The morning call., 1892-11-07

C0URTING BY COMMAND.
An E1pedient That Restored Three SOL
diers to Their Senses.

Minneapolis Tribune.
In the spring and summer Of 1862 the
Maryland line was composed Of squadron
Of cavalry, light battery, and battalion
of infantry. 1t fought through Jackson's
valley campaign aud the Seven Days battle,
and was pretty badly frazzed out. So.
after the Seven Days battle. the colonel In
command Of the line was ordered to take his
command TO Charlottesville to recruit.
The command consisted of the elite of the
youth Of Maryland, nearly all the historic
families of that State being represented
among the commissioned officers and in the
rank and file. 1t contained as bright and
gay set of young fellows as ever drew
saber or shouldered a musket, and as
natural consequence the girls of Charlottes-
vile had as jolly time as though war had
never existed. There were riding parties
and dancing parties every day and night of
the week. OF course the boys fell in love
right and left, and there was no rest for
horse or girl. The girls didn't mind it half
as much rs the horses.
Conspicuous among the beauties OF the
village was Miss Gay Boiling. refugee from
the Yankee lines, which then extended
along the RappahannOck. Pope was at
CulDeper. and there was just ehCugh spice
Of danger and alertness 10 render romance
doubly allnriug Miss Gay was a fearless
rider and as bright as she was lovely. She
grace Of movement and manner would have
made her q belle anywhere; so that with
fifty young officers fresh from twenty
battles and hundred brave youths from
the ranks, she had a gorgeous time.
Foremost among her admirers were Colo
mel Ridgely Of the cavalry, and Captain
Booth adjutant of the line, and Captain
Williams, junior captain Of infantry. They
were not in love- They were simply daft.
Handsome, brave and accomplished they
WI lOVprc a q ri
though they were rivals they were, never
theless. all devoted friends and as chival-
Tous to each other as they were devoted to
their lnamerata. They thought of nothing
but flirting; they did nothing but firt.
Morning. noon and night orderlies (cOuriers
they were called. and they were gentlemen
at home, through private soldiers In the
line) were kept busy riding their horses TO
death. bearing offerings Of peaches, grapes
and flowers to the shrine OF Miss Gay from
| her adorers. Finally the patience of the
colonel was exhausted; he could stand il no
longer. aud one day he summoned the three
TO his tent and said:
Gentlemen, this command Is going to the
| devil. All discipline Is gone and none of
you are attending to your duty. Calico has
| set you crazy. Now, this thing has got to
| stop Miss Gay can't marry you all
doubt whether she wants either. So you've
got to settle the matter at once. In love
| rank doesn't count, II II does IN war. You
| are 10 draw straws and court Miss Gay
| before dress parade this evening Get on
| your horses and proceed to business and
| report TO me after parade"
| The young fellows looked rather scared.
| They would have charged a battery or
| rushed on line of battle. They had often
| done so at the tap OF drum or the sound of
the bugle; but the idea Of attacking this
ravshng. enhancing bit of divinity and
| calico at q moments notice under or
| ders was appalling. However. they knew
| the colOnePs word was law, so they
| drew straws. Captain Booth got the
| longest and bad first chance accord
| ing to orders. so off he went The
others followed at q safe distance. After q
| snort time Captain Booth came storming
| back TO camp without saying a word. This
| en- couraged tile other two, ard Captain
| Williams spurred ahead very CALAMITY,
| But before Colonel Ridgely had ridden a
| mile back came the captain. $50 in,
colonel" he cried as he rode past; "the
ranks are shaking, but the lines firm"
This was disc0uragng, but the colonel
walked bravely up and got his congo like
| bis predecessors.
Three attacks In sixty minutes. and GAY
routed the attacking column, horse. foot
| and artillery.
She never knew she had been courted by
| command and Is now a handsome matron
| with eleven children.
told her about it the other day. Gallant
RidgeIy was killed at the South Anna on
Grants advance TO the James
The other two are solid, middle-aged GEN.
tlemeu, with wives and children.