St. Paul daily globe., 1895-11-18


Leading the way to secluded spot
behing the buildings, where there
was nice bit of level ground, Har-
ney stopped, took off his coat, and,
said to Hewitt: Now, my man,
just consider yourself an officer for
the time being" The soldier did not
need a second invitation. With a
look of satisfaction in his eye, he
quickly stripped, intending to take
prompt and sufficient revenge for all
past punislhments. There was no hes
iI5aftion ON either side. Both toed
the scratch promptly. Hewitt led
out, but somehow his blow fell short,
that sent him to grass. First round
and knock-down for Harvey. The
next went the same way, and the
next, and so ON for half dozen.
In short, the whilom pugilist re-
ceived one of the neatest, completest
had for many day. Finally, when
time was called, he refused to re-
spond, but said, meekly:
Captain, I have been an officer
long enough. should like to be re-
duced to the ranks again"
Harvey responded with laugh
and handshake, and ordered him
back to his quarters with warning
not to be caught in trouble again.
The story leaked out among the men,
with whom their bluff captain was
more of AN idol than ever
TAYLOR AND DAVIS.
Fort Crawford was full of romance
of the Taylors. When old Rough
and Ready became the hero of Buena
Vista and Palo Alto, and later was
elected president, old residents used
to recall with delight stories of his
term as cemmandant at Fort Craw-
ford. Maj. Taylor, as he was at that
time, built the second Fort Crawford.
1t was while he was in command there
that Lieut.. Jeffersn Davis wooed and
won Knox, Maj. Taylor's daughter,
which Wooing gave rise to SO many ro-
mantle stories, including an elopement,
a hot chase by the angry parent, and
other exciting incidents. For many
years the very window from which
Miss Knox escaped into the arms Of
her waiting lover was pointed out. 1t
made no difference that the story was
denied in general and in detail, that it
was pointed out that there could have
been no elopement, as the young lady
was visiting friends in Kentucky at
the time, where the marriage took
place. 1t bloomed perennially for
many years, and seemed to have more
lives than a Canada thistle.
Several good stories of Gen. Taylor
are, however, retained, showing the
peculiarities of the old hero in those
early days. For years old-timers re-
called incidents illustrating Taylor's
rough and homely ways. Among 9TH
er things, Taylor was a strict dis
ciplinarian, and as his temper was not
of the mildest, he was accustomed at
times to take the matter of punish
ment into his own hands without wait
ing for the usual proceedings as laid
down in the rules and regulations.
Among other methods then in use in
the army by the officers for Furnishing
men was habit of seizing the victim
by the ears and worrying much as
dog would worry an antagonist. This
was CdilSu WOOllHS d. Lldll. IL III uot
be admitted that Maj. Taylor was very
much given to this particular style of
punishment and it was his habit, when
anything did not suit him, to jump on
the offender and worry him severely. =,
= TEUToN A GOOD. SOLDIER. Il
One day, when the troops were
drawn up for parade, one of the front
rank men happened to be German,
a new recruit and unable to under
stand word of English. 1t also hap
pened that front profile view of his
figure showed pronounced aldermanic
proportions. This caused the line at
that point to bulge out like a turret
on an ironclad. This day, as soon as
Taylor glanced over the line, his eye
caught this disturbance of it's sym
metry from a military point Of view.
Get back there into line" he roared
with the usual embellishments in the
way of expletives common in those
early days. The new recruit, not
understanding the order, and impressed
with the idea that he was doing very
well indeed, stood stock still. A Sec
ond order had no more effect. Aston
ishment at the supposed audacity of
then, running up, he seized the poor
fellow by the ears and began wool
ing him. Not understanding why
he was SO used, sore and indignant,
the soldier struck out heartily at his
tormentor landing him in a heap on
the ground. For few minutes there
was intense excitement. officers came
running up with swords drawn, and
would have cut the daring man down
where he stood, had not Taylor, recov-
ering from the effects of the blow,
roared out the command: Let him
alone! Let him alone! He will make
a good soldier" Tradition says that
the man justified the officers predic-
ton.
GOT A WOOLING.
Another time Taylor was baked in
his favorite punishment, but the man
did not escape so easily as the Ger
man recruit. A soldier made a bet
with a comrade that he could excite
the majors ire and escape without a
wooling. The bet was promptly taken.
The next day, just before parade, the
man who laid the wager rubbed his
ears thoroughly with soap. When the
awkward This, as he expected
brought Taylor down to where the
wag was standing on the jump. Rush
ing up to the soldier, he inquired what
in blankety blank he meant by such
actions, and at the same time seized
his ears for his favorite practice. But
the soap proved true, and Taylor could
secure no grip. Again he tried and
again his fingers slipped. By this time
those in the vicinity who were in the
joke were nearly bursting with sup
pressed laughter. Taylor recognized
that he had been tricked, but he was
too angry to join in the laugh that
was threatening to throw his officers
into apoplexy if they had to hold in
much longer, and ordered up a file of
men and sent the joker to the guard
house.
Taylor left Fort Crawford in 1886.
AS the danger from the Indians grew
less the commands were withdrawn