Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-10-13

Cook-that he recognized in Pettis the
same Captain John Allen, who nearly
four years before had been dismissed
from the army on the charge of
cowardice. At last the fear that had
smouldered so long had broken out.
The honors and duties thrust upon
him by arduous service had driven it
out of his mind for time, but it now
came back with a tenfold strength.
All his splendid record, his daring
and courage, his endurance and duty
performed in the face of dangers and
trials that many other brave men
shrank from, were as nothing in the
face of this old stigma. To be sure,
his colonel had told him to leave the
letter on the desk, paying no atten-
tior to it, and he-the colonel-would
state over his signature that it was q
lie. But would not that be making
him shareholder in his crime? The
chance was open to him to escape
obloquy and not only the honors now
possessed but the much greater ones
in store for him would be his forever
The temptation was 100 strong upon
him. He knew he was no coward
all his comrades during four years
knew it. Why then should mistake,
a horrible stigma that was undeserved
cling to him?
While thus pondering, the colonel
entered, and going up to him, looking
him square in the eyes, and holding
his hand said: "Now, not a word,
Pettis. We know what the letter con-
tains, and. also, that Notwithstanding
any facts the writer of it may have,
that he is rascal, and you have the
record of being the bravest and best
captain in this corps, and any man that
dares gainsay that, VII have to an
swer to me personally for it. 1t is all
right, old man, and 1 understand that
you are slated for colonelcy yourself
and will get your regiment in a few
days." and shaking Pettis heartily, he
tried to half shove him out of the tent,
that he might indorse the letter as a
lie. But the honor of man, sans
peur ct sans reproache would not per-
NIT Pettis to allow his generous col
onel to write lie. All the best in
stincts of his nature rose at once and
turning quickly, he said with pale face
and blazing eyes:
But, heavens, colonel, the letter is
truel was tried and dismissed for
cowardlce. | am not O coward, you
know, but 1 was tried as such, and I
have no right to my present place.
With eyes blazing as though in the
thickest struggle of the battlefield,
and with form trembling with anger,
the colonel said in stern, set tones
Harry Pettis, [ say again, that any
man who says that you are a coward,
who says that you are anything but
the bravest and best captain in this
regiment, lies like fiend and will
have to answer to me personally for it,
Don't l know you, boy? Have 1 not
seen you go into the bloody angle at
Spottsylvania, with 800 men and
come back with forty? Have I not
seen you restore to our men the VIC
tory that was passing from us, simply
by your magnificent daring and cour-
age and the animation and spirit you
gave men who believed you more a
god than q man? Don't know that
were you to go from us, half our
strength would go? Why, ten thou
sand times would I rather lose my
right arm, ay, my life itself, than have
you taken away from this army, that
not only knows you, but those boys
out there, those babies of yours. who
are such terrors in battle, who worship
you. No, athousand times no, sir, say
the thing is an Infamous lie, and l will
not believe it!" Excited beyond him
self, the colonel strobe up and down
his tent, shaking with an anger that
only strong men, used to controlling
their most violent feelings on the bat
tlefeld, ever can give vent to.
Poor Pettis took his colonel's hand,
and as the tears silently rolled down
his cheeks, he told him the entire
story. IT was some time ere the COL
onel could recover his composure suf-
ficiently to listen and Judge impas-
sionately, but when he had learned
every particular of Pettis' OF Aliens
life, he shook his hands and told him
to go back to his tent, and rest as
sured that he would have the stigma
removed. As Pettis went out he sat
down and wrote a long Endorsement,
stating all the facts connected with the
former service, and then the splendid
record of Pettis in his present one
He was not content with merely send
ing this, but himself took it to the
brigade commander, and had a long
talk with him. The result was that
the Endorsement was strengthened by
a stronger one from the brigade com
mander, then another by the division
commander, and when it reached the
glorious young Custer-a major gen
eral in command of the corps-he in
dorsed it and took it to Sheridan who
did the same, mailing the coward
statement a lie, and recommending
Pettis for colonelcy-
A few weeks more had passed bv,
and then came the surrender of Ap-
pomattox. During the days of ex-
treme toll and danger preceding,