Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1888-02-04

iottn, glIIterlng w1tn a profuse emplazonry
of gold lace, but his large. spare figure In
| dicated great strength, and his face, with
| its prominent Roman nose and brilliant
| eyes, would have stamped the man in any
circle as remarkable person, born
| leader Of men.
| This man, the central figure Of the
group, was Gen. Oglethrope
! The other two, dressed also In scarlet
! uniforms, were brother officers One was
Maj. Dalhousie, the other was Capt.
| Cardigan. They were young men, but
| their appearance showed them to be
| gallant soldiers, well suited to the bust
ness In which their general kept them en-
gagged night and day.
The three officers had something more
serious on hand than the discussion Of
their Madeira.
"The fellow will have to be shot, then, !"
remarked Maj. Dalhousie airily, as he
swallowed another bumper.
81 am afraid so, replied Capt. Cardi-
| gan, adjusting his ruf1es, "but It il o
| pity. Corp. Crupp is good soldier at
times. Lord! But he can ightr'
"Zoundsp' exclaimed the general,
much do deplore such necessity, gen
tlemen, but discipline is more important
in these savage wilds than it Is in Europe.
| Here warfare is nothing but butchery,
and we need every man in our small
| force. Now, when I was campaigning on
the continent" continued the general, as
he paused to drain another glass, "a lit
| tie drunkenness, more or less, did not
matter. myself once refused to take a
| French officer prisoner because he was so
befuddled that he ran into our lines. A
| splendid fellow he was, too. Once our
commands were fronting each other just
as the fight opened, and the Frenchman,
| taking off his hat, said: Gentlemen,
have the goodness to fire firstl' -
THAT was grandr cried Mat. Dali
housie.
at was," answered the general SEN
tentiously, s'but 1t was not war. Il was
| an attempt to apply the tactics Of the
ball room to the battle field. Well, my
bull dogs accepted the invitation, and In
less than five minutes we had driven the
monsieurs out Of sight"
But" said Maj. Dalhousie, 1--WE are
leaving the subject Must the corporal
be shotf''
"To certainty murmured Capt. Car
digan, who had spilled his wine. and was
/ peering into his right boot under the i'm
preston that something was wrong some
where
''Let us see," said the general, ''you
! have had the varlet in the guard houses"
"a hundred times" replied the cap
tain.
''Damme if / think he has ever left ii, !"
replied the major.
"And yet he fights?"
''Like DEVIL exclaimed both officers.
''He saved us from surprise month
| ago." put in the major.
at is serious case" said the general
''The trustees of our infant colony are de-
termined to prohibit the drinking of rum,
and all that is brought here has to be
/ STAYED. y
BLOOD and DEATH" interrupted the
| major, show does the fellow get his
tipple?'
''Iremenshus mishtery to me-" said the
captain, who had just lost another glass
Of Madeira, and was glazing at the water
pitcher very suspiciously.
| Il Think" suggested the general,
s'that / will have the corporal brought
| here. / desire to question him."
AS the officers made no objection, n
messenger was sent to the guard house,
and In few moments the offender came
in, escorted by guard.
/ Corp. Crupp looked little the worse
for wear, and his face wore surly ex-
preston, but he did not appear to be
| vicious. He faced the three officers quietly
! and waited for them to speak
| Corporal, we have lost all patience
with you" said Gen. Oglethorpe sternly
II am not surprised" was the sad re-
| ply, 'and am ready to stand the conse-
| quences "
| "You fell asleep while drunk on your
post"
! sit is true,'' admitted the soldier.
/ sYesh. corp', and you'll have to be
shot" interposed Capt Cardigan.
| ~ have no objection answered the
| corporal stolidly.
See here, corporal, said the general
| severely; "you are man of intelligence
! You know all about re prohibitory order
| of the trustees. Nc~. why is it that you
! will smuggle rum ard drink its''
/ For moment the corporal was silent
! Then he Strengthened himself to his full
I height and pointed to the table and the
half filed glasses.
''There," he said, in steady ringing
voice, there is the explanation. You
/ place yourself above the aw. Do you not
see that oilers will ,e tempted to do the
/ same? Wien Corp. Crupp breasts the
cold and wet, and sees his superior officers
enjoying tier wine, dcl't you think that
| he feels driven by some demon to 60 and
| follow their examples Like master, like
man, You know"
"Imput ent knayer' yelled the major.
"Gad! If he was q gentleman ia call
him out, !" said the captain.
| The commander rose from his chair and
walked the room.
/ Then he faced the culprit, and said:
! SIN your coarse, blunt way, corporal,
| you have taught me lesson don't
know that it is possible to save you, but
| you Shall have another chancen
He summoned servant
! 60 and empty every drop of wine and
spirits in the houser' he ordered.
The officers jumped from their seats in
/ surprise.
Il mean it,' said the general "There
will be no more tipping among her mai
| esty's officers in this colony, and the first
man who disobeys this rule will find him.
self in the guard house"
But" stammered the captain.
~ have said it, was the firm reply.
''Now, Crupp, / want you to go to the In
dian village, twenty miles north of here,
and return with report Of the warlike
preparations there"
General, will you trust mes' cried the
soldier
II did not say trusted you. 1t is an
experiment. / have placed myself and
my officers under the same discipline re-
quired by you. You are, in honor, bound
to accept the common lot of your fellow
soldiers
The corporal stepped forward and kissed
the generals hand, and dropped tear on
it. Then with a salute he retired.
Corp. Crupp accomplished his mission
with signal fidelity
He did more He became the best sol
dier in the colony, and in the course of the
war with the Spaniards rose to the rank
of captain.
When Gen. Oglethrope returned to
Europe Capt Crupp accompanied him.
Long years afterward Col Crupp was
in the habit of entertaining young officers
with "reminiscences af Gan Oolathrny,A