Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1893-03-25

enough to commend my conducv more
than once, and finally there came
chance to do special service for the
Colonel Of my regiment 1t was very
simple. He wanted a volunteer to IN.
dertake mission of great danger. |
offered myself, he accepted. The mis-
sion was successfully performed, and by
good fortune there were circumstances
that called for presence of mind on my
part and hot fight with band of the
enemy before got back into our lines
The Colonel was pleased to call my
conduct brave and gallant and he
publicly gave me this"
Here the Lieutenant opened a little
leather case and took out badge of
the -th Army Corps.
He took it from his own breast and
gave it to me-" continued G., "to me,
the jailbird,' the convict though,
thank heaven he did not know that
those disgraceful names and l had any
connection with each other. He did
more than that-he recommended me
for promotion and | was soon commits
stoned lieutenant, but in another regi-
ment there were no vacancies in my
own. All, you don't know, Major,
how happy was to receive that com
mission 7! l was q man again, like the
others 1t was my patent of nobility
1t was like beautiful edifce built
over black ruin-it was, indeed, the
beginning of a new and better life
Well, year passed-the last year of
the war. Why could they not have al
lowed me to go to the end In some
way, as mysterious as before, my secret,
my terrible secret, became known.
Rank, services, gallantry, all counted
for nothing against that prison record.
I have told you that the stain can never
be wiped out-that it clings forever.
My brother officers begun turning their
backs upon me, as the men at the re-
cruiting station had done. l was iso-
lated, alone; no one addressed me, ex-
cept when compelled by the details of
duty-I was ruined.
Finally, the Colonel-not altogether
an agreeable man under the most favor
able onditions-summoned me to his
quarters one night and told me that the
officers had found out all about me, and
that it was their unanimous desire that
l should leave. Briefly, he asked me
to resign my commission. l did not
demur at all-what would have been
the use =? Then, still determined to
make an honorable name for myself,
and having no means of doing so except
in the army, 1 enlisted with some re-
cruits that were going to join Sherman
in the South. 1 did my duty as best
could and won lieutenant's epaulets
again. At the close of the war I was
appointed to q vacant ieutenancy in
the regular army on the recommenda-
tion of officers that were familiar with
my services in the South. l hold that
commission now. Here it is, you see,
a lieutenant in the -th Cavalry. But
even there my fault has followed me.
Some one has told my story, and it is
on the tongues of both officers and men
in my regiment. In despair l had to
give up the fight. 1 can not struggle
against fate. do not desire to die; on
the contrary, l desire to live, and l
come to you, Major, and ask you how
can live. Show me how to escape this
incubus that pursues me so relentlessly
and oppresses me so grievously. Ill
gladly follow your advice, for l an
desperate +
At the conclusion of the lieutenant's
story 1 rose from my chair and grasped
his hand. l was moved to the very
depths of my soul by his most pathetic
recital of his wrongs-for who will say
that they were not wrongs i?
&C." I said, you have my pro.
found sympathy, but do not talk of
taking your life. AS 1 have said,
soldier has no right to do that I'll tell
you what I would do in your place.
You know there is an uprising among
the Indians out West, and troops are
now marshalling to go against them. If
1 were you 1 would go out there
will see that you are assigned to one of
the regiments in that department, if
you like. and if you must seek death
seek it in battle
Thank you thousand times, Ma
Jor, cried G, a new light suddenly
breaking out upon his face. "Ill go
most cheerfully. And if find death at
the hands of the redskins I'll meet il
with bold front.
"This little badge" continued he,
taking up the corps emblem that his
Colonel had given him, sis all that
havet bequeath. If 1 am found GA a
battlefield this will be in my breast
pocket. A note inside the case will ask
the finder to send it to you, so that
when it comes you may know that
broken and ruined man is finally at
rest"
A few months later the package came.
G. had died soldiers death, gal
liant death, in his second battle with