" ST could not tell whether
he was going to amount TO anything as soldier
until he had gone through the test OF being
under fire. There were many men who walked
very erect, talked brayely, drilled well, and
made fine appearance on dress parade, before
they reached the 'front.'" but who wiltcd at
the zip" Of bullets like tender corn blades
nipped by an untiIncly frost. And good many
Of them continued III that wilJcd condition.
Perhaps they really couidn' heipit An inscru-
table Providence had seen fit TO omit putting
any sand il their giaZaraS." as the boys ez-
pressed il.
1t must be confessed that ST was somewhat
unduly elated and puGed up over his own
achievements as skirmisher and his success
in climbing the ladder Of military rank and
fame. 1t is true it wasn't much of fight they
had that day, but 81 thought it was pretty fair
for starter. and enough to prove to both him
self and his comrades that he wouldn't be one
of the coffee coolers" when there was busi-
ness OH hand.
ST was sorry that his regiment did not get
into the fight at Perryvlle. The 2O0th Ind.
belonged TO one of the two corps of Buell's army
that lay under the trees two or three miles
away all through that October afternoon while
McCook's gallant men were in a iife-and-death
struggle against overwhelming odds. 1t both
cred 81 rs much to understand 1t all as it did
10000 other soldiers that day.
ST responded with alacrity when he was de-
tailed for guard duty. He had walked a beat
once or twice as a common tramp, and had not
found it particularly pleasant, especially III
stormy weather; but DOW he was peg higher,
and he thought as Corporal he would have
better time. He had already observed that the
rude winds Of army life were tempered, il not
to the shorn lambs, at least to the officers, in a
degree proportonate TO their rank. The latter
had the first pick Of everything, and the men
took what was left. The officers always got the
sOftest rails to sleep on, the hardtack that was
least tunneled through by the worms the bacon
that had the fewest maggots and the biggest
trees in a fight.
"Forward-March !" shouted the officer in
command, when the detachment was ready. ST
stepped of very proudly, thinking how glad
his good old mother and sister Marier and
pretty Annabel would be if they could see him
at that moment. lie Was determined TO dis
charge his official duties right up to the ham
die" and make the boys stand around in lively
style.
When the guards reached the place selected
for headquarters the officer briefly lecturcd
them in regard to their duties, impreS5iug upon
them the necessity OF being alert and yigilant.
There was only a thin pickct-line between
them and the enemy. The safety of the army
depended upon the faithfulness Of those ap-
pointed to watch while others slept. He gave
them the countersign, Bunker Hill," and
ordered them under 40 circumstances to allow
any person to pass without giving it, not even
the commanding General himself.
Then the guards were posted the beats"
laid of and numbered and as The fast gather
ing shadows deePcned among the trees the
sentinels paced TO and fro around the tired
army.
For an hour or two after the guards were
stationed all WAS quiet along the line. The
noise of the great camp was hushcd for the
night, and 10 sound broke the stiffness Of the
gloomy forest. The moon arose and peeped
timidly through the branches.
Corporal OF the Guard; beat number six!"
Sis quick car, as he lay cGried up at the foot
of a tree, caught these words rapidly repeated
summons. He sprang to his feet gun in hand,
his heart beating at the thought of adventure,
aud started on the run for /" beat No. G."
What's up?" he said to the guard, with q
perceptible tremor in his voice.
There's one O. the boys tryiu' 10 run the
guards," was the answer. Hes been out for
agin', reckon. He's got lot o plunder he
wants to git into camp with. See him, out
there IN the bush T"
The forager, for such he proved TO be, was
nimbiy dodging from tree 10 tree, watching for
chance to cross the line, but the a!ertness OF
the guards had thus far kept him outside. He
had tried to bribe one or two OF the boys by
offering to "whack mp" if they would let him
pass give him the countersign so that he
could get in at sOme other point in the Gordon.
But the guards were incorTuptible. They were
fresh yet, and had not caught on to the plan
Of accepting an offered chicken, a section Of
sGccuent pig, or few sweet potatoes and then
walking Off to the remote limit OF the beat,
with eyes to the front. while the foragcr shot
across the line in safety. They learned all
about this after while.
The raider tried to parley with ST, but 81
wouldn't have it. Raising his gun to a " ready"
he ordered the man to come in or he would put
a hole through him.
The best thing to do under the circumstances
was to obey. The foragcr, who belonged to Sis
company, crept up TO Corporal klegg and in a
conciliatory tone opened negotiations.
"You jest let me pass, and you may have
your pick Of this stuff" said he, holding up a