The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-07-31
THE CAPTAIN OF COMPANY n
Tho Men Hnd Sized Him Up Long BEFORE
He Led Them Toward the Knoll

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 q 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 a part OF o great machine
in battle. the rank and file moves only as d.
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. II bullets and shells
were flying over the line 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 each officer. and Il
always had q sure foundation.
Nobody had any sympathy for private who
became ratified. although it was not always q
sign Of cowardice. but thcre Was mover a more
pitiful sight than the spectacle Of q Captain
breaking down on tho battlefield. Watch him
as the regiment suddenly receives tho order to
move by the right flank from the shelter OF tho
q
FIRST Lght. In camp he has been bulldozer
and martinez. Lack there with the reserves.
safe from the missiles OF war. no has folded
his arms and assumed theatrical poses. talked
very loudly. handled his sword. and examined
his revolyers. Other Captains have watched
him and perhaps envi"d his nerve but the
men have muttered to each other.
es too cool-toJ much show Wait!
AS W move out shell comes screaming
over gu heads and a man Is struck hya bullet.
NtDiV, x-l,t q
easily about him. There's asngI" gun on
knoll to our right as We ~ ne saI II It IS
supported. We cannot see the Infantry. IL Is
glorious opportunity for Il hundred men to dis
tinguish themselves.
Capt. Blank. take your company and bring
back that gun" shouts tbs Colonel as he
Attention. Company B! Torward-suids
Is that the voice of our Caltain2 II but TT
Is 30 changed that no man can identity 1t HIS
lips are as white ms one wing dead for day.
to his knees. There are nincty-two OF US. We
leave l,nost 800 men in the lines, each one
xvii WIFI s%roan! WTcw,cw CIV ewl'
comes a she'll Just clearing our heads. and our
Captain falls flat on his lace lie leaps Up TO
US to charge. VIZ do not obey. We are not
A: "Bo S Rat att l,";h. wish, wish" como
tho grnpeshot. but not - man Is struck. and
Our CAPTAIN has thrown down his sT9 o. ana
I'VE can, do tive shall all he KILLED. We
must go back! COMPANY u. ahout face
Nov. mon. there's our gun and away We
go-charge!' shouts our flst Lieutenant anu
with u yell We spring forward.
Tho Captain ran after us. Then he turned
and ran back. Then lie advanced again. way
ing q stick he had picked NJ on the ground.
We dashed Tor tho Euu ana got II, Dut AS We
wers drawing 1t of n full r"EIniert OF the enc.
nv suddenly came into view IRON behlnu D
heavy fringe OF bushes. -,
by tho left nuukeit flank left flank"
screamed tho Captain.
by the right tank," shouted the First
Lieutenant. and we tumhed into dry ravine
and fred volley after vo!ipy into tho advancing
regiment. holding it in check until our lines
came up. +,
Tho left flank was an open lIain. One vol.
ley from thnt regiment wnlHl nave Wited w
out. We did not go bncS. Fnmpany,B hau
advanced the line to the rayin". We were
cheered and cheered again BY tho 800 men. =,
WHATS it for-what do thoy moan T.
shouted our caEtain. oh yes. know; ZIP
Company Is! am proud e. Lead you hand
We had sized him up lie had lost ms he e,.
~ battle and We had no further liSt iot nun.
Every man in Company II p'icd him, Lut hoi d
man would thnve Huno into battle WIN MN II
again il refusal mad been called mallpy, ~
the regiment turned away from MN Il, rom
an outcast. and tho men sat IN thrlF leh's auo
knew not when ho went.