The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-05-21
RETAINING THEIR PRESTIGE.
How the Second Massachusetts, Regi
ment Discounted It's Rivals.
FROM the Kansas City Times.

FROM the Kansas City Times.
The other day was entertained by a
story about Gen. Cogswell, representative
of the Salem (Msss) district Henderson Of
Iowa recounted it.
"Gen. Cogswell, +" said Henderson, twas a
great soldier, and, by the way, was the
youngest colonel on the federal side. He
became brigadier in time to make good
company for Sherman as he journeyed
through Georgia; however, that is not my
story. Cogswel was colonel Of a very
famous regiment, the Second Massachu-
sets. He was decidedly proud Of it. too,
and took more delight in il than a mother
does in her offspring. At one time Cogs-
wells regiment was brigaded with
regiment from Michigan, also
crack regiment. and a great rivalry
fell out between them. To tell the
truth. Cogswell's regiment had the better of
the competition. One day q wave of re-
ligion struck the Michigan crowd. We'd
been stationed some time at one place and
the chaplairs had begun to get iu their
work. When soldiers are marching or
fighting every day religion never seems to
take much hold on them; but make a camp
for a month and let muddy currents of life
settle little and it is very different. At
this particular time regular revival broke
out in the Michigan regiment. The colonel
himself was given that way, and you could
always find as many hymn books as decks
of cards about his headquarters, and as he
rather led this return to return to better
and brighter life, many of his boys nat
urally fell in and followed. Cogswell's
regiment, on the other hand, was decidedly
a perverse and stitf-necked generation. If
there was any religion in that regiment, it
was a great secret and none OF us ever
knew it. One day while the Michigan re-
vival was at high tide an officer was talking
to Cogswell about it,
"'Do you know, colonel, he said to CoRs-
well, Il understand eleven Of those Michi-
gan fellows are going to be baptized to-
morTowE
1.-The deuce they aren said Cogswell.
full of scorn and incredulty. Then he fell
to Jealous rumination thereon. He thought
he detected scheme to Guido his brave
Second Massachusetts. He determined to
thwert it. That evening on dress parade
he addressed his regiment. DE told them
Of the Michigan regiment, and how eleven
of them were going to be baptized In the
river next morning.
"'Now, boys said CogswelI, and his
voice trembled, the Second Massachusetts
can't stand this. We've outfought, out
marched and outdrilled these Michigan
men, and can repeat all of these solemnities
any day of the week. They know it. too,
and so they try to make a mean, sneaking
detour, as it were, and give US the Ro-by in
religious matters thinking to catch the
Second Massachusetts where it isn't at
home. Now, boys, If l were to ask for
volunteers to charge a battery of siege
guns or to just march calmly out and die
there would be but one response. Every
man but the sutler would step forward on
the instant. To save the honor of the
regiment, then, when it is 10
insidiously besst by these people from
Michigan, now call on you
for an unusual sacrifice. And boys con-
tinued Cogswell, In tones of deepest feeling.
Il don't want you at this crisis in the career
of great regiment, to whose undylng tame
we all contributed our blood, to weaken or
hang back. Eleven of our rivals are to be
baptized tomorrow morning, and / now
call for twenty-five of my brave fellows TO
volunteer. to also be baptized. Wen see
their eleven and go them fourteen better"
.'The line hesitated and the men looked
doubtfully at each other. AT last one OF
fuller light.
!" Are you going be ,nersed, too, colonelp
so will never, said CdRswell, shrink from
a peril to which invite my men. Should the
colonel of this Michigan regiment attempt
any trick Of personal baptism. L, too.
will 90. Should he baptize any or his Of
fcers, officers Of equal rank in the Second
Massachusetts will be there to uphold the
honor of their regiment. AS the story
comes to me no ", it would seem as first
plav these people mediate only the baptism
of eleven privates, and so it rests with you.
INV men, to say whether at this juncture
their plot shall succeed. or whether. with
twenty-five b. ave volunteers for this special
duty. we will retain our proud prestige as
the crack regiment Of this brigade and the
unmeasured superior of this particular out
ft from Michigan
"The twenty-five volunteers stepped
promptIy forward, and Cogswell issued an
order TO the chaplain to baptize them at the
same time and place with their hated
rivals"
Abbott's East Indian corn paint cures all