Sierra County advocate. [volume] (Kingston, N.M.) 1884-1960, 1886-09-11
MY FRIEND, THE MAJOR.
The Truth Not in Him, Yet All
Loved Him.

Do you know my friend, the Mayor?
lie is a rare bird. He is an optimist
on principle, and liar because he cam t
help il. TO know the Mayor is a lib
eral education at least, SO far as the fine
art of preyarication is concerned The
Major first attracted my attention dur
inc the war. He was exempted from
service on account of some slight disa-
bllity, hut as soon as hostilitics opened
he announced his attention of Joining
the army He made no secret of his
determination even to strangers.
Whenever he saw a crowd of able
bodied young men he would introduce
himself congratulate them upon their
manifest ability to serve their country
in the field, and wind up with the
statement that although cripple him
s3If he did not propose to be cheated
out of his share Of the glory, and was
thenmaking his arrangements TO 90 TO
the front.
The effect of this kind of talk may be
imagined. In those days every body
was patriotic or nothing. Many
timid man was made so ashamed of
himself by the Majors devotion to the
flfcderacy that he principitately vol
unteered and marched of with a mus
lct on hi. shoulder. All through six
ty-one and siXty-two this gallant pa
triot gave himself up to this work.
Finally it began TO draw upon us that
he was losing good deal of time, and
missing all the lighting right straight
along. Something Of the sort was
limited TO him, but he promptly silenced
all criticism. He had been delayed BY
so many things, he said. First, he had
intended to join Colonel Blanks regi-
ment but the Colonel was killed, and
that caused him to change his plans.
IIehad found it difficult TO decide be-
tween the infantry, cavalry and artil-
lery branches of the service. He also
thought of the navy, and at that very
time was waiting to hearfrom certain
Admiral who was an old friend.
After hearing these yoluble explana-
tons, men would wink significantly at
each other, but they kept their suspi-
cions to themselves. 1t was useless to
make war on the Major He was hand
in glove with the authorities, and the
women were all on his side. The sac
rfoe which he proposed to make in
going into the army, in spite of the
exemption, stirred the feminine heart
and so much was said about it that
scores of men less fit for duty than the
Major found themselves unable to stand
the pressure. They rushed off to the
army, but the Major still fingered at
Liple,
D&+ng the siege of Atlanta my old
friend niSrle himself very useful, and |
think hurried up matters not little
He attached himself TO flag of truce
party one day, and although present as
a citizen he wore an officers coat. He
strolled about, got left by his party,
and was picked up by the Fcdcrals as a
spy. He'Was so defiant, so voluble and
SO bright that he was carried before :,
General sherman. In the presence of
this terrible commander the Major did |
not abatc one jot of his natural dignity.
He explained his position satisfactorily, !
and IN response to the questions put to
him said that Atlanta was defended by
50. 600 men, that General Hood had POO
biz guns, unlimited ammunition, and
all the supplies he needed. The garri- |
son, he said, would be reinforced by
20, 600 militia from the South Atlantic |
states inside of ten days 70 make |
lm stop his everlasting jaw, Sherman
,rdered him to be escorted to the Con-
edrate lines,
As soon rs the Major got back to the |
.,7, be was interviewed by every body, |
rom General Hood down TO the news
,oys. To all these searchers after
truth the Major was gracious and COM
nunicativc. He said that Sherman's |
-orce. at a moderate estimate, amounted /.
% 40. 600 men, and $4,000 more were /
IN the way. He had seen 800 heavy |
,iege guns placed in position, and had |
learned that it was the programme to |
,pen fire on the city with all of them /
Il forly-eight hours. He had also seen
, brass band with instruments costing I
s40. .000. This band had just arrived |
from Washington and had been sent |
ror TO furnish the music when Sher-
man made his grand entry into the
,ily
Looking back TO those days, / can
,asly see that the Majors fearful
rams must have driven both Sherman
nd Hood nearly crazy. Both Gener-
Id madc some very eccentric move
ncnts soon afterwards. and my old
-rienl was doubtless responsible for
.be wlolc business. After losing sight