Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-05-24
CRANDALL'S MARCH,

Tom Crandall, the orderly sergeant Of
Company !, was fine soldier and fine
fellow as well, but he was something of
a martinet-hardly popular among the
members Of his own company.
When orders were issued to have the
men thoroughly drilled. Orderly Tom
obeyed most literally. From reveille to
tattoo it was drill, drill, drill for the
boys Of Company till they would have
welcomed marching orders for the north
pole as release from the manual Of
arms and evolutions.
Nothing less than surgeons order
would serve with Orderly Tom as an ex-
cuse from drill.
One afternoon, when the company had
fallen in, the roll call revealed the alb
sence of Thomas Higgins and William
Stapleton. A rigid examination Of the
company quarters failed to discover the
delinquents, and with "absent without
leave" against them in the orderly book
and big black mark in Toms memory
the company marched to the drill ground
without them.
The quarters of the men were the
stables of Sneidiker's hotel. With 10
full companies to drill, the stable yard,
which was the only parade ground with
in the regimental lines, was totally in
adequate; hence all drills in company
movements were conducted in field
outside the guard lines.
Sentinels were duly instructed to per-
NIT all squads or companies in charge
of noncommissioned officers to pass out,
but under no other circumstances to al-
low an. enlisted man to leave the camp
without a pass, though all soldiers
might enter unquestioned
Tom marched his company about
hundred feet from the lines and had
just changed direction by the right flank
when his quick eye detected the two
skulkers stealthily emerging from the
quarters Of Company Fl.
Company, halt!' instantly shouted
Tom. "You, Higgins and Stapleton, get
your equipments and fall in for drilll
Do you hear?"
Evidently they did hear, but instead
of obeying both started on the double
quick toward the cookhouse.
"In place, restP' shouted Tom to his
company. Halt, therep' to the skulk-
ers But they quickened their pace.
Dropping his rifle into the hands Of a
corporal Tom started in pursuit. Across
the guard lines he sped to the cook
house, into which the two fugitives had
disappeared, and into which he also
quickly vanished.
Now, large portion Of the members
of Company I were young fellows, rang
ing from II to 23 years of age, little
used to military restraints, while the
deprivations and dullness which they
were experiencing made them peculiar
ly eager for some sort Of fun.
It can be easily conceived that Order
ly Toms unexpected deviation from irk-
some drill was hailed by the boys of the
waiting company with delight. They
hoped the race woud last long, and that
the fugitiyes would escape.
So they did. After an absence Of some
10 minutes Tom reissued from the cook.
house alone, and with an ominous frown
upon his brow approached his com.
mand At the same time the two fugi.
tives were seen far down the road, max.
ing their way rapidly toward the town,
having left the cookhouse by some way
of which Tom knew not.
The almost simultaneous appearance
of the defeated orderly and the victori
GUS skulkers was greeted by the boys o1
the company with first shout of jeer
ing laughter and then ringing cheer.
Attention, company" shouted the
orderly sergeant But the only attention
paid him was another shout of laughter
that deepened his frown.
"stop that laughing in the ranksP
again commanded the orderly.
"Haltl" cried the sentinel, bringinf
his piece to charge and confrontin'
Orderly Tom, who had now reached t
guard line. "You can't pass here"
II cannot passp' gasped the aston
ished orderly. "Why not?'
"Orders," curtly replied the sentry.
"Ordersl Well, what are your or
ders?"
"Oh, you know the orders wei
enough" answered the sently-"to lie
no enlisted man pass out Of the CAM
without a pass except noncommissione'
officers in charge of squads for drills. !"
> "Well." exclaimed Tom triumphant