The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1888-05-30
Soloiers' &uoqet.


In 1861 the Tenth New York In
fantry, under command of General
Butler, was at Fortress Monroe. John
Missing, now deceased, was major, and
| was sergeant of our regiment. Major
Missing was a portly gentleman and
bore a striking resemblance to the gen.
eral. About three miles out in the off
ing lay the war vessels of the North,
side by side with those of almost every
European power stationed there to pro-
tect the interest of their respective ma
tions. The general was often invited
to dine with the officers of these ships,
and / was detailed as coXswain of his
cutter, a handsome boat fitted with
awnings and sail. One evening when
he did not make his appearance | got
wind of the fact that he had been sud
denly summoned to Washington. Next
day took the opportunity TO clean the
boat. My task finished l had just
showed it off, when perceived saunter-
ing toward me Major Missing and
another gentleman. On introduction
the latter proved to be Harry Pierson,
who is to-day prominent actor on the
stage. The major, seeing the boat,
proposed trip for tour of inspection
among the vessels outside. General
Butler had given orders that no one
should use the cutter without his writ
ten permission. at first refused, but
remembering that the general would
not be back for some time l yielded
and we were soon merrily flying over the
waters and rapidly approached the flag
ship -" Mount Vernon that lay nearest
to us. All of sudden the major cried i,
excitedly: "Great heavens, Mac they
are running out the guns. Do they
mean to salute us? They must take me
for the general. We can never go
aboard. What shall we do?' IDOL"
l replied, "why, get out of this as
quickly as possible" Rising, l discov-
cred the pennant flying at the bow l
lowered the pennant just as the first
salute was fired. We then made our
way quickly to the shore, leaving the
bewildered sailors to whatever refec-
tons our conduct might have inspired.
General Butler, on his return, found a
note awaiting him from the commodore,
who demanded an explanation of the
act of discourtesy in lowering the pen
nant while a salute was being fired.
Perplexed and annoyed, the general
began rigid investigation, and, on be-
ing questioned, | at once made a clean
breast of the whole affair. For several
days | was kept in irons, until the in
tercession of influential friends secured
my pardon. Now comes the amazing
sequel. One evening after the war
was over | was taking dinner at an En-
glish chop-house in New York city,
when my attention was attracted by a
gentleman reciting the above story to
a party of friends. To my surprise l
discovered the narrator to be Harry
Pierson, who was then playing at
Niblo's. | listened to his recital and
learned that he was placing himself in
the role of hero; that, according to his
story, he had been mistaken for the
general; that he had been honored by
a salute of thirty-siX guns and that no
disclosure of the mistake had been made
to that day. When he had finished |
quietly walked over to where he sat,
and, touching him on the shoulder,
drew him on one side. "Don't you
remember me?' | whispered; 81 am
Mac, the coxswain of that cutter and
have heard your tale" Startled, but
recognizing me at once, he replied, in
an agitated undertone: "For good
ness sake don't spoil good story"
| Then, turning to his friends, he said
aloud: "And here, gentlemen, is my
witness, the coxswain of the boat
After this denouement l made my
exit as soon as possible to indulge in
the laughter | found it hard to re-
press.-Coptau, McKelcey.