The times., 1897-06-06

1t did not take men long to learn com
pany and regimental drill after being called
Tito tue field by the outbreak OF the civil
war, and it was only question Of weeks
when every soldier knew how TO take care
of himself in camp. 1t was grand ma
teriai for any army-farmers, miners, ne-
chanics, CLERKS, day-iaborers men OF Drawn
and men or pri de, and such was the rush at
first that the recruiting officers would re-
ject man almost on account of an cid
scar. When the raw material was drilled
aud disciplined and hardened up every man
was fighter. A grave mistake was male
by the company and regimental officers in
the very beginning, and, though rec
tilted Iii most instances before the year
was out, gross injustice had been done
TO thousands or brave inen.
There was but one officer in The Fourth
Infantry who started IN right He was
ridiculed and burlesqued for months, but
cine proved his sagacity and brought
him his promotion. He was the captain Of
Company G., and his very first move was
to know every man in his command by
name His next was to study each man
by himself Company G was made up Of
all sorts of men, from the sturdy farmer
OF forty To the boy of twenty who had
always been coddied as a pet. Not man
had ever been under fire: not ten out OF
the hundred had ever had their courage
tested. Taken altogether they were a fine
: looking body Or men, and after SIX weeks
Of camp life they showed up better than
any other company. Most captains would
have been proud and satisfied and boaste1
little.
Capt. White was simply pleased. Camp
life was but tie picnic preceding War
There would be long marches, and he went
at it to toughen his men Every day,
rain or shine, they marched i'll squads
for go many miles. They were taught
the easiest step, their loads We're gener-
ally increased; their feet were hardened
by degrees. Getting permission TO march
his company out OF cantonment for the
dag he took them into the fields for sham
battles. and he posted them behind walls
and let them hear the ping of bullets
had 900 footsore men. Only half the
regiment made the march in the time
given it.
goal with swinging step and not a blister
10 show fer the hard march. In our first
battle 500 men were cursed fer c0vartis,
while Company q did al the fighting. In
deed, the cooIness OF the 100 prevented
disgraceful rout. There were nos a dozen
officers like Capt White in the whole
volunteer army: there were thousands un-
like him. That accounted for the panic
at Bull Run and other disasters
When TIE Seventeenth was briga.iel
with us everybody spoke in praise Of i;s
stalwart rank ana file. No better material
could have been found in America 4
couple OF weeks, however, showed the
colonel to be dn egotist and a drunkartl,
and few Of the regimental or company of-
ficers seemed anxious TO give him credit.
one day the Seventeenth came out 70 re-
iieve the Fourth on the outpost duty Not
a man of them had ever fired his musket:
not man had ever seen a Confederate;
not man had heard the ping of a bullet.
Companies were detached TO cover ii long
front and 70 guard a bridge and railrold
crossing. AT uid-afternOon one hundred
Confederate cavalry. divided into squads
OF TWENTY-FIVE, attacked four full COM
panies Of the Seventeenth at about the
same moment
One discharge Of oarbines, followed by
d yell, did tie business IN each instance
The same 100 Confederate cavalry then fell
upon the reserve of the Seventeenth and
routed 800 men at a dash One thousand
nDen Were beaten, routed and d:seraced by
100, and all because the officers had not
coached them just week later frty men
out of Company fought 45O C0nfedeTates
for an hour and prevented them from burn
ing a bridge.
THAT was the beginning of the hoodoo Of
the Seventeenth. 1t had disgraced itSelfand
diSGraced the brigade, and nothing short of
"a gallant fight would restore its prestige
The officers cursed the men for towards
and sku,ks, and the men lost confidence
in themselves. Two weeks after its dis
graceful! rout five companies were sent out
at night TO drive u score Of Confederate
sharpshooters out Of an old mill and take
possession, The major in cOmulaad had
scarcely been seen by any of the men
before. uehardIy knew one of thecaptains
by name He staggered and commanded, i,
and the 500 marched out.
Companies would have marched in open
order, ready TO support each other The
major had no sense He marched his 500
in a solid body, with tramp to be heard
d mile away. The sharpshooters heard the
tramp of infantry, suspected what was
coming, and fifteen of them went into am
bush along the road, and at proper mo-
ment opened fire. In five minutes the five
companies were defeated and flying back
to camp, leavinga score of deadand wound
edin the enemy's hands. OFFICERS and men
made foot race of it, and as they came
streaming into camp the brigadier hunted
out the major aud shouted at him:
by God, sir; but you are a contemplate
coward, sir; and this is another disgrace
on the brigade. If you don't put your
resignation in my hands within half an
hour I'll horsewhip you out of camp"'
The major complied and was glad TO
get cut, and next day the colonel fol-
lowed suit New officers were appo.lte,l,
and to them the brigadier said:
''Gentlemen, the Seventeenth has got as
good Fl ghting blood as thereis in this army,
but IS has disgraced the brigade Go at
it and work your men up If you handle
them right they will fight;if you let them
srnirch the reputation of this brigade again
I'll hold you personally responsiblei''
The officers at once set about the work
ing up'' business, but how was 1t done?
They insulted the captains, and the cap
tains retaliated en- the rank and file One
Mo 1ftpr week