The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1897-01-06
THE WRONG ORDER.

My friend, the ex-assistant secretary,
told me the story, and made me promise
not to use 1t, for he knew my failings, un-
til he retired from Office. have kept my
word, although greatly fear that the ex-
assistant secretary will not be pleased to
see 1t appear at all; but he will be some
what reassured when he remembers that
he and are the only two persons now liv-
ing who know the true version Of his sud
den rise, which at the time filled the coun-
try with some passing wonder, and certain
older and, as they doubtless felt, better
men with much enduring anger.
1t was one of the ex assistant secretary's
favorite observations that the most useful
of the great, yet homely, truths of life Is
that mans merit should never be judged
by his position in the world. My friend
is a keen observer of human existence, and
from his long experience with men Is so
we'll fitted to judge them that what would
appear as smartly epigrammatic in anoth-
or and younger man Is we'll worthy Of con-
sideration when falling from his lips. SO,
when he delivered himself of the aphorism
which has just been quoted, felt sure
that he must have had some excellent
reason for his belief therein. Impelled by
curiosity, in which, from my long inti-
macy with him, Iunhesitatingly INDUCED,
one night over d bottle of the ex- x-secretary's
favorite madeira, which had been given
him by the captain of a confiscated brig
for whom he had been enabled TO do some
slight service in tho days of the war,
made bold to ask my friend why he should
50 emphasize the value of that particular
observation. He gazed at me long and
thoughtfully, and finally told me, after ex-
acting the solemn promise mentioned
above.
Now, in order that reminiscent chord
may be struck in the minds of those who
are In position to remember the affair."
and that the minds Of those who are Of a
later generation may be guided to intelli-
gent comprehension of it, will briefly re-
late the facts as they appeared at the time
of their actual occurrence as seen and
judged by their contemporaneous wit
nesses.
In the third year of the civil war the
president of the United States appointed
to an important and lucrative place In the
war department q young, inexperienced
and, as some were pleased to say, entirely
incompetent man, who had left law
practice in New York to accept captaincy
In volunteer regiment organized in and
about his native village, not far from the
metropolis. When the news of this pecul-
lar appointment had been sent abroad by
the correspondents, the friends Of the other
and better known applicants for the same
place raised loud and unanimous protest.
which occasioned much editorial commo-
ton, as all will remember who read the
papers of that time After this had con-
tinued with unabating bitterness for a
fortnight an enterprising journal printed
the authentic reasons for the precipitate
act Of the president and thereby stilled the
discord into melody of admiration. 1t
appeared that this unpretentious and OBJ
scure civilian soldier had proved himself
hero and military genius Of no small order,
for with mere handful of men he had
completely routed a brigade and half Of
the best Confederate troops without firing
a shot, and by that deed paved the way for
the brilliant military movement which 30
successfully followed. The young man
was no other than my friend the ex-secre-
tary, who with that as foundation, rose
to his late position by ability alone.
After my promise had been faithfully
accepted the ex-secretary lit fresh cigar,
slipped his wine, satisfied himself that the
door was closed, tasted the madeira again
and began.
"You must know, he said with faint
smile that when a man of my age and
experience says anything like the quota
tion to which you refer he probably means
1t, and when a man means thing he
usually has a good reason for his en-
phasis.
This, of course, was an indirect compli-
ment to my perspicacity, and bowed grace
fully. He resumed:
"In the present case my reason 10 no less
than my own career, which, as you will
see when have ended, Is an existing proof
of the truth of the aphorism. When was
FIRST prevailed upon to accept captaincy
in my regiment, I was young man with
small law practice. My naturally roman
tic temperament made the life OF soldier,
although was not ignorant of It's priva-
tions and miseries, seem most desirable.
Therefore, against the advice Of my friends
and the prayers Of my family, finally de-
termined to 60 to the 'front.' The first day
that wore my uniform and the first day
that paraded at the head Of my company
down Broadway were to me the happiest
and proudest moments Of my life, and
thought that 1t would be an easy and
grand thing to charge headloDg against
OsASc
to the front and were brigaded with Gen
eral IS division of the -th corps, then
waiting orders to advance In turn In rapid
pursuit of Lee, who had started out on his
great invasion Of Pennsylvania. Before l
had become really accustomed to the hard
ships of camp life and had had some OF the
glitter of arms dimmed by aotuality was
ordered one night to report at regimental
headquarters. I went, my heart In my
mouth, just as I used to set out for tho
principals Office In my school days. no.
turned from regimental headquarters In
far more demoralized condition than ever
came from my schoolmaster's study. 1t
was strongly suspected, had been told,
that there might be body of rebel troops
acting as a blind TO the real movements OF
the Confederate army, not far In advance
Of the --th corps. Now, it was absolutely
hecessary that this be investigated. Major
General - had selected the - regi-
ment to ascertain this fact, and the colo
mel, delighted with the honor, had select