Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1898-11-17
HOT BLOOD IN CAMP.
ARMY QUARRELS THAT ALMOST END
ED IN TRAGEDIES.

side Of battles, were more common than
the public knows, said distinguished
soldier.
''The shooting of Major General Nell
son at louisville by Brigadier General
JeR Q. Davis because Nelson in q fit of
anger had called Davis long string Of
hard names, is one of the few that came
to the surface. You wouldn't think it
probably, but L myself was Cnce so close
to tragedy that it makes my gray hair
Else up as 1 recall it.
wv lille : number of officers of the
regiment were in the major tent said
something that q captain took excep-
tons TO, and war of words followed.
When he pumped out, You are liar'
l struck out with my right and set him
to bleeding. He came back at me like n
tiger cat. We clinched and for three or
four minutes had it hot and sharp; then
the others separated Us. He made all
sorts of threats. was adjutant He
ranked me, and confess that for time
did fear he would make me trouble in
the way of court martial. but the mat
ter seemed to blow over.
Zone fall afternoon the captain invit-
ed me to take u walk with him. Think
ing that our troubles had completely
healed, / consented. On the way back
to camp we passed through an orchard.
L climbed a tree to get some apples.
Just as L reached for an apple l saw the
captain reach for his revolver and glare
at me like very fiend. Instantly loos-
eDed my hold and dropped to the ground.
Selling a stake, took my place by his
side and said, Now, you cowardly dog,
put up that gun or I'll brain you This
time he was kept on hot griddle for a
month, though 1 made no threats and
had no thought of reporting his atteI-Ipt
to assasSinate me.
THE next fight we got into we made
up for good and all and remained fast
friends until the final round up, when
General Joe Johnston had his men
throw down their guns and go home to
make crox.' 1t happened i'll this way:
The colonel had given the order TO form
line of battle. As adjutant it was my
duty to sec that each captain carried
out the order. When 1 reached the
would be assassin and had performed
my duty and started to go away, he
called out, 'Adjutant, come back
When 1 complied, he took my hand,
looked me squarely i'll the eye and said:
Lieutenant, can you forgive me for all
of my meanness TO you? l hope so. I
have never had good hour since that
incident in the orchard.
"'With all my heart. captain. No
one but you and myself knows anything
about that little affair.
''As l said, nothing else came up to
US while in the army. We
never met after being mustered out. He
died three years ago. OF course could
have sent him out Of the army in dis
grace and placed him in the peniten-
tiary after he was out, but I've always
been glad l did not. He was Il good sol
der in battle, as brave as they made
them, but a bulldog III camp. He left
the army n major. His name? Never
mind that. 1t is n true story. 1 wish it
We're not, for L cannot forget that at one
time in my life was in fair way to
be murdered.
Report to your headquarters under
arrest, sir
The colonel of q western regiment
Missed that remark to his lieutenant
colonel as he dismissed the parade ono
evening in December, 1864, few miles
L
II refuse to go, d you," was the
reply.
"Adiutant, sec that Lieutenant Colo
mel Blank goes 20 his quarters at once"
said the angry colonel, who was in tho
right, for the lieutenant colonel, who
had been drinking had disobeyed or
ders.
The adjutant knew both officers we'll,
IL II i IL
come together that night. He had a
merry time of it keeping them apart.
The lieutenant colonel would jump up
and start for the cabin door with a
threat to 90 to tie colonel's quarters
and cut him down with his sword. He
was powerful man, able to carry ont
his threat unless the colonel should get
the drop. Once the arrested officer got
away and was half way 70 the colonel's
cabin, with sword drawn. stop,
man." said the adjutant. Would you
blot your record of three years by COM
hitting murder? Think of that. Think
Of your wife and children. Come back
TO Your quarters. You shall not 20
step farther IN that direction until you
have killed me.
II don't want to kill you, but I'm
going TO kill the colonel"
"Al right, kill him, but wait until
1t is light. Don't shoot
n man in the dark. That is no way for
a brave man TO do.
He went back to his bunk and slept
until morning. When he awoke, he
came TO me and said:
How can get out Of this scrape, |
Write the colonel an apology"
He wrote it, and the adjutant took it
10 the colonel, who read ii, laughed and |
said, Bring Colonel Blank TO my quar- |
tiers" They met like q pair OF brothers, |
and to this day the adJutant believes !
that he prevented an army tragedy, and |
l guess he did. Chicago Times Herald. !