New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-07-17
TRAGEDIES IN THE ARM
EVENTS THAT NEVER HAVE ppp,,
CORDED IN HISTORY.
oUARRELS BETWEEN oFFICERs-A srp.co.-
WHO WAS SHOT DEAD BY
STAFF CAPTAIN


STAFF CAPTAIN.
From The Chicago Times Herald.
tragedies in our own camps-outsids -.
tles-were more common than the "
knows" said a distinguished soldier in puoH
ance upon the recent reunion Of the ARMY ~ ~
Tennessee. ~
Louisville by Brigadier General Jeff r ' IN q
because Nelson In a fit Of anger hsd D osW
Davis a long string OF hard names is ons Ssned
few that came to the surface. You vo y, .ae
think it probable. but myself was once s~ ",
to tragedy that IL makes my gray hair r;sa I've -
as I recall it. e W
while a number of officers OF the rou,-
we're in the majors tent said some,h.sI iment
a captain took exception to- and war % Una ual
followed. When he pumped out Yon o'os
liar | struck out with my right and SET hirs =. :
bleeding He came back at me like ,;,n nn 70
We clinched. and for three or four mrn,e. sat
il hot and sharp; then the others separa,aa nso
He made all sorts CT threats. l was ad;n,I
He ranked me, and confess that for lin. !,
did fear he would make me trouble in Tho ,"e NC.
OF a court-martial, but the matter seemed !!
blow over.
zone fall afternoon the captain invited ~, 4.
take walk with him. Thinking th., -. -, 70
troubles had completely healed, CONSENTED ~ n.
the way back TO camp We passed through -
orchard. | climbed a tree 70 get some ann.
JUST dS Itdtutd loi an dNIle saw the Ma
tain reach for his revolver and glare al M M.
q very fend. Instantly | loosened my hoid s.i
dropped To the ground Selling a stake 49,
my place by his side and said: Now. you co~
ardly dog, put up that gun or I'll brain vor,
This time he was kept on a hot griddle for !.
month though / made no threats and haa ~
thought Of reporting his attempt to assassipas
me.
1.-THE next fight we got into we made nm a,
good and ALL and remained fast friends until
the final roundup. when General Joe Johnstnr
had his men throw down their guns and -
home TO make a crop 1t happened in N,
way The colonel had given the order 10 form
line OF battle. AS adJutant Il was my duty h
see that each captain carried out the order
When l reached the woudbe assassin and Md
performed my duty and started to 60 away 4
called out 'Adjutant, come back. When com.
piled ne took my hand, looked me squarely h
the eye. and said: Lieutenant, can you foreiy,
me for all OF my meanness 20 you? hope "a
/ have never had A good hour since that inc
dent in the orchard
with all my heart. captain. No one hu, yo1
and myself knows anything about that ltss
affair
"As I said. nothing else came up 10 m
aratc US while IN the Army. We never NET
after being mustered out. He died thru
years ago OF course I could have sr,
him in the penitentiary after he was out br|
I've always been glad did not He was goo.
soldier in battle, as brave as they made then
but bulldog in camp. He left the Army 81
major. His name? Never mind that 1t al
true story. | wish II were not FOR came.
forget that at one time in my life / was IL al
fair way 10 be murdered"
captain on the staff ~ division commandr
a: the hattie of Gettysburg. who aferwari BE-
came "A general and commanded a division hin.
self for a time, once told me that II he had 4 bel
would willingly give million dollars II he could
forget ana never recall Gettysburg tragedy
we needed every man in line" said the gen.
eral. Orders had been given TO let no well al
unwounded man go to the rear. Our general
had told the whole staff that II We couldn't
stop stragglers any other way 10 shoot theml
down As soon as the firing began a certain
class fled from the front. and the STAFF few al
them on their horses and pushed them battI
into the ranks. II was always job hated
II made me mad 10 see a fellow run away fronl
his comrades when they were in trouble ar,j
I used to be roughor with them than want.I
to toe with any class Of Gods creatures I'll
enemy was pressing our line very hard Al
break was greatly feared. Back came ano;h~I
cluster OF stragglers. big hearty fellows v.;f
never stay under fire second longer than they
are forced TO stay. ] made direct for three I'll
them with my drawn sword Two Of them vg,I
back - duty. The third ;old ne 10 90 wharI
IT was hotter than II was that hottest GI
at Gettysburg and said Ne vas going back EI
matter II the whole staff stood in the vV
30 Ia 20 your nIa,s instantly, ornlanda- l
A. that lie cooked his rife AID was Lifting ..
barrel So that woulC get its contents Doy
went my sword 10 the ground and out cane nl
revolver Quicker than | can tel YOU il cracka
and the man fell dead Yes. i was case al
shoot him or be shot. only wanted 10 tisaht(
him. hut that was no time &C hunt for got /
place To disable without killing. 4 second nGnl
and hc would have Killed me-
Then. why do you say you would eVe u
million dollars to forge, the Incident i
1t is an awful thing 20 XII a human ttins
can see lust how tina; man iel. back VIII
oath on his lips ! don't like ii. You woulct
| have commanded companies a regiment
brigade and a division t. do wholesale siI1s
battle That was what " enlisted TO Go. ia l
Is different from shooting - man. one Q. !0I I
own soldiers at Your SIDE | shall awaYNE
Crei that il became my duty 20 have hsno
that Army tragedy" 1