New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-11-08
THE WRONG ORDER,
HOW THE ASSISTANT SECRETARY WON
HONOR AND OFFICE.

HONOR AND OFFICE.
Reconnaissance BY A GREEN CAPTAIN IN
THE Rebellion AND ITS UNEXPECTED
RESULTS.
My friend the ex-Assstant Secretary told me
the story and made promise not 10 use IT, LOT
he knew my failings, until he had retired from
office I have kept my word. although greaty
fear that the ex-Assistant Secretary Will not pc
pleased TO 1t appear at all; but ne VIII DC
somewhat treasured when nc remembers mat ne
and / the only two persons now living VINO
know the version of his sudden rise. which al
the time filed the country with some passing
wonder and certain older and. "a they douotlessly
felt. better with much enduring anger.
II was one OF the ex-Asslstant Secretarys favor
lite observations that the most useful OF the great
yet homey. truths of life Is. that mans merit
should never be Judged by his position In the world
MY friend Is a KEEN shrewd and at the same time
kindly cynical observer of human existence. ana
from his long experience with men IL so well htted
to Judge them that what would appear az smar"y
epigrammatic In another and younger man Is well
worthy OF considerat ton when falling from his lips
&c. when he delivered himself Of the aphorsm
which has Just been quoted. | felt sure that ne
must have had some excellent reason for MS pehei
therein. Impelled by curiosity In which. from my
long intimacy with him. unhesitatngiy ihduiss"'
one night over a bottle OF the ex-Assstant Secre-
tarys favorte Madeira. which had been given
him by the captain OF coniscated brig Tor wnom
he had been enabled TO do some slight service IN
the days OF the war, I made bold TO ask my
friend why he should 40 emphasize the value OF
that particular observation. He gazed at me long
and thoughtfully. and finally told me. after ex-
acting the solemn promise mentioned above
Now In order that reminiscent chord may De
struck in the minds Of those who are In po-
sition TO remember the affair. and that the minds
NJ those who are of q later generation may be
guided to intelligent comprehension OF H. VIII
briefly relate the facts as they appeared az the Ie
of their actual occurrence as seen ana Juuseo u!
their contemporaneous witnesses.
In tho third year Of the Civil War the PRESIDENT
Of the United States appointed to an important
and lucrative place in the War Department
voung inexperienced and. rs some were pieaseo 10
say entirely incompetent man. VINO hau 'ei' Id"
,roc,ice in New-York TO accept captalncy In
volunteer regiment organized In ana ABOUT MS
native village not far from the metropolis "he"
the news Of this peculiar appointment hao oeen
cont abroad nv the correspondents. the friends OF
The other and better-known applicants for the
same place raised loud and unanimous pro'eS.
which ocoasioned much editorial commouoh' DIS d'
will remember who read the papers or that t'me'
,fter this had continued with unabating Ditter-
ness for fortnight. enterprising journal PRINT
.d the authentic reasons for the precpitate act or
,ba President and thereby stilled the dscord Into
a melody of admiration. 1t appeared that TINS I'M
nretenious and obscure civilan-sodier MAD proven
himself hero and military genius OF no small
order for with mere handful OF men ne hao
connletelv routed a brigade and half of the best
Confederate troops without firing a shot, ana py
INT deed paved the way for the brilliant military
movement which so successfully followed The
Young man was other than my friend the eN-
Assistant Secretary, who. with that as founda-
ton rose to his late nigh position by ABILITY alone.
After my promise had been faithfully accepted
IA. freSh
satisned himself that the door was closed, tasted
the Madeira again and began.
.you must know" he said. with faint smile.
| "that when a man Of my age and experience says
ANYTHING Ike the quotation 10 which you reier' ne
| orobably means 1t: and when a man means a
thing ne usually has good reason Tor MS empha-
| sis"
| This of course was indirect compliment to
NV nersnlcacity. and bowed gracefully. He re-
| sumed
| I'm the present case my reason is no less than
| nv own career. which. as you VIII see wheh
have ended Is an existing proof OF the truth OF the
| aphorsm When first prevailed upon to ac-
| cent q captancy In my regiment was young
| man with a small law practice. My naturally ro-
| mantle temperament made the lie OK soioier.
| although | WAS not ignorant OF Its prvations ana
| ,,iserIes seem most desirable; therefore, against
! the advice OF my friends and the prayers OF my
| family finally determined to go to the front The
frstd la
| TINT | paraded at the head OF my company down
| broadway were to me the happiest and proudess
| moments Of my life; and thought that II wouio
| ha an easy and a grand thing TO charge headions
| og,ins, the guns Of the enemy. We went at once
! ., the front and were brlgaded with General
| Is division OF the -th Corps. then waiting
orders ~ advance In turn in rapid pursuit OF Lee
| uho had started on his great invasion OF Penn
! svlvania Before had become really accustomed to
the hardshlps OF camp lfe and had had some OF the
cli,,er of arms dimmed by actually. was ordered
| or. might 10 report at regmental headquarters.
| usnt my heart In my mouth. just as used to
! set out for the principals office In my schoo!days
| | returned from regimental headquarters In raj
| mare demoraliled condition than ever came from
| my schoomasters study. Ii was strongly sus
| ,,e.,ed | had been told. that there might be a body
! ~ rebel troops acting ) a blind TO the real move
! uent OF the Confederate Army, not far In advance
! of the --th Corps. Now, II was absolutely neces
| sorv that this be investigated. Major General -
| mad selected the Regiment 10 ascertain this
| f,ct and the colonel Delighted with the honor
| had selected me to command the reconnaissance
/ for h. had always had great fOndness for me
| I WAS TO take my company at midnight proceed
! under cover OF the darkness and avoid an engage
rnen unless necessary. The rest should be left to
| my Judgment
| Here the ex-Asslstant Secretary smiled another
| smile and puffed Il cloud of smoke into the air
When IL had hoated away he started again.
..It might have been left to the discretion OF any
| army packhorse as well to my judgment. for
| was I'm an awful state of-well. what the boys
| nowadays call the rattes' took brace. how
! eyer for thought or my reputation and gave the
| necessary orders. We under way half ar
| hour later and. following directions. marched due
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