Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1891-01-04

modelled by the drastic process in 1871
and. as "A first lieutenant, he was dropped
70 the Supernumary list from the regi
ment of infantry with which he had been
serving. Blauvelt decided that he was
now TOO old to begin bookkeeping over
again, and so he made vigorous efforts tC
be retained in the army, and, together
with few other men who did not know
horse from a hand>aw, was trans
ferred TO vacancy in the cavalry, and
there the placid old fellow had been
ever since.
Rejoining from the east with batch
of recruits. Immediately after the ar
rival of the regiment from Arizona
B,auvelt had resumed command of {
troop, and had given directions that the
tall. gypsy looking fellow, Welsh, who
was One'of the new corners, should be
put in charge of his horses. Next he
moved those veteran quadrupeds from
the troop stables TO little barn
in the back yard OF his own
quarters. Then Welsh him
self moved his exit from barracks 10 a
little room in the barn, and gradually
became an inmate Of the Captains
household. taking his meals under the
Captains roof, performing no duty
with the troop. exempted from the au'
thoritv of the first sergeant, yet spend
ing all his leisure moments IN LOAF
ing among the cOmpany'S quar-
tiers. where he speedily gained
the reputation of being Surly and inSo
lent 10 the nOn-cOmmiSSioned officers
and mischief maker among the men.
For recruit who had only recently en-
listed il was surprising how much he
knew about the inS and outs Of soldier
life.
Sergt. Wren openly accused him oil
having been in service somewhere be
for9. and As he had no papers 10 show
he must be either deSerter or bob
rail'' ia soldier whose discharge paper
has had the character" cut
ou Welsh augrily denied this
and his ignorance of Sabel
drill aud certain troop details
seemed 20 bear him out. But then,
said Wren. ''he might have been in tn,
.6oprb BOYS" Welsh avoided the
-roop quarters for awhile after this cpl
sode. and was more civil TO the ser
,eauts. but right after pay day he AGAR
appeared. eager 10 try his luck in any
zane going on. Then it tranSpireC
rbat. If not an expert with saddle anC
,aber. he was with the cards
and the troopers lost their money
10 him without exactly I'm
Outstanding how The first sergeant
reported these occurrences TO Capt
Blauyelt. and the old man seemed great
lv veNcd. II was established that Welsh
had been neglecting the horses while
PLAYING his game, but he was not re-
iieved and ordered back to duty with
the troop. as had been expected. Il
ANYTHING he became more inSolent il
manner 10 the SergemtS than before
The whole affair seemed unaccOuntablt
% the other men.
one morning about a month after
/ Welsh'S arrival al the post, Lieut.. HearI
came leaping lightly up the steps t
make an inspection OF the barracks
Corp. Quinn, seeing him approach the
quarters. had given word to the men
and those of them who We're in theil
shirt sleeves jumped into their hanne
blouseS. while others Knocked the
ashes out of their pipes and pm
them away. Three or four were
seated around little table
plaving cards. and among these was the
gypsy fellow Welsh, who had beer
there ever since guard mount. TheS'
men. TOO. Sprang to their hunks anC
Strengthened up some items Of then
exits" but Welsh still sat at the table
grumbling at the interruption to thu
game. Put up those cards, Welsh
said a sergeant, bluntiy. Here comes
the lieutenant.
What do | care" WAS the Surly an
swcr. I'm not under his orders. Hes
got no authority over ne.
do as l tell you, and be quick abou
it. was the reply.