The weekly Thibodaux sentinel and journal of the 8th Senatorial District. [volume] (Thibodaux, Lna. [i.e. La.]) 1875-1898, 1897-10-23
PRIVATE HOGAN.

bfen a time when the men Of Troops
G ard II were not on bad terms
with each ether. Nhcn stationed III tho
far southwest, tleir barracks had ad-
joined, aud scarcely a pay day lad pass
ed that the "Biarneys" ard The dutch
Rifles" as they were il the habit Of
calling each other, were not mixed up
in some ;.lsgraeefGl i~1liroglio. And
when, after l3 years spent III racifying
Apaebes and IL building up comfortable
army pests fer their successors to enjoy,
the regiment YVES ordered to Wycmlrg,
fate iio4ieaily ordained that these same
two tfcels Ct cavalry should Ee again
assigned to adjoining barracks, sc1arat-
ed oi:ly h IL narrow adote sally Eort.
Tie rank and file CT Troop 9 were
Irish frc2l the first sergeant down to
the last private in the TtGr rank. The
fc1aIer Was Il lyrical ttocrcr Ct the old
school who liz the halcyon days sue
ceedias the war Of the rebellion had
wielGed his authority with Ill the indie
%penGcnc2 C a Gaelic ctIcftain. Woo to
the u:ltuesy German recruit who ilight
be assigned to Ircap G! McGlcry
and LIS associates scen found a way to
cause Eim either t. GeFtrs CT else trans
fer to Il mere cCDgeftial organization.
And it was likewise true Of Troop Fl
that no Iiisiinan ever found his name
upon the roster Of First Sergeant Spiegel
that he did not EemCan his fate and in
wardIy curse the recruiting officer in
faraUay New York who had unsaspect-
ingly assigned him to the Dutch
rifles III the new northern country
the old state of affairs had gone on in
spite Of tho efforts CT the reginiental
commander and the respective captains
OF the two troops to preserve the peace.
The spirit was almost akin to that Of a
vendetta. which after resting peacefully
for a tine would again spring forth
when least expected. Audit was to this
very fact that | owed my first acquaint-
ance with Private Hogan CT Troop G.
I was crossing the grassy parade n
fine summer Gay when | was suddenly
made aware that something was amiss
In the rear Of the barracks occupied by
Troop G. Lcud voices could be heard,
and a sergeant in his shirt sleeves ap-
peared at the front deer ard RAJ quick
~ around through the sally port. As
was officer Of the day | Immediately
became interested. Cheers were heard,
some apparently CT victory. others Of
encouragement. As | started toward
the uproar there was a quick step be-
hind me, and as l partially turned | re-
ceived the salute Of Il young Irish sol
dler, who broke into 4 run after passing
me. He was q perfect giant i'll stature.
and his well shaped head was surmount-
ed by a shock Of fiery red hair. His face
was a good natured one, sunburned and
covered with q generous supply OF free
kles. He was faultlessly uniformed, and
this, with his white gloves and shining
waist belt, proved him to be the com
manding officers orderly. AS he cross
ed the distant road at breakneck speed
he first threw off belt ana afterward
blouse and disappeared through the
sally port, where his appearance seemed
to be greeted with Il chorus of yells. /
Quickened my pace, bat as | approached
the barracks the noise ceased. and when
/ passed the sally port not a soldier
a one was to be seen, and this ono
was the redEeaded I1ishman, who was
in the act Of picking up his cap. His
shirt was torn and his new trousers were
covered with mud, but at my approach
he Strengthened up with the rigidity Of
a marble statue. His assumed dignity
was ludierous i'll the ext.eme. The thick
red hair stood out III tufts wet and di-
sheveled, while the great beads Of per
spiration on his forehead seemed to in