Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1892-10-21
A COWARDLY CAPTAIN.
THE RANK AND FILE>QUICKLY
SIZED HIM UP.
An Oficer Break ng Down on the Battle
Field Is PitifuI Sight - Led
by Lieutenant They
Took tho Gun.

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 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 Il part OF Il great machine in
battle. the rank and file moves only
as directly commanded. We depend
not on each other but on the man in
command. He must be brave; he
must DO cool; he mus: 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. says q writer in the
Chicago News-Rocord. For instance
T! they talked in loud tones. not think
/ ing that the sharp cared men could
detect the tremor OF their voices. If
, bullets and shells were flying over the
line they would control their nerves
! and not duck aud dodge. When they
|
saw faces wearing signs OF doubt.
He is holding himself up-he's no
! good" was the criticism against such
an oficer and it always had sure
foun iation.
Nobody had any sympathy for a
+ private who became ratified although
it was not always IA sign OF cOwardice.
+ but there was never II more pitiful
| sight than the spectacle OF "a captain
breaking down on the battle field.
! Watch him as the regiment suddenly
receives the order TO move by the
right flank from the shelter of the
hill into an open held to fill a gap.
It's his first fight In camp he has
been a bulldozer and a martinez.
Back there with the reserves safo
from the missiles OF war; he has
folded his arms and assumed theatrical
poses talked very loudly, handled
his sword and examined his revolvers
Other captains have watched him and
perhaps envied his nerve but the
men have muttered to each other
Hes too cool-too much show.
Wait"
screaming over our heads and q man
is struck by a bullet Our captain
grows whitefaced and looks uneasily
about him. There's single gun on
a knoll to our right rs we fill the gap.
If it is supported we cannot see the
infantry. 1t is glorious opportunity
for 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-march."
Is that the voice of our captain? 1t
, Is. but it is so changed that no mar
can identify it. His lips are as white
as one lying dead for day and he
drags his feet rs if there was no spring
, to his knees. There are ninety-tw(
of us. We leave almost 900 men If
the lines each one hoping for oul
success but each one a critic.
,.Whizz Scream. Whew-ew.e w
ew.ew" comes n she'll. just clearing
t our heads and our captain falls fiat OF
, his face. He leaps up to wave hi,
sword in frantic way and shout TO,
us to charge. We do not obey. VIZ
, are not near enough for that.
Boom! Rattle-wish! wish! wish"
, come the grapeshot but not ma
is struck.
Our captain has thrown down hi
sword and is crying and laughing il
historical fashion. am near hin
and | can hear him muttering:
I'VE can't do tive shall all b.
killed, We must so back. Compan,
!, H. about face"
, Now. men there's our gun an,
away we GO charge" shouts GU
first lieutenant and with yell w
spring forward.
The captain ran after US Then h.
turned and ran back. Then he nd
7 vanced again, waving tho stick h
l had picked up on the ground. w
dashed for the gun and got il. but q
we were drawing it off a full regimen
=, OF the enemy suddenly came into vie,
: from behind heavy fringe of bushes
by the left flank left flank lei
!. flank!' screamed the captain.
: by the right flank" shouted tn
I; first 10 tenant and we tumbled int
: n dry ravine and fired volley ate
;, volley into the advancing regimen
holding it in check until our lin G
came up
The left flank was an open plair
One volley from that regiment woul
: have wiped us out We did not o
back. Company b had advanced tn
line to tho ravine We were cheere
and cheerei again by the 900 men.
What's it for; what do the
= mean?' shouted our captain. .Of
yes. | know HIP. hurrah, Ye,
> We got the gun Glorious Old con
pany B! Lam proad TO lead you"'
= We had 81 ed him up. he ha
J. lost his head in battle and we had 4
IA further use for him. Every man
r. company Bpitied him but not a ma
,. would have gone into battle with hi
r. again II refusal had been called m,
tiny, he had no good ,bys" to max