New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1898-07-06
HOT BLOOD IN CAMP.
ARMY QUARRELS THAT ALMOST END
ED IN TRAGEDIES.

ARMY QuARRELs THAT ALMOST END
Ed IN TRAGEDIES. GIN
The Story Of . Captain Who Had Murder
In His Heart-A Fiery Lieutenant Colo
mel Who Wanted to Kill His superior
Oficer-A Fascinating Adjutant.
Tragedies in our own camps, out
side of battles, were more common than
the public knows said distinguished I
soldier. s &s r. O. S4s
''The shooting Of Major General Mel
son at Louisville by Brigadier General
Jeff G. Davis because Nelson in a fit Of |
anger had called Davis a long string Of |
hard names, is one Of the few that came |
to the surface. You wouldn't think it |
probably, but myself was once SO close |
to a tragedy that it makes my gray hair |
rise up as recall it. i
"While number of officers of the
regiment were in the major tent said
something that captain took excep-
tions to, and a war Of words followed. |
When he pumped out, You are liarP
struck out with my right and set him
to bleeding. He came back at me like a
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. Twas adjutant. He
ranked me, and confess that for a time
I 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 a walk with him. Think
ing that our troubles had completely
healed, I consented. On the way back
to camp we passed through an orchard.
I climbed tree to get some apples.
Just as I reached for an apple I saw the
captain reach for his revolver and glare
at me like very fiend. Instantly loos-
ened my hold and dropped to the ground.
Selling stake, I 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 I made no threats and
had no thought of reporting his attempt
|. to assassinate me.
1.-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.' It happened in this way:
The colonel had given the order to form
line of battle. AS adjutant it was my
duty to see that each captain carried
! out the order. When I reached the
| would be assassin and had performed
my duty and started to go away, he
called out, 'Adjutant, come back. ,
When I complied, he took my hand,
looked me squarely in the eye and said:
Lieutenant, can you forgive me for all
of my meanness to you? hope SO.
have never had good hour since that
incident in the orchard 49,
"'With all my heart. captain. No
one but you and myself knows anything
about that little affair.
GAS I said, nothing else came up to
separate US while in the army. We
never met after being mustered out He
died three years ago. Of course I 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 did not. He was good sol
der in battle, as brave as they made
them, but bulldog in camp. He LEFT
the army a major: His name? Never
mind that. It is a true story. L wish i
, were not, for I,cannot forget that at ont
time in my life was in a fair way tt
be murdered.
REPORT to your headquarters undei
arrest, sir. - >: $500 ..o.. 49,.
The colonel Of western regimen
Kissed that remark to his ieutenan
colonel as he dismissed the parade on
evening in December, 1864, few mile
back Of Petersburg. -
IT refuse to 20, d. you,'' was tn
reply. ---.~..-- ~ 81 -.
"Adjutant, see that Lieutenant Colo
mel Blank goes to his quarters at once,
said the angry colonel, who was in til
right, for the lieutenant colonel, VIII
had been drinking, had disobeyed OF
, ders. ~. .--z~-
, The adjutant knew both officers well
, and that it would not do for them t
, come together that night, He had
merry time Of it keeping them apart
! The lieutenant colonel would jump q
: and start for the cabin door with
r threat to go to the colonePs quarter
| and cut him down with his sword. 81
was powerful man, able to carry on
his threat unless the colonel should &c
the drop. Once the arrested officer &C
away and was half way to the colonel
cabin, with S.. sword drawn. *StoI
:: man, said the adjutant. "Would 70
blot your record Of three years by CON
uniting murder? Think of that. Thin
I Of your wife and children. Come bac
to your quarters. You shall not go
| step farther in that direction until 20
! have killed me-
i - sT don3< xx,ont RI hill Won hr,f IT,