Evening star., 1895-09-14
"OLD HEINTZELMAN."
How the NOn-COm. Slapped the Gen.
eraf on the Back.

How the NOn-COm. Slapped the Gem
eraf the Back.
Maj. Gen Samuel P. Heintzelman of the
volunteers was, for a time, in command of
what was known as the department of
Washington, with an office and quarters
on 17th near 1 street. Readers of The Star
who remember him will probably also re-
member his quick. jerkv way of speaking
through his nose, and et times it was diff
cult to understand him. especially when he
was vexed and excitad. One day a nom
commissioned officer, who was stationed
temporarily near Alexandria. came to WASH
tng;on on a twenty-fourhours pass. which,
when countersigned by Gen. Heiltzelman
or the provost marshal general. would give
him perfect liberty to roam the streets af-
ter o clock at night without danger of be-
ing snapped up by patrol and taken to the
central guard house-a horrible olace To-
Gated on the grounds now covered by the
Center Market. The non-com. picked up
companion along in the afternoon, and, SOL
dier-like the two were taking advantage
of their brief liberty from the restraints of
regular army camp life by dispoSing OF
numerous tankards of foaming beer. When
1t began to grow dusky ne suddenly re-
membered that his pass needed counter
signing. 1t was in beer-vending es@,ap. @
lshment on Pennsylvania avenue near l2tn
street that they were seated when the
thought of his incomplete pass struck MIN,
and remembering that the numbered Streets
ran north and south and the lettered streets
east and west he and his friend started
north at once on 18th. When they reacned
street and turned west 1t was rather oaIN
and the street lamps were lighted AL
about 18th street the non-com. judged ne
must be pretty near the neighborhood OF
the generals office, and seeing a rather
short man in a soldiers overcoat ana
s,ouch hat walking slowly back and forth
before the one solitary house In that block,
decided 10 question him. Some officers
orderly" thought the non-com.
Crossing 10th street they reached the op~
postte side lust as the supposed Oi~erly
turned and was walking slowly apay from
them. with head bent down and hands
crossed behind him. In > spirit of fun,
aided and abetted to >. great extent by a
stole noiselessly up behind the retreating
ngute shd Fought his hand down between
1ts shotI'ers with rescunding whack at
t9s sa,he time singing out In an extreme
y ,eery and sociable manner: Old BOY,
Gan you tell me where old Heintzelmans
quarters are?"
Taking a good look at the non-com., who
was standing with the light from the street
lamp shining full in his face, the orderly
raised one finger and said: "Yeh!' That
word came through the mans nose. and
while the orderly's familiar manner ana
voice were pushing their way slowly down
through the non-com.'s befuddled under
standing, his hair was slowly pushing his
hat up. Go up to the corner and turn to
the left continued the orderly second
house from the corner. Report to Capt.
Lathrop."
Capt. Lathrop was chief of staff, and
fortunately was acquainted and quite
friendly with the non-cemmissioned officer.
He didn't laugh-he just screamed at the
frightened soldiers recital Then he count
ersigned the pass-"By order of General
Heintzelman." But the soldier didn't en-
10y the rest of his liberty bit-didn't want
to go to the theater, didn't want any more
beer-just wanted to go home. Visions Of
a court-martal and reduction to the ranks
haunted him for many days. but Capt
Iathrop had evidently poured oil the
troubled waters at the fountain head, for
the general didn't bother him, and he
hoped that he had not been recognized.
But he had been. Several months later,
while getting ready for a review over in
Virginia, Gen. Heintzelman rode up TO the
young soldier and said with a quizzical
smile:
'Well, sir, did you find old Heintzelman's
headquarters"
Then he turned around and galloped
away.