The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1896-11-26
AN AWKWARD SOLDIER.
The Ruse OF Confederate Scout
Who Joined Il Yankee Regiment

loan, lank, half-starved looking
individual made his appearance one
day early in 1868 at IL recruiting Office
in an eastern city and expressed de-
sire to "go for a soldier" He had come
from the west, he said, in charge of
car load Of cattle, and rs nearly every
body else had gone "solgerin" he had
about made up his mind that he
wouldn't go homo just yet, but would
try the army awhile. Hc had some
friends in an Illinois regiment some
where down in Tennessee, he ventured,
and If some 'solger clothes and gum
could be given him he would 60 down
and try to find them. He was an odd
looking genius, slow Of speech and
awkward in manncr, and the recruit
ing officer hesitated for some time be-
fore he would accept him. Recruits
were scarce, however, and the States
quota was ~ little behind. In the end
the man was accepted and sworn into
the service.
He was sent at once TO join his resi-
mcnt, and within n wee,, after his
enlistment was at work in uniform
learning to be a soldier. He was slow
in acquiring q knowledge Of his duties
and was constantly doing absurd things.
He got into tho generals tent one
day by mistake, and on repeated
occasions got lost in the other rcgi-
ments OF the division. His captain was
somewhat irritable at best, and much
inclined to be eXacting. He conceived
Il violent dislike for the "now man. as
he vas commonly called, and for a
month or moro made his life miserable.
Nothing that the recruit could do
pleased him. He did not stand square
in the ranks, nor sit erect at his meals,
nor 10 anything in fact us the captain
tUa tod l..
1T all patiently, but sometimes it was
observed that his face grew pale under
the captains rcprOOf and that his eyes
burned like Goals Of fire.
He got through somehow at last with
his preliminary training, and was taken
up finally on the morning report as q
private, and on the next day marched
on guard. Unfortunately his CAPTAIN
marched on the same morning as officer
OF the day. The new man" was placed
on an outpost Of the camp guard, and
at once began walking his "beat" in
dustriOusly in the hot SIN, repeating
quietly to himself, as he went back and
forth, the special instructions that had
been given him, in order tba at he might
be ready to "rattle them or" he said,
If any OF the officers should como
around and ask for them. Some time
late in the afternoon the officer OF the
day approached him and after acknowl-
edging his salute, directed him to re-
peat his Instructions.
VI allows no one to monkey around
here" said the new man."
whats that ?" exclaimed the officer
OF the day severely.
VI allows no one to monkey around
here" repeated tho sentinel, in " much
louder tone. ~ allOws"--
whats that? What's that ?" re.
pcated the officer Of the day, his voice
pitched at q high key.
The sentinel instantly dropped his
rifle to the order, and rising on his toes
fairly screamed
I'll allows no ono to monkey around
here told you so before. I've forgot
ten tho rest Of it, but"--
"That will do ! That will dow cx-
claimed the oflicor Of tho day. sharply.
Call the corporal OF tho guard"
II don't know his namc," replied the
sentinel.
Call the corporal of tho guard"
persisted the officer OF tho day, and
after some further emphatic instruc-
tlons from the captain q cry went up
for the corporal Of the guard Post
number four"
Tho corporal came promptly and the
sentinel soon thereafter found himself
disarmcd, stripped Of his cquirm "ts
and q prisoner in tho guard tent. ga
Investigation it was found, principally
through tho statement Of tho prisoner
himself, that tho Instructions he had
attempted to give the officer Of tho day
had been communicated to him It's cor
rect by somo roguish comrudo. Hc was
therefore released from confinement at
length and again trusted with santi-
neps post. 1t was nearly midnight
when tho oflcer OF tho day again ap-
Proachod m. Hc very promptly chal- |
iongcd and on receiving tho reply, |
''O1icer OF the day." again astonshed !
tho captain by a cordial "Thunk you |
LEASE advance, cir, and Do recon
cilcd."
This WAS too much of q draft upon
both tho dignity Of tho capt Lin and tho
discipline OF the service, and the sem
tlnel found himself speedily O. prisoner