Phillipsburg herald. [volume] (Phillipsburg, Kan.) 1882-1905, 1886-07-17

cause was roo young 70 6AAu15 t-45
OF a soldiers life. Had 1 not
declared to them all, that was by FAR
the strongest boy of my agein the school
OF which was then a pupil, and that 1
would come home a captsin at least, with
sword and epaulets ? And this was TO be
the end Of it all. But had not thought
at the time about having to march and
sleep IN the rain and water fort weeks
at one time.
Hold l go OF dnty at z o'clock,
this is my I 1.-TWO hours on post, the re-
lief hasn't been round yet, some Of the
boys have accidentally passed this way,
found me asleep, and stolen my gun for
a ioke-it is down at the guard head
quarters, Of course-Why didn't think
Of that at the first? I Will Just run down
and get it. When the new guard comes
to relieve me, they will find me walking
my post all right
Thus reasoning L almost laughed out
right, as I ran swiftly to the little ez-
tempOTized camp some 300 yards to the
rear where happily 1 found the guards
sitting about a steaming camp Kettle tax
ing their coffee. The guns were stacked
some distance away from the hrei tins
gave me the desired opportunity 70 creep
to them without attracting notice.
Eagerly scanning the guns, quickly
recognized my dear old musket by the
scrawl OF one Of my initials which had
cut into the stock; I seized and Rugged
it it to my breast with affechOnate Joy as
though it had been a thing OF life.
huE=ied back to my post and resumed
| the wearisOme tramp.
Presently the changing Of arms gave
me notice that the relief guard was aP-
| preaching. While communicating my
/ orders as best I could, it seemed to me
that some members Of the guard glanced
significantly and sorrowfully toward me-
but not a word was spoken that indicated
any knowledge on their part what had
befallen me. I fell in the rear OF the
new guard, and made the rounds until
all had been replaced by new sentmels
Soon after joining the remainder OF the
guard, the Officerin command OF the out
post, a tall ungainly lieutenant, who on
two previous occasions had been under
arrest for drunkenness, and VINO was
afterwards dismissed from the service on
a combination Of charges, which covered
about every disgraceful act, including
that Of cOwardice, known to the martial
code, gave the order 10 fall in, prepare
tory to marching back to the regimenta-
camp. AS was the least in stature, my
place IN ranks was generally on the ex
treme left Of either company or squad.
quickly got into my position, mentally
thankful that I had not been discovered
by the lieutenant, and that would sOOI
be In camp where I could sleep and rest
Front face p
What is the use OF thatY we are al
ready in proper line to move right for
ward, and then he ought to know hOV
tired we all are.
"Right dress p
Why surely Lieutenant HardsOl is no
going to Fut us through a drill or in
spection, and we so sleepy, and wanting
water SO much.
i.Frontp'
al s'Pose old lengthy's goin' to have
dress parade" muttered the cOmrade o.
my immediate right.
''Order armsr'
What does it all mean? surely, if tn
heutenent could only know how bad
am feeling he wouldn't have the heart t
keep up standing here in the hot sun s
long. Thus L reflected. But all Of these
to me, inexplicable maneuvers were Onl
too soon to be explained. With tie IL
solent swagger of a mean and petty sou
clothed with a little power, he wake
down the line until reaching the cente
he took a position about ten PAGES
front.
felt my heart almost cease to bes
when he fixed his eyes on me and con
manded that I should step three PAGES
the front
"Seargent, relieve that fellow Of his gu
= and belti He is under arrest for Eleepin
on his post"
do not believe it is within the pow
of any human being to paint by words,
l correct picture Of the agony 1 suffered
that moment. While memory holds,
horrible recollections viii never be g
D faced, it is burned and sacared into n
3 memory as with a white het iron. Adde
5 to the great physical pain and fatigJ
, under which labOred, was the humili
ton and disgrace Of being stripped
2 my gun and accoutrements, IN tins maj
i ner, in the presence Of my cOmrade
I Then to be marched back to the regimei
q a prisoner, accused of, what seemed
o me, the most heinous and unsoldierly
Z all military Offenses, Just about broke n
heart, and wanted to die.
; The sergeant, a big, warm-hearti
d fellow, came slowly toward me. to Obt
L the order Without speaking, hand,
him my gun, and, unclasping my be
d ! passed that to him also.
l. During the few minutes this occupit
n he managed to whisper, ''Cheer mp, lit
o one it'll all come out right. He's not
ing but a id brute, anyhow 'Wh,
y the sergeant had gone back to his PlaC
2. the lieutenant concluded:
= s'As I was making the rounds Tia
d morning I found him standing bolt u
g right sound asleep. L got his gun ava
= without disturbing the drOwsy infant
4 hne soldier he for picket guard in &
II face Of the enemy. Do you know Z
n penalty for this. men9 1t is deaf
This nursing viii be shot and hope
n viii teach mothers to keep such at hoE
It after this"
d At the conclusion OF this brave speed
Q. I was ordered to ta1 in between a file
e soldiers and thus marched back to cam
It I was taken to the regimental qua
.e tent, where throwing myself down IN t
If straw, I wept as only boy, less tn
3, fourteen years Of age, naturally pro-
lie and sensitive-utterly crushed a
q, broken dOwn-can.
). Soon after, members Of my compal
~ came to see me, all full Of genuine syl
= pathy, among whom was the captain,
- noble and brave soldier, whose life aft
wards went out on the field Of bait