The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-12-28
TALES OF TIE TIMES.
Colonel Watrous Tells the Story OF IN
Army Four Hundred.


Army Four Hundred.
"Did they have society"
"SocetyY Yes, certainly"
"Of whom did the army 400 consistp"
"We had no 400--that Is, not like New
York's, that remains intact even though
the Ward McAllistcrs pass on"
That bit OF conversation between SOL
dier and society belle gives me a good
subject
Surely there was society, with society
events In plenty, and Mt times the lines
were sharply drawn, particularly among
the officers. Let mo give an illustrations:
Never mind what state the regimen. wan
from, its number or where it served. Some
of the actors are living. Upon going into
winter quarters the first year out the line
officers caused a large building to be erect
ed for use as dining and amusement h,'l.
In this they gathered for their three m
q day, and nearly every evening the
young officers met to discuss men, II a.
ures and cards. and now and then they I'd
songs, recitations. champagne or com as
sary whisky. Tho older men among the
officers-men OF 80 or q little over we're
called old then. farmers and iumbermen
seldom participated in those festivities.
However, one Of them who as young
fellow had gono through the Mexican war
was present on certain occasion. Call
him Lieutenant Hill, though that was not
his name.
About 10 o'clock on the night in ques
tion tho party was disturbed Wy tumul.
tuous commotion u few feet from their
palace. 1t ran like this:
"Halt, say. Halt, blank you, or I'll
blow you into next wookr'
"I'm going in. Shoot and be blankod."
"Give mo the countersign and I'll let
you cross tho lino."
"I haven't IL, you spalpeen. was to
get back before dark, but 1 lost me way,
and here am, and you tell mo can't git
to me quarters. Well see about 1t. Will
you call Lieutenant HIP"
'No, hut I'll call the corporal Of the
guard
"Not be blank sight Call q corporal
to take inc, a sergeant, to me tint? 1 guess
not
At this point Lieutenant Hill approach
cd tho guard md belnted sergeant, the lat
ter OF HIS company, and with a few quiet
words stilled the tempest had the officer OF
tho guard callod and was pivcn personal
charge OF tho offender. AS they were pass
ing tho door Of the amusement hall the
tipsy sergeant implored Hill to take him in
and give him fnal drink-a nightcap.
"Will you 60 to your quarters and retire
at once if / dof"
"That will, leftenant.
When tho lieutenant and bis bespattered
sergeant entered tho hill tho young fellows
gave them what is today called the marble
fod E,,, thot
stony az any 400 ever gave an intruder.
The sorgeant-I will call him Binder
was givcn drink by his lieutenant, and
then they shook hands and said good night,
when one made his way slowly TO a tent
and the othor resumed his place with his
brother officers at the long table. Nothing
was said for minute or two, when
dudish little lieutenant, who had been ad-
mitted to tho bar the spring before, ad-
dressed Hill in about these words:
Lieutenant, 1t occurs to me that 1t was
discourteous In you to bring that tipsy
noncommissioned officer into our presence
and give him drink. object to such CON-
duct"
Hill was quiet man; he seldom spoke,
but the remark stirred him up to q speech
his hearers did not soon forget.
"Who are you that you presume to leo
ture me on proprictys 1 resent it, sir;
resent It, That sergeant has moro man and
soldier in him than dozen like you. !
know him Ia years ago, when both Of us
were under Scott In Mexico"
In tho discussion that followed 10 WINS
made plain TO Hill that majority OF tho
young fellows resented both his conduct
and his speech. After that he messed by
himself.
Days Of battle camo carly the next spring.
Hill won n cnptaincy In tho first fight. In
the second he was badly wounded. One
Of his llcutonants was away on special
service and tho other sick. That left the
company without commissioned officer.
Briggs" said tho colonel to tho ndju-
tant, "have Sergeant Binder report to mo
at once"
Dust covered, with face discolored with
powder smoke OF tho day before, Binder
hurried to tho colonol's side.
"Did you sind for me, colonel"
Eyes, sergeant Tho major tells me
that you acquitted yourself bravcly in ycs-
terday's Dght-that you kept the men In
limo and at work.
IL tried to do me iuty, colonel"
eve aro likely TO be in another light Co.
morrow. Your company has no commits
stoned officer stree Hill was wounded.
You will take &C = nand."
"But, colonel, I'm fourth sergeant, and
tho others arc on juty. don't loike TO
jump thin"
"You nrc not jumping thcm. I'm do
Ing that. Do as tell you"
Tho eorFeant took command
Sure enough thcro was n eight tho next
day. The stubby sergeant didn't drop n
stitch.
Tho governor OF n New England state
had known Captain 1Illl Of tho western
regiment when they wcro boys. lie wrote
tho colonel'to find out what kind Of q soil
dicr his friend I'LL was making. zone
Of tho bravest men In rho command" snid
tho colonel Ton days later I'LL, was COM
missinncd lieutenant colonel uf regiment
raised In his native state, and, much 60 his
surprise, two weeks later Sergeant Binder
was made captain Of Hill's COMPANY. The