The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1895-10-10
THE OLD-TIME REGULAR.
Plea for tho Bearer of the Brunt OF the
Wars of the Republic.

Plea for tho Bearer of the Brunt Of the
Wars of the Republic.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: We are
hearing a great deal just now about the new
Army. and incidentally something about the
| old-time Regular. 1t is claimed on all sides
that the old-time Regular was dissi-
pated and altogether worthless character
| and not to be compared with the grown-ur
Tommie Reeds who form the rank and file
| of the new Army. We are told by the
aapient magaznists that the old-time Regu-
| lar was often chronic kicker and GROWER
and sometimes n deserter," and that the
| country is well rid of him.
All this harrows up the soul Of the poor
old Regular as he thinks of his 20 or 80
years. service; of the many weary marches
in the face Of Dakota billiards or in the
broiling sun of Arizona deserts; of the head
long charge at break of day through Sioux
teepees o. Apache ranches; of scores OF
dead comrades buried where they fell, from
the everglades of Florida to the canyons OF
Sonora.
Whatever else may be charged against the
old-time Regular, it cannot be said that he
ever betrayed his country or deserted a
comrade even in the face of torture. He re-
| manned true to his flag when his officers went
| over W ING "hu oSoiiSu OH ph''Nt,
remaining true to his allegiance through
many weary months of imprisonment.
Many a riot-ridden community has hailed
with Joy the coming of the Regulars as they
march in quietly and without swagger, and
relieve the terroiized people of the double
curse of riotous hoOdlum and undsciplined
militiaman. But the poor old Regular has
no friends; he is a back number. Sitting Bull,
Crazy Horse, Cochse, Natchez, Victoria, and
Geronimo are all good Indians now, and
there is no more need of the Old-time Regu-
lar with his old-time gun and his home
made thimbIe-belt.
Whether on the plains of Mexico with the
gallant Worth, or covering the retreat of the
go-as- you-please mi!itiaman at Bull Run, OF
holding down the field at Fredericksburg
the old-time Regular was always to be re-
lied on not to stampede. And though ne
sometimes growled-and he often had cause
to grumble-when there was work for him to
do 1T was done, though he often died in doing
it-died with his face to the fOe-died, per-
chance, in some beieaguered butfalo-wallow
with hls hali-score comrades dead about him
and with but one cartridge left with which to
put himself beyond the reach of the fends
| who never knew mercy-the noble red
men,"
The old-time Regular has long since
learned that his 25 years count for less than
three months service in the volunteers
though the three were served in some safe
casemate, and he says nothing about his
army experience, and his papers are slowed
away in his box. They are useless as recon-
mendations. He is used to hear himself
and his comrades spoken of as uniformed
lOafers," mercenaries," etc.
Now and then he meets the man with the
empty sleeve the Government leg the
man who "bore the brunt of the battle" and
saws nothing about it; the man whose rec
ord is written on his body; the man with
the bronze button in his coat; the man who
believes that who loveth the flag is a man
and brother" and they have good old
soldier talk-the soldier of the war OF
the rebellion and the soldier of the wars Of
the Republic.
The general officers Of the Army are often
heard from at Cainffres and other gather
ings Of the volunteer veterans, and they
have much to say on many subjects, but
never word in Behalf, of him who Tough,
at the Rosebud, the Big Horn, and Slim
Buttes.-WM. GURNETr, Co K, Slh U. ST.
Howard, X. /.