The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1896-02-12
He WON HIS STRAPS.

The sight Of this young lieutenant brought
to mind the hard time he had getting the
shoulder straps and of a narrow escape he
had shortly after his blue uniform was
adorned by the plain yellow shoulder bar.
About nine years ago he was an en-
ployee in one of the departments, and, ow-
ing to a change of administration, lost his
position Like great many of those who
work for the government, he had Ignored
the lesson in the fable of the ant and the
grasshopper, SO when he was turned out
on the world he received a cold reception.
The few dollars he had were soon spent,
and then his credit was gone, and at last
hunger stared him in the face. 1t was
while the knocking and gnawing which
come after day or two without food
was making itself felt when he saw a
United States flag hanging out OF q win
dow on Pennsylvania avenue. On the
lower edge of that flag were the letters, in
big black type, Recruiting Office" The
young man read those words, and in fit
of despair assembled the stairs to the Office
above.
He was greeted by big sergeant, who
sized him up, and then told him that he
would have to return the following morn
ing, as the officer who enlisted men had
gone home.
But want to enlist now,'' said the
applicant.
"Well, you can't, my boy,' said tho ser
geant.
''Say, old fellow, you just fix me 50
can stay here until tomorrow" pleaded
the young man.
"Oh, it's hungry you are, is it? Well,
I'll let you stay over night and maybe the
captain will take you
That night he had his first meal in two
days. 1t was not such as he had been &C.
customed to, but it was "filIing,'' as he
afterward said in speaking of it. When it
came O'Clock, the sergeant walked into
the squadroom and ordered the half dozen
or so recruits into their beds and turned
out the light, not, however, till he had
called the roll, for army discipline comes
early. In the darkness the ex-clerE lay
awake, thinking of the past; of the days
when he had been receiving good salary,
of the manner in which he had dissipated
all of it, and of the many friends-those
who were his friends while he had money.
The past was dark, and the future was
even darker. What could he, a young
man of good family, amount to after five
years in the army? Several times he arose
and was going to escape, but each time
the mite of courage that had been revived
with full stomach oozed away, and when
morning came, he was still applicant
for enlistment.
Breakfast brought back some spirit, and
when the officer came in, the young man
was ready for him. The severe medical
examination was passed, and, everything
being satisfactory, up went his right hand,
and he swore to bear true allegiance to the
United States and to protect it against
its enemies whOmsoever. In a few min
utes the doughty looking ex-government
clork was transformed into a decidedly
awkward government soldier in n uniform
that had IN UGH the fit of a gunny sack on
a bean pole.
Some time passed, and the young SOL
der was at his post, I think it was Fort
Niobrara, Kan, and he had different ap-
pearance. His clothes fitted him perfectly,
and he knew how to handle his feet and
hands. He was a corporal in troop of
the Seventh cavalry. Two years passed,
and he had received promotion to tho high
est noncommissionedr rank obtainable in a
troop-that of first sergeant Another
year, and his captain had recommended
him for promotion. His record had been
such that he was classed as a meritorious
noncon1rnissioned officer and worthy of be-
coming commissioned officer if lie had
passed the examination.
The sergeant's hopes and the ambition
he had gained since his enlistment were
now about to be gratifed. But, alas A
cold bloOded regimental commander had
to pass on the recommendation. And
he did so. He Endorsed thereon the one
word, ''Disapproved. The document
was then forwarded to the headquarters of
the department, and there fell into kind
hands, for the cold, unfeeling colonel was
made to tell why he disappreved. 1t was
for no other reason than that he personally
of enlisted men getting COM
missions. This was hardly of enough
weight to set aside army regulations, so
the sergeant was ordered up for examinR-
ton.
Again disappointment came, for he was
sent out in the field on campaign against
Indians and did not see the post again till
the examination had been held.
In the next few months the colonel was
partial to the sergeant, and, an opportu
nifty arising, made him sergeant major, the
highest rank obtainable by soldier and
still remain an enlisted man. Every one
in the post thought that the young mon
CON- had won the old colonels good will
by his excellent behavior while in the field.
This idea was set at rest when the time
for recommendation came around, for the
colonel refused to give his sergeant major
and he alone now had
the power.
colonel kept the young soldier in the posi-
ton of sergeant major. The latter had
decided to give up, when one day lucky
thing happened. The colonel was pro-
NOTED to a brigadier general, and thus
taken from his regiment. The next year
the sergeant major passed his examination
and was commissioned in the cavalry.
The first summer of his career as an
officer he was al gain after Indians, and
twice under fire. 1t seemed that ill luck
did not desert him, for out of a whole
troop it was he who received the only b IL
let, and it was near enough to Craze his
bootleg and hit his horse. Later on in an
engagement against northern Cheyennes-
and, by the way, within a mile of where
General Miles was shot at by Lame Deer
he was shot at by an Indian at a dis e.
lance of seven PAGES away.
The ex-clerk is now glad that he was let
but of the departments, for he has posi-
ton for life, at good pay, always increas-
mo- and if be lives to be "a years old will.