The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-07-31

Funny Experience of Fitzhugh Lees
Inspector General.

Funny Experience of Fitzhugh Lees
Inspector General.
Jacksonville Letter in New York Mail and
Express.
Col. Curtis Guild jr., inspector general of
beach, six miles, from here, where the Sec
Ond Mississippi is encamped, to make an
official inspection of the regiment. His task
was serious and important. He met with
an enthusiastic reception from the colonel
and his staff. 1t was difficult to escape
from their overwhelming hospitality. But
Colonel Guild was persistent and finally sue
ceeded in running the gauntlet of the regi-
mental staff and getting down to the de-
tailed work of inspecting the companies:
After the ELUSIVE welcome of the first
captain was over Colonel Guild said:
Now, captain, will you kindly issue your
orders for Inspections"
what you mean by that" replied the cap
tain. TT is true that I have been chosen
the captain of this company; but that is
from the State of Mississippi, sab. l know
nothing of the military end of this business,
sab. l turn that all over to my first lieu
tenant. He will issue the orders for me,
sab. And invite your attention, in making
this inspection, to the fact that all of my
men are of the highest social position, sab.
They are all scions of the very first families
of our section, sab. We offer the very best
blood of Mississippi upon the altar of pa
triotism, sah.''
A conversation similar to this occurred at
the captains tent of almost every company.
Such a combination of patriotic devotion to
the Union and of the highest social prestige
of the South was never equaled, not even
by the dandy volunteers from old Virginia,
which is excelled by Mississippi in it's col
loquial use of sab as a verbal token of
esteem and personal equality and not as a
recognition. as in the North, of superiority.
The detailed inspection of companies dis
closed sad lack of equipment. These
would-be destroyerS of Spain possessed all
told but a few hundred rifles, and most of
those were crooked in the barrel. Many
of them did not know how to handle gun
But their valor and patriotism were ex-
uberant. AS Colonel Guild passed down the
line of one company, he saw a private per-
form the movements of inspection with alb
SOlute correctness.
you're not new to this business" he re-
marked.
mo. colonel, I had the honor, sab, to
fight for the Confederacy. sab. from 81 ia
'65, sab. And I'm right glad to be inspected
by a Southern officer, sah.'
Colonel Guild smiled You're mistaken.
You are being inspected by an officer from
the North-in fact, by beaneater from
Instantly the Mississippian threw his gun
upon the ground and advanced from the
ranks with radiant face and outstretched
hands. I'm glad to meet you, sah," the
private exclaimed, putting his arms about
the waist of the inspector general of the
corps and giving that astonished dignitary
a hearty hug. Yes, sab. j surely am
mighty glad to meet comrade from Bos-
ton, sab. You are the first man from BoS-
ton ever saw, sab, and you have my eter-
nal friendship in our common cause, sab.
Such a manifestation defied rebuke, and
it is beyond doubt that the Mississippi pri.
vate, who is indeed a scion" and Colone
Guild will always be warm friends. off and
on the field of battle. But the MisSiSSippiar
will be put through a course of instruction
as to military etiquette that will not at all
it is to be hoped, dampen his enthusiasm In
the common cause of "DlQ (rlOrV.''