The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1896-11-05
AN INVOLUNTARY HERO.
Two Pieces of Hot Ham Won an Ofhcer'E
Promotion.

q
Promotion.
A Polish officer, now dead, who came
to the United States soon after the
Russians suppressed the Polish insur-
rection under Gen. Chlopiclli, in 1881,
used to tell with much zest the story of
his promotion from the ranks. He was
private of cavalry when Chlopicki's
retreat began. The troops had made
weary night march, and were in
bivouac for breakfast when scouts
brought word that they were almost
surrounded by a Russian force. In
stanSly the Poles hurried to their sad
dies. mounted and sought way of es-
cape.
The young cavalryman had been boil
ing some pieces of ham for himself in
camp kettle. Anxious to save his
bacon" he dumped the half-boiled
meat into his saddle bags and joined
his companions. Two minutes later his
horse became FESTIVE, at a most mop
| perfume moment. for on surmounting a
ridge the Poles had found themselves
confronted by Russian force of in
| fantry.
There was but one thing to be done.
| The Russian line must be broken
through at once. 1t was being rapidly
reinforced If the Poles should fail to
cut their way out at the first charge
they must be all captured.
On they rushed at the order to charge
and now our young troopers horse had
become fairly frantic and quite uncon-
trollable. He sprang away far in adj
vance of the charging line. The rider,
determining to make the best fight he
could, swung us saber, took stronger
grip with his knees and gazed hard at
the face of the Russian he expected to
be launched against.
Just then a volley hurled into the
charging line, but the foremost horse
and rider escaped unframed. y few
moments and they were upon the
enemy. Usually a horse refuses to
leap at bayonets, but this one jumped
furiously at the kneeling front rank,
aud such was the momentum and fury
of the beast that the Russians Just in
his front lost their nerve, broke and
gave him entrance.
Through the gap thus made other
| Poles sprang a moment later. Striking
right and left, they widened the breach,
and in ten seconds the Russian infantry
was demoralized. The Poles escaped
with slight loss, and it was not long be
fore their young leader quieted his
steed. dismounted and found a chance
10 examine his half-cooled ham.
A few hours later the Polish general
of cavalry rode up to the captain of the
troop that had so distinguished itself
complimented him and said: by the
way, captain, who was that splendid
young officer who led you all in?"
He wasn't an officer; that was only
enc Of my boys"
Not an officer! May the bullets
strike me if I don't make him one! Call
him out here at once"
The general shook hands with the
youth. promoted him to the Lieutenant
cy then and there and gave him place
on his staff.
Some days later. when the captain
called at headquarters, he sought out
the new lieutenant, whom he found
dolefully contemplating his unsaddled
horse, which had a huge, raw sore on
each side.
what on earth is the matter with
your horse?" asked the captain.
"Oh, nothing much"
But what made these terrible
sores?"
THE same thing that made me a
lieutenant said the hero. "a big chunk
Of hot ham in each saddle bag; but for
the love of the saints, don't tell the
general or the boys. youths Com
| panion.