Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1890-09-06
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
powNED THE GENERAL.
How the Guard Got the Best ofa Division
commander.

was encamped at FRANKLIN, Tenn, Tor
don Granger in command. A regiment
CROSSED the river from the camp, and
picketed around the town daily. One
day the Ono Hundred and Twenty-first
Ohio went over, and it fell to the writer
TO take squad back to the pontoon
bridge.
The sergeant relieved told me his
was special detail made the night be-
fore from n regiment near by; that
Captain Stacy had fooled the regular
guards out of their guns, and then had
them all put under arrest.
This Captain Stacy was always at such
tricks. He was Chief of Staff to Cen
'eral Gilbert, in command Of our divis-
ion, and the soldiers generally hated
them because they seemed to hate the
soldiers, and were continually trying to
play just such tricks upon them as the
above. ~
asked tho sergeant what his orders
were. Nf >
Pass no man without pass counter
signed by General Granger"
You don't mean just that; what else
have you got?" replied.
Nothing; that's all the orders I've
got to give you," he said very cmphati-
eally.
"All right" l said, turning to my
guards; "boys, there'll be fun here to-
day"
We looked for the grand rounds dur
ing the first relief, and l put our best
man on duty, with the aforesaid "or-
ders" regret that can not recall his
name. 1t was a cold, windy day, and
the guards Except the one on duty
took shelter behind some boards, and l
sat down on log to leeward of them
about ten yards from the guard to note
events.
AT 1880 General Gilbert, Captain
Stacy and at least dozen orderlies
came over the hill and down toward our
post on the gallop.
If we had known that he was the Off
Ger of the day that day, we should have
turned out to salute him, according to
regulations; but we didn't, so the guards
kept their shelter, sat on my log, and
down laundering came Gilbert and
Stacy.
Supposing they had another good
chance to dab it to some more soldiers,
they began to rein up, but just before
they stopped the guard brought his bayo-
net down till it barely touched the
horses shoulder and demand
Got pass, Gineral?"
The Generals face darkened.
do you know who | am? Icommand
these guard!'
Can't see it, Gineral," said the SOL
dier, looking him in the face.
I'm officer of the day! l command
these guards. / command you to lay
down your arms he fairly yelled, his
face now white with rage.
The guard said nothing but still kept
his bayonet down, while l still sat on
the log, with as Indifferent look as !
was capable of.
"Whore's your sergeant?" he exclaim-
cd, looking round as viciously as if he
could bite iron.
1 came forward leisurely, and told
him ...-
1.-The guard is right, sir; we are to re-
quire n pass, countersigned by General
Granger, of every man. l presume
there is some mistake, and told the ser
geant so that / relieved"
''But am general officer of the day, u
sir" he said; and Stacy looked as if
would turn pale at the thought of being
reduced to the ranks and the whole
guard arrested in disgrace.
II have no reason to doubt your word
sir | replied, but we have no such in.
formation, and don't see your sash.
suppose you should wear red SASH"
''Ehl that's all you know about it.
s~rannrn1 nffipnr unllnuy cnSh
What regiment do you belong to?"
told him.
"Ah! that accounts for it; that ac
counts for it. Now, when you 60 bach
to camp you study the regulations
You'll find general officer wears yel
low SASH"
But he looked round for a moment an6
then turned tail and rode slowly toward
Granger's tent with his head down, anG
all his cavalcade followed.
After long while here came an or
derly, riding on the gallop, with big
envelope in his hand.
'Now you'll catch it''-said the guard
II don't care; we've got in good OF
Gilbert for what Stacy did last night
Great Scott Wouldn't tho whole di
vision hold jubilee over it if they dar
.ed?"
The orderly dismounted and salutet
as if were the General in command.
''From General Granger" handing m,
the envelope. Iopened it and read:
To the Sergeant of the Guard at the bridge:
You will pass all division commanders.
BY order of GORDON GRANGER,
General Commanding
Gilbert was officer of the day; bu
about four o'clock he came over the hill
on walk, with one little orderly be
hind him. We turned out:
"Have you any different orders?' hi
asked, in sneering tone.
"Yes, sir; written orders from Genera
Granger to pass division commanders" !"
He passed over, and on his round
,majs them believe over there that tn
deuce would be to pay forit, but that wa
the end of 1t.
rpI,, ,oo,,o l., n ro y, co-,o 70, p,nat hax Vi,