Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1890-09-11
WAR "REMINISCENCES.
DowNED THE GENERAL.
How the Guard Got the Best ola Division
Commander.


day the One Hundred and Twenty-first
Ohio went over, and it fell to the writer
TO take a squad back to the pontoon
bridge
The sergeant / relieved told me his
was a special detail made the night be.
fore from q regiment near by; that
Captain Stacy bad fooled the regular
guards out of their guns, and then had
them all put under arrest
This Captain Stacy was always atsuch
tricks. He was Chief Of STAFF to GEN
eral Gilbert, in command of our divis-
ion, and the soldiers generally hated
them because they seemed TO nate the
soldiers, and were continually trying to
play just such tricks upon them as the
above.
asked the sergeant what his orders
were
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" no said very emphati-
cally.
IAN right" said. turning to my
guards boys, there'n be fun here to-
day"
We looked for the grand rounds dur
ing the first relief, and / put our best
man on duty, with the aforesaid "or-
ders", ! regret that can not recall his
fiame. II was cold windy day and
the guards Except the ono on duty
took shelter behind some boards, and /
at down on log to leeward of them
about ter yards from tho 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.
II 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
1GYn laundering came Gilbert and
Stacy.
Surprising 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? command
these guard"
Cant see ii, Gineral" said the sol
Sier, looking him in the face.
I'm officer of the day l command
these guardsl ! 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 still sat on
the log, with as Indifferent look as |
was capable Of
Where's your sergeant?' he exclaim-
ed, looking round as yiciously as if he
could bite iron
| came forward leisurely, and told
him
The guard is right, sir we are to re-
quire pass, countersigned by General
Granger, of every man. | presume
there is some mistake, and told the SER
geant SO that | relieved,
nut ! AtN EtIltFAl OUlCtE OF inc uaY.
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 a red sash"
Eth! that's all you know about It. A
general officer wears a yellow sash.
What regiment do you belong TOP"
| told him.
"Ah! that accounts for it. that ac-
counts for it Now, when you go back
TO camp you study the regulations
You'll find a general officer wears yell
low sash"
But he looked round for moment and
then turned tail and rode slowly toward
Changers tent with his head down, and
all his cavalcade followed.
After long while here came an or
derby, riding on the gallop, with a big
envelope in his hand.
Now you'll catch it"-said the guard
II don't care; we've got in good on
Gilbert for what Stacy did last night
Great Scott! Wouldn't the whole di-
vision hold jubilee over it if they dar-
ed?a
The orderly dismounted and saluted
as If / were the General in command.
From General Granger" handing me
the envelope. Iopened it and read
To the Sergeant Of the Guard at the bridge:
You VIII pass all division commanders.
BY order Of GoRDoN GRANGER
General Commanding
Gilbert was officer of the day; but
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?" he
asked, in a sneering tone.
Yes, sir; written orders from General
Granger to pass division commanders
He passed over, and on his rounds
made them believe over there that the
deuce would be to pay forit, but that was
the end of il.
The scene in Changers tent must have
been rich for Granger was popular. and
delighted in a soldier who was UP to his