St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1892-11-12
FROM COLONEL TO PRIVATE
An Incident of Military Service
During the War


Gen. FL. S. Greenleaf, a member of
congress, recently told the following
story:
I'm the fall of 1862, when Lincoln
called for 100000 more men, we in
Franklin county, Massachusetts, buckled
in to raise regiment | had been an
officer in the militia there and hap
Dened to be the first person i'll Sher-
burne Falls TO sign the enlistment roll.
When several companies were nearly
full Gov. Andrew acceded to our re-
quest that we might select all
of our own officerS-nOt only
those of the line, but, through
them, the field officers also. We
organized war meetings and Stumped
two northern counties, and soon the
regiment was full to the minimum.
Then we line officers assembled to
choose our leader. l had had in mind
for colonel one Decker, under whom L
had served when he was colonel OF the
militia, and who had since been year
at the front as lieutenant colonel, | had
seen him and he agreed to accept. and
had resigned his lieutenant colonelcy to
do so. He was an admirable mantle
most accomplished military officer |
ever saw. When we met he was the
only one spoken of for the place. | was
chosen to preside, but just before TAX
ing the chair dispatch was handed me
from Mai. VIM, one of our citizens.
then Ill Boston, saying: Gov. An
drew will not commission Deck
er under any circumstances OH
account of white feather SHOWN at front
under Mcclellan. You must nominate
somebody else for colonel This was a
bad situation. | read the dispatch, and
all was instant confusion. felt that it
was cruelty unjust, and said so. But we
had to act and we took ballot. | was
aStOunded when every ballot save mine
was cast for me for colonel. l had no
practical experience, and urged the
choice of somebody else. but they per
sisted, and | finally agreed to take till
we could inquire into the Decker
trouble. We sent 10 Boston. An
drew was immOvabIe, and then
the men who had given the in
formatiouswere still at the front. | saw
Decker. He complained bitterly OF the
injustice; said that fever drove him to
the hospital; but, he added: III go
and show them. Make me your quar-
termaSter and I'll go with you. colonel -
| accepted, wrote to the cover nor in his
v!ndIcatlOn and nominated him as nv
qtartermaster. The governor vas still
dominated by his first notion, and re-
fused to commission him. | was greatly
grieved and surprised. Decker acted
like man about 1t. He held the dis
patch in his hand minute, and then
said: Colonel, I'm going with you. I'll
go as private. Give me the muster
ROLL and he enlisted as private SOL
dier.
Il was much moved This was the
man who had been my colonel when |
was lieutenant, and who had been at
the front for more than a year in alter
nate commands of a regiment when |
had never heard gun fired i'll danger.
Only one Thug was left to do-tO vindi-
cate Decker. L went TO one of our prin-
cipal lawyers and told him the story, and
got him to go the army Of the Potomac
at my expense and get the atlidaVits of
the officers of the field, staff and line as
TO Decker's conduct. They came at last,
were unanimous in his favor. Then the
governor tardily commissioned him as
my adjutant, for that place will test his
courage, he said. 1t did test II severely,
and it never failed or wayered. Decker
was. believe, the best adiutant in the
whole army. He was an encyclopedia
of knowledge, miracle of activity and
industry. He was indispensable; an
admirable drill officer, a fine disci-
plinarian, and vigilant in the service OF
the regiment. Although he had often
commanded me. he never once forgot
our changed relations. He treated me
like brother, and | shall never cease
to be grateful 10 him.