Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-08-06
THE CAPTAIN OF COMPANY b.

The Men Had Sized Him Up Long Before
He Led Them Toward the Knoll.
From the New York Sun.
After the first year of the war the rank and
file sized up an officer on his merits within ten
minutes of the opening of a battle. No matter
how much they saw Of him in camp no verdict
was rendered until he had been tried by fire
While every man is part of a great machine
in battle. the rank and file moves only as di-
rectly commanded. We depended not on each
other, but on the man in command. He must
be brave; he must be cool; he must have good
Judgment He must know when he is whipped
and how to retreat to the best advantage.
Many officers made the mistake Of trying to
pass off bravado for the genuine article. For
instance, they talked in loud tones, not think
ing that the sharp-eared men could detect the
tremor of their voices. If bullets and shells
were flying over the lines they would control
their nerves and not duck and dodge. When
they looked around for admiration they saw
faces wearing signs of doubt.
"He is holding himself up-he's no good.''
was the criticism against such officer, and it
always had sure foundation.
Nobody had any sympathy for a private who
became ratified. although it was not always a
sign of cowardice, but there was never a more
pitiful sight than the spectacle Of captain
breaking down on the battlefield Watch him
as the regiment suddenly receives the order to
hill into an open field to fill n gap. It's his
first fight. In camp he has been a bulldozer
and martinez. Back there with the reserves
safe from the missiles of war, he has folded his
arms and assumed theatrical poses talked very
loudly, handled his sword and examined his re-
volvers. Other captains have watched him and
perhaps envied his nerve, but the men have
muttered to each other.
"He's too cool-too much show. Waltz
As we move out shell comes screaming over
our heads and a man is struck by bullet. Our
captain grows white-faced and looks uneasily
our right as we fill the gap. If it is supported
we cannot see the infantry. 1t is glorious OPP
portunity for a hundred men to distinguish
themselves.
''Capt. Blank, take your company and bring
back that gun, shouts the colonel as he rides
up.
Attention. company B! Forward-guide
right-marchr'
Is that the voice of our captain? 1t is, but it
is 80 changed that no man can identify it. His
lips are as white as one lying dead for day.
and he drags his feet as if there was no spring
to his knees. There are ninety-two Of us. We
leave almost 800 men in the lines, each one
hoping for our success. but each one a critic.
"Whizz. Scream! Whew-ew-ew-ew-ewr'
comes ii shell, just clearing our heads. and our
captain falls fiat on his face. He leaps up to
wave his sword in frantic way and shout for
us to charge. We do not obey. We are not
near enough for that.
'.Booml Rattle-wish, wish, wishr' come
the grapeshot. but not man is struck
Our captain has thrown down his sword and
is crying and laughing in historical fashion.
am near him and can hear him muttering:
''We can't do tive shall all be killed. We
must 60 back! Company b. about facet
''Now. men, there's our gun and away we
go-charge.'' shouts our first lieutenant, and
with q veil we spring forward
The captain ran after us. Then he turned
and ran back. Then he advanced again. waving
a stick he had picked up on the ground We
dashed for the gun and got it. but as we
were drawing it off full regiment Of the enemy
suddenly came into view from behind heavy
fringe of bushes.
by the left flank-left flank-left fank.''
screamed the captain.
by the right fiank!'' shouted the first lieu
tenant, and we tumbled into a dry ravine and
fired voiey after volley into the advancing regi-
ment, holding it in check until our lines
came up.
from that regiment would have wiped us out
We did not go back. Company b had advanced
the line to the ravine. We were cheered and
cheered again by the 900 men,
What is it for-what do they mean?" shouted
our captain. ''Oh, yes, l know. Hip hurrah!
Yes. We got the gun! Glorious old company
u. am proud to lead you.''
We had sized him up. He had lost his head
in battle and we had no further use for him.
Every man in company pittied him, but not n
man would have gone into battle with him
again if refusal had been called mutiuy. He
had no 'good-bys' to make. The officers of
the regiment turned away from him as from an
outcast, and the men sat in their tents and knew
not when he went.