Wessington Springs herald. (Wessington Springs, Aurora County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1891, 1889-01-25
the latter became the object of his I'M
relenting hatred.

relenting hatred.
One of these obstinate fellows en-
listed at Camden, Ark, in Company
Q, First Arkansas Regiment, under
the name of Bob Fulton. He was a
wild, harum-scarum sort of chap.
He was tramp printer, and about as
tough and rough and reckless dare
devil as ever belonged to that guild,
from the days of Faust to the present
time. He had led a checkered and adj
venturous career, had roamed all over
the continent, was a filibuster with
Lopez and Walker in Cuba and Cen
trial America, had been twice sentenced
to death, but managed to escape, had
been engaged in numerous shooting
and cutting ARRAYS, and bore the marks
OF wounds in every part of his anat-
omy.
Fulton exhibited rebellious spirit
from the moment of his enlistment,
and had been disciplined on several
occasions. In fact, he had been a pris-
oner in the guarl-house almost con-
stantly from the inception of his career
as an enlisted soldier up to the day of
the arrival of the regiment at Rich
mond, Va, in the early days of June,
1861. 1t was the day after we had gone
into camp there that Colonel James
F. Pagan, the commander of the regi-
ment, in full uniform, and with his
sword buckled to his side, happened
to pass by the guard house, where Full
ton sat brooding over his imaginary
wrongs, and cursing everybody and
everything in general. The 81 ght OF
Pagan had about the same effect upon
his nerves that red rag has upon an
Infatuated bull. All the worst passions
Of his nature were aroused. Jumping
to his feet and shaking his fist menac-
ingly at the Colonel, he exclaimed
"D-n you, Colonel Pagan, if it were
not for the fact that you have your
uniform and sword on, would lick
hell out of you'll"
Pagan was little man, with quiet
and peaceable disposition, but if there
was any one thing that he would do
quicker than another, it was to fight
when challenged to combat. He would
! fight a buzz-saw and give it several
revolutions the advantage. In less
than thirty seconds his bright uniform,
plumed hat, sword, and other insignia
of rank were dotted and lying upon the
sward. and he stood before the aston.
ished Fulton as plain Jim Pagan, in
his shirt sleeves. In thirty seconds
more Bob Fulton was nursing his
bruised and battered head, wiping the
blood from various and sundry cuts
about his eyes, cheeks, and nose, and
wondering if he had encountered q
thrashing machine or buzz-saw.
Pagan quietly donned his uniform,
and, with the remark, "Now, my good
fellow, if YOU haven't got enough, just
send me word, and will see that you,
wants are fully supplied!" walked of
| to his tent.
What wonderful change a little
experience of this character will some
times work in man. From that hou1
Bob Fulton was another being entirely
He was totally unlike his former self
He seemed to have undergone new
birth. From braggart, bully, an6
a fighting brawler, he was transformed
into quiet, peaceable and agreeable
fellow; and instead of being an OBJ
stinate, obstreperous soldier, he was a
yielding as putty, and as obedient t,
military law as any man in the ranks
I-CLicaQO LedQer.