St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-01-29
MINNESOTA GUARDS.
A Pencil Sketch Of j. II. Null
len, the New Adjutant
General.
Something Of Swell Company
| and It's Coming Re-
ception.
Small Shot Fired at Random
Through Three Regi-
mentS.
Personal Hits and Gossip Of
the North Star State
Defenders.

J. Fl. Mullen, the well-knoWn military
veteran of Wabasha, has taken conf
mand of the Minnesota National Guard
by virtue of his position Of adjutant-
general rendered by Gov. Merriam. He
has already got his new seat warm, and
occupies it with an an air of familiarity
born of long experience with military
duty. AS Gen. Mullen will preside over
the destinies of the guard for the next
two years, brief pencil sketch will I've
of interest. Gen. Mullen is pleasant,
animated gentleman of probably forty
five years of age, rather un-
der the medium stature and
of slight build. His features are
regular and his face is adorned with q
full beard somewhat strcaked with
gray. His eyes are bright and clear,
and his whole appearance, when in
conversation, is animated. He is a
veteran of the last war having enlisted
as a private in Company B of the
Twelfth Connecticut volunteers when
only seventeen years old. running away
from his home in Massachusetts, to at
tain that end. He served in Company
Is for about ives months. during that
time being promoted successfully to
corporal and sergeant. He was then
made Sergeant-majOr OF his regiment.
which position he filed so acceptably
that he was soon made a second lieu
tenant and assigned to duty with Com
pany G.. Soon after this he was again
promoted to first leutenant'S berth
and made adiutant of his regiment; after
filling this office for a short time he was
again promoted to the grade of captain
and did duty with Company G for a few
days, when he was detailed on detached
service. placed on the division staff and
doing duty as provost marshal. Soon
after this he was made adiutant general
of his division, being the First of the
Nineteenth corps. The general has seen
some hard fighting, having been in
number of the fierceSt battles of the
war. In giving some of his war remi-
niscences, he told a good story about his
first promotion. One morning his cap
tain. after reducing another man to the
ranks for some cause, promoted him TO
the rank of corporal. and a man never
felt more proud than he did with his
new cheVrons: but alasi for his high
aspirations. When dress parade came
that same night he found himself re-
duced TO the ranks. The cause
was this: His regiment had been
detailed to escort Gen. Butler
from the docks to the ST. Charles
hotel in New Orleans. and had received
strict orders upon no account TO pay the
least attention to the remarks or insults
that would be thrown at them while
marching through the streets. Well.
all went we'll for a short time, but
while marching in the rear of his com
pany down one Of the principal streets.
some one OH the sidewalk kicked a hoop
into the ranks, causing number of the
men to stumble and fall. This was too
much for the young corporal. so taking
a firm hold on his musket he started
after the miscrPant and chased him up
a stairway of an adjoining house, intent
upon letting the fellow feel the point of
his bayonet. But just as he was about
to carry out his intentions. the captain
Of the next company. following him.
caught him by the collar and sent him
back TO his place in line. and that night
at parade he suffered the consequences
of uphoiding the honor OF his regiment
against orders.
Gen. Mullen will do all in his power
for the national guard of this state. as
he has always been a friend of the mil
itia, having been instrumental in organ
izing q company at his home in Wa
baSha.