Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-02-28

complain Is temporarily II c"EanG1c OK
the troop. Go not think =, there is
man in the service who feels mere
respect for his Superior cficers than L
do, or who is more prompt at rcccgEiz-
ing their rank than / when l meet
them. Lieut.. Yandever came i.lto the
quarters an hour ago just as l was
leaving the RON, and saluted him as
was sny duty. A moment later / was
standing on the porch just outside the
door when he came out, and assumed
the position of soldier and waited for
him to pass. No officer who has been
any length of time in the service would
have desired or expected a repetition
of my salute. but the lieutenant stepped
up and shook his fist at me and rough
ly said:
- What do you mean. fellow? Do
you know who 1 am? Why do you not
salute me"
Il tried to explain to him, but he
Grossly told me to shut up, and said he
would teach me the respect due an Off
Ger. He then placed me under arrest.
Sir, served as private soldier for six
years and was never in the guardhouse
as prisoner, and during my fourteen
years service as non-commissioned
officer / have never until now been
under arrest, and it hurts me, sir. He
humbled me before some Of the men of
nv troop, but 1 don't mind that so
much as the disgrace he has fastened
to me-"
SIS that all that passed between you,
| sergeant?"
THAT is all. sir. The lieutenant
used some language that he would be
ashamed to use toward a soldier OF my
service after he has been in the army
awhile, but do not complain of that.
| / wish the disgrace of arrest wiped
from my long record, sir, that is ALL
If it will in any manner soothe your
wounded feelings, sergeant, will say
to you that 1 have known you for a
long time and have always regarded
| you as a model soldier. You can go to
your quarters. 1 will look into the
| matter"
and an orderly was dispatched to sum-
mon Lieut.. Vardever to headquarters.
The young officer had from his window
| seen the sergeant leave the Office. and
instinctively felt that his unwarranted
action had been reported to the colo
mel He entered the commanders
presence with a tirnid air. and seated
himself in chair pushed toward him.
Lieutenant, you have placed Sergt.
Barrett of your troop Under arrest"
Yes, sir, for showing me- disrespect.
SIN what manner"
''He failed 20 salute ne when Ipassed
him, and retorted when l repriClanded
him"
Had he rot saluted you in proper
and respectful manner but a moment
| before?"
Yes, sir, but then I was entering
the quarters. He did not recognize me
when l came ont any more than he
would have done one OF his own COM
panions."
IN what language did he rctort
when you reprimanded hin?"
He cndeavored to excuse himself for
-his-his-hisb breach Of military disci-
pline. His words were respectful, sir.
but the expression on his face was
| not"
"A look of pain at the unrnerited dis
grace you had inflicted on him, or one
of contempt?"
tempt
Out of respect for your rank. Lieut..
Fandever. the sergeant should have
tried to hide his feelings. 1 wish to
say to you, sir. that Sergt. Barrett
was tried ard true soldier when you
were pulling infant in your mother
arms. l have known him for many
years, and in all of his long and faith
full service this is the first blot ever
cast on his record. He is man fitted
by education and long service to fill a
| position above the one you now oc-
cupy. Sergt. Barrett is a soldier who
| is not at all lacking in respect for his
superiors in rank. Were l to meet him
| and receive and acknowledge his salute
and on turning around he should sa-
lutte NE again, I would think he had
been drinking, sir, and would pardon
his excessive manifestation of respect
on that ground. l believe have moth
ing more to say to you, sir, further
than that your hasty order placing this
man under arrest must be instantly re-
volxed."
Stung to the quick at this official re-
! bukc, the lieutenant sought his quar-
tiers. An order was at once sent to the
non-comnissioned officer annulling the
verbal order of arrest, ard directing
him to report to the first sergeant of his
troop for duty.
Lieut.. Vandever and Miss Sanford
frequently met, and it did not take the
young officer long to learn that any at
tcntion shown her outside the bounds
| of ordinary politeness and courtesy
would be met with marked displeasure.
He was really desperately in love with