The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1897-09-30
Fl PLUCKY Sergeant.
Won - Commission by Unswcrying Atten-
tion to His Duty ats "a Soldier.

| Won - Commission by Unswerying Atten-
tion to His Duty Soldier.
EDIToR NArIoyAL TEIBUEE: Travelling
in Arkansas not long ago 1 ran across one Of
the coolest, bravest. iolIiest veterans, Orlando
| W. Easton, Co. c, 1lth Iowa. / first knew
! him at Camp Mcclellan, Iowa, as Drill Ser
| geant and bearer Of his regiment. His
war service was full of plucky deeds.
At Shiloh he had been i'll and off duty for
several days. When, on Sunday morning,
the long roll sounded, Easton appeared, ear
rying the flag and supported by two of the
! Color-guard. Being two weak to walk
without aid, Capt. Joe Neal ordered him out
Of the ranks As ne was oil duty On morning
report, Easton went directly to the Sur
geOn and ssId
Mark me for duty" Surgeon Watson
replied You fool; you're sick" Eastou
pulled a pistol, and looking the Surgeon
steadily in the eye said quite empiatCally
Mark ME for duty" the Surgeon quickly
complied. Easton again took the colors,
and with help reached the front. l lost
sight of him until about 3 o'clock ?. II.
Our ammunition had given out; we were
ordered back We had TO abandon a battery,
that the enemy turned on us Immediately.
Seeing this onr L;eUtenant-Colouel, Hall,
(thc Colonel having being badly wOunded,)
although shot through the leg, ordered us
TO charge with the bayOnet and Iecapture
those guns.
The charge was led by Serg't Easton.
The enemy were driven back, and Serg's
Easton, Capt. Neal, and few other boys
"spiked the gum then beat hasty retreat
for the Landing, over three miles away.
Easton had taken the Government bunt-
ing flag into the fight, leaving the Pegi-
mental banner and silk flag in the company
quarters In retreatiDg he made detour
to the quarters, and amid q rain OF leaden
hail secured the two silk flags, and with
the remnant Of the old bunting made safe
retreat.
One more incident: During the Summer
of '63, while camped on the Hatchie River IN
Tennessee, Gen. NJ. NJ. Crocker had the 1lth
Iowa moved across the river from the rest
of the brigade. The enemy formed line
almost around US, and we were daily expect
ing attack. Our force was too small to hold
our ground without reinforcements Oar
position was critical. The Colonel called
for volunteer Sergeant for yidet duty.
Serg't Easton responded and was sent up
the river a mile or more with 26 men TO see
that the enemy did not close our only avenue
of escape.
IOWdIu du ONl , IOOt SOHhNSO
across the river TO the right. In few min
utes similar sound answered from the op-
posite direction. They seemed to be about
mile apart.
The Sergeant was standing with his back
against tree, mOtiOnless. Soon came
second call and reply. Not much owl"
remarked the Sergeant to me, sententiously;
but the sort of bird we are out here after"
Calling for four men to follow, he led the
way into the dense, dark forest, getting as
nearly on line between the hooters as pos
sble. Suddenly we found we were lost
But one man said "Serg't t., you catch the
fellow on the left, and / will try for the one
on the right"
Nearer and nearer came footsteps, with an
occasional cracking of twigs underfoot
When they were four or five feet from US,
HAITI sang out the Sergeant, making a
.pring toward his owl" A rapid exchange
of shots rang out The birds" wheeled
and ran, the Sergeant, i'll close pursuit, firing
at the retreating "owl," until the bird
Jumped or fell into the river.
In n short time the Sergeant put i'll an ap-
pearance, hot dirty, and woebegone-io
scratched and bleeding from coming in con-
tact with the low-hanging beech limbs.
But his feelings were the worst acerated, rs
he had failed to accomplish Wna6 ne WAS eA-
pected to do.
But the Colonel had heard the shooting,
also the owls e., and had come out to see what
had been done. He was more excited than
the Sergeant, as he was in undress uniform,
and on his horses bare back. He said brave
officers were in demand, and he would never
rest until Serg't L. wore shoulder-straps.
In the Spring of '63 a large envelope
reached Easton, containing Captains COM
mission and an order to report at Head
quarters for duty. And SO he left us.-A
VETERAN.