The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1896-12-27
STOOD OFF THE ARMY.
An Exciting Incident of the War
Which Was Almost a Tragedy.

w 114Sl4 w cS0 L1141OSI q 4IdEGQX.
Philadelphia Times: The army of
northern Virginia was retreating from
Gettysburg. It halted near Hagers-
town and threw I'D entertainments as
if anticipating another engagement.
But no engagement was expected or
desired. The south was defeated and
General Lee knew it. The soldiers
struggled into town in search of
amusement and to supplement their
rations. They found whisky in album
dance-a luxury not easily obtained in
the Confederacy. They had it and
partook of it freely. In consequence
they were noisy and by no means a
pleasant acquisition to the good people
of Hagerstown. Rumors of their dis
orderly demeanor reached General Lee,
who immediately sent a peremptOry Or
der that all Confederates-men and
officers-should return to camp at
once. I was provost marshal of Ha-
gerStoWn at the time, and the order
came to me. / detailed a squad of men
under a sergeant and sent them out
with instructions to enforce it. They
returned in a short time and reported
that all had promptly obeyed except
colonel r. of the cavalry. He was in
a store, and drinking, and refused to
go. I knew him. He was a fine man
and gallant officer and fearless as the
proverbial lion. He was also six feet
and seven inches in height and of pro-
pOrtlOnate dimensions in other respects
Show me Colonel F. 1 said, and I
will see thatshe obeys." The men led
the way. Sure enough, we found Col
onel f. leaning on the counter of a
store; he had evidently been drinking,
though not Intoxicated.
Colonel" said 1, walking UP to him,
L have orders from General Lee to
send all Confederates-men and Off
cers-to camp at once. You will please
obey"
Looking at me coolly, in spite of his
heated condition, he said: Il will not
co.
But, colonel said. you must
go"
L will not CO." he replied. II don't
belong to your command L belong to
Roony, Lees division"
But, colonel" I said, "the order is
from General Robert E. Lee. and
Roony Lee himself is under his COM
mand. The order makes no excep-
ton, and leaves me no option but to
see it obeyed.,'
Il tell you I don't intend to co. he
replied.
was irritated at his persistence, and
said with some warmth, You must
60"
Taking out my watch and noting the
time, said: Il will give you ten min
utes in which to decide what you viii |
do. At the end of that time if you still /
refuse to obey, l shall order these men |
to fire on you
l turned to the men and commanded |
them to fix their guns, which they in |
stantly did. In the most nonchalant |
manner imaginable Colonel F. put his |
hand hphind hin, IT,
hip pocket a revolver, a Colts six
shooter. Cooking it and pointing it at /
me, he said:
IF you order those men to fire on me
will shoot YOU
l did not reply, but studied my time
piece intentiy. What shall do?
What ought I to do? I did not wish |
to sacrifice this gallant life. A passing
thought that my own life hung on q
thread fitted through my mind 1t was
only fitting thought. Veterans are
so Injured to danger that it makes but
little impression when they have it to
face. To this fact is due their efficiency
more than to the superior training ex-
perlence gives. They are never hin
dered in approaching a situation or
Obeying an order by personal fear Just |
before the time was up Colonel F's
adjutant came to me hurriedly and |
touched nv arm.
Colonel he said, 81 want to speak
with you a minute
1 went aside with him.
Colonel" said the adjutant to me.
you can't manage Colonel F. in the
condition he is in now. I know him.
He viii not bulge from the position he
has taken. He will stand there with
hat pistol and fight General Lees
whole armv before he will surrender.
Leave him to me. I think | can coax
him back to camp"
Very well, do so.'' said l. greatly re-
ieved to have the responsibility re-
/ left him to the adjutant.
What argument he used I do not know,
out in a few minutes he had persuaded
aim to return to his command, and
Colonel F. never knew of the mental
conflict had undergone.