The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1889-11-09
H THREE CAPTAINS.
Hervy Bluff ola Plucky Ohio River
Boat Commander.
He Stood by a Passenger Vino claim-
ed His Profession and Put an Angry
Military Officer to Shame-A Pleas
ant Little Affair That Came Near
Ending Tragically.

were CHARTERED in the cabin. We
had, besides, MS many cabin passen-
gers rs we could carry, among them a
number of Confederate officers who
had been prisoners ana were released
on parole. Just before reaching Louis
vile the captain in command of the
Federal troops called a meeting Of the
passengers, and after setting forth the
efforts OF the officers of the boat to
contribute to the comfort of those on
board, suggested that it would be al
together proper to put their feelings in
words and to present the captain in
due form with Il set of resolutions ex-
pressive of their sentiments. Every
body, of course, acquiesced, and a
committee, with the Federal captain
at its head, was appointed to draw up
the resolutions. In due time the paper
was ready for signatures.
II OBJECTIONABLE INITIALS.
Opposite q number of their names
were written military titles, followed
by the letters US A. Finally it came
the turn Of a gentleman, I think his
name was Roberts or Robin, t o sign.
He did SO i'll a nea round hand, very |
much resembling the writing of a
lady, and after his name he wrote
"Captain, C. S. A." The Federal cap
tain stood by the table and acted as a
sort OF master of ceremonies, and Of
course saw what the Confederate cap
tain had written. In tones not loud, |
but imperative, he said: "Scratch that
out, sir" The young Confederate Off
ccr colored up and replied in a voice
heard distinctly by everybody in the
vicinity: "Inl not do it, STRIP Then
followed a painful silence of probably |
a minute. The silence was broken BY
the Federal officer, who, speaking to
the assembly, said: This man, a
paroled prisoner, has grossly insulted
me and every loyal person present; by
writing opposite his name the title,
Captain, &C. s. A. / insist he shall
scratch it out"
The Confederate officer drew him
self up to his full height and respond
ed 81 notice that a number Of gen.
tlemen here have thought proper to
write their military titles after their
names. Following their example,
have done the same. The title | have
written was won by me on the field
CT battle, and | have never disgraced
it, nor have | ever. by any act of
mine, deprived myself Of the right to
use it. | am a confederate officer,
and am now a paroled prisoner.
When brought in tle presence of the
commanding officer Of the division.
brigade, regiment and company after
being made IA prisoner, each and all
of them acknowledged my right ;
to my title by addressing me {;
by it, and l deny the right of any
to forbid my using it,"
At the close of this little speech the
Federal captain turned OH his heel {
and strobe up the cabin.
While all this was going on in the c
the captain was on the roof in
blissful ignorance that there was any
thing wrong below, until some one
ran up and told him that there was o
between the Federal and Con- t.
federate officers. He fastened below, a
entering the cabin just in time to see 1
The Federal officer emerge from his +.
state room and stride down the cabin.
with his sword rafting against his
tide and his hand on it's hilt. 1t was
evident that he was in a very fierce
Marching up to the table
where the paper lay, the Federal Off
;er, half drawing his sword, said add
the Confederate captain:
Sir, l I'M Capt, of the United
'tates army, and / command you to
either the title or your entire
ignature from that paper"
"Capt,-, am glad to know you,
ir. am Capt, of the Confederate
'tates army, and l cannot obey your
ommand."
1.-THE L NAN" STEPS IN.
The two military gentlemen glared
t each other in a that BODIED
serious elimination of the scene.
1hen the commander of the boat STEM
ed to the front and said: "Gentle-
ZEN! gentlemen! this is all wrong.
THAT does it mean ,"
"Mean, sir; mean 7 Why, it means
hat that fellow has dared insult this
ntire company, sir, by writing the
,tters c. S. A. opposite his name, and
insist he shall erase them, and I
lean to make him do it, |
The Confederate captain said, adj j
the boats commander: "I F,
ave insulted nobody. Nobody but I
- gentleman who has just spoken
retends to be insplted, T.. certainly
leant no insult but the title I have |
1itten was 'h~onorsbly won by mo.
ID, having written e, I refuse to /
-. Ian . Pssssagsr on year beat,