Blackfoot news. (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1891-1902, 1893-01-14
C0URTING BY COMMAND.
THREE OFFICERS INFATUATED
WITH ONE GIRL.
Their Colonel Orders Them To Draw
straws-Ao Who Wins the Longest
Straw Proposes FIrst-AlI
Get the Milton.

Get the Mttten.
Ia the spring and summer OF 1862
he Maryland line was composed OF
squadron of cavalry. light battery
and battalion Of infantry II fought
through jackson 5 valley campaign
and the Seven Days baltic. and was
PRETTY badly frazzled out So after
the Seven Days battle, the colonel in
command OF the line was ordered TO
take his command 10 Charlottesville
to recruit
The command consisted OF the elite
OF the youth of Maryland. nearly all
the historic families OF that state
being represente among the com
missioned officers ana In the rank and
file. II contained rs bright and gay
set of young fellows as ever drew
saber or shouIdered musket and as a
natural consequence the girls Of
Charlottesville had as jolly time as
though war had never existed.
Conspicuous among the beauties Of
the village was Miss Gay Boiling u
refugee from within the Yankee lines.
which then extended along the Rap.
pahannocS. Pope was at Culpepper.
and there was just enough spice OF
danger ald alertness to render no.
nance douoly alluriug.
Foremost among her admirers was
Colonel Rldgely of the cavalry. and
Captain Booth. adjutant OF ths line.
and Captain Williams junior captain
OF infantry
They were not in love. They were
simply DAFT Handsome brave and
accomplished they we're just the
lovers to set q girl crazy. Although
they were rivals they were never.
theless all devoted friends and as
ehivaIrous to each other as they were
devoted 10 their inamorata. They
thought Of nothing but ilirting; they
did nothing but illrt Morning noon
and night orderlies (courlers they were
called and they were gentlemen at
home, though private soldiers in the
linel were kept busy riding their
horses 70 death bearing offerings 81
peaches grapes and flowers 10 tho
shrine Of Miss Gay from her adorers.
Finally the patience OF the colonel
was exhausted; he could stand Ii no
longer. and one day he summoned tho
three to his tent and said: Gentle.
men this command Is going 10 the
devil. All discipline Is gone. ana
none OF you are attending to your
duties. Calico has set you crazy.
Now. this thing has rot TO stop. Miss
Gay can't marry you all / doubt
whether she wants either. So you've
got 10 settle the matter ut once. In
love rank doesn't count. il il does m
war. You are to draw straws ma
court Miss Gay before dress parade
this evening. GctOn your horses and
proceed to business and report 10 ma
tho result after parade
The young fellows looked rather
scared. They would have charged a
battery or rushed on a limo OF battle.
They had often done 50 ut the tap OF
the drum or the sound or the bugle
but the idea OF attacking this rayjsb.
ing. enhancing bit OF divinity md
calico at u moments notice under or.
ders was appalling. However they
knew the colonei's word was law so
they drew strawa Captain Booth rot
the longest and had first chance no.
cording TO orders so OF he went
The others FOL owed at safe distance
After Il short time Captain Booth
came storming back 10 camp without
saying 4 word. This encouraged Inc
other two and Captain Williams
spurred ahead very CALAMITY. But
before Colonel Ridgely had ridden n
mile back came tho ardent captain.
80 in colonel he cried as he rode
past the ranks are shaking but the
lines firm. /"
This wa discouraging but the Col.
onel walked Dravely up and got his
congo like his predecessor
Three attacks in sixty minutes ana
Gay routed the attacking column
horse foot and artillery.
She never knew she had been court.
ed by command, and is now a hand
some matron with eleven children.
told her about it the other dav
writes Bradley johnson in the New
York Advertiser Gallant Ridpelv
was killed at the South Anna on
Grants advance TO the James.
The other two are solid. middle
aged gentlemen with wives and
children.
Heat without Fire.
II. -.