Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-08-01


officer on either side of him. He had
no sword with him. On his appear
ance, the ndiutant read long COM
munication from the secretary of war
the stern, and merciless Stanton
whose mind once made up, whether
right or wrong, was never known to
change, and on whom no recommen-
dations for mercy ever made an i'm
preston, however worthy the object.
The order stated that Captain John
Allen, of the --th Regiment of New
York Volunteer Infantry, having been
dismissed the service of the United
States for cowardice, and incapacitated
from ever holding Office again in United
States service, and having enlisted in
the --th Indiana Cavalry Volunteer
Regiment, was dismissed the service.
His name was to be stricken from the
rolls, and in the presence of his bri-
gade his buttons and shoulder straps
were to be taken off, and he then be
drummed out from the Union lines to
the tune of the Rogue's March.
An awful sentence for brave and
innocent man. The men, on hearing it
read, did not quite understand, and
they listened and watched in breathless
silence. But when the colonel of the
regiment, with his own hands, cut the
buttons and shoulder straps from the
condemned mans uniform, and instead
of throwing them on the ground grind
ing them in the dirt, carefully gave 10
each officer of Pettis' Regiment one as
q keepsake, took one himself and gave
one to the brigade commander, and as
each officer received his and kissed it
and rolled it carefully in paper and
placed it in his pocket, it was more
than human nature could stand and a
series of sobs aud mighty groans went
up along the entire lines. Their favor
ite, a coward What then must they
be? Was this the way the country re-
warded honorable and dangerous SER
vice in its behalf?
They could not understand, and when
next moment the brigade commander
rode up and then came the division
commander and the young and fearless
Custer, and dismounting they took Pet
tis' hands and then kissed him, while
tears rolled down many cheek-they
could no longer be restrained, but with
one simultaneous movement, broke
ranks and with cries and sobs crowded
around the poor major, demanding to
go with him. If he was to leave then
they would go also.
The drums and flies struck up the
Rogue's March, but it was not to march
time, but to the slow solemn move
ment of dead march. And more like
a mighty triumph than condemned
criminal, the disgraced man left the
camp, with Custer, holding his right
arm and the colonel his left, and fol-
lowed by train of officers and all the
men of the brigade. When the boat
was reached on the rivers edge and
officers and men could go no further
Custer again told him to be OF good
cheer and he would yet be righted
Pettis, or Allen, left the camp,
never to return. Representations of
the strongest character, indorsed by
Custer, the peerless Sheridan and
finally by the mighty Grant himself,
were sent forward, but they were de-
layed so long in the war Office that
they did not reach the executive man
sion till after Lincoln's assassination.
And then came the hurry and hustle
of reconstruction and the great war
secretary who soon afterward felt the
great remorse of heartless actions,
was relieved from Office. Officers of
volunteers were mustered out of SER
vice and the great leaders of the war
went to different spheres.
A disgraced man with no recon-
mendations from his war service, for
gotten by the greater men, and lost
sight of by the comrades OF the battle
field, Allen went to his home dis
guised, and stayed there but few
days. His father had died of shame
over his beloved boy, in the middle
days of war, and his old mother, al
though still believing in him, had
given him up for dead. His story
was to her a blessed reward for all the
days of Watching and belief in his
honor. But years went by, and she
was laid to rest by th side of her hus-
band.
Allen is still living and is honored
in civic capacities in which he has
served. He lives ont in a western
State, where, under an assu ned name,
he has won honor and is now winning
wealth. He is surrounded by low
ing, beautiful wife and happy, health
full children, every one of whom knows
his story, and is resolved that his and
their name-their rightful name
shall be vindicated, and the blot for
ever removed from their fathers rec
ord. His life is so full of rest and
happiness in his work and friends and
especially his beloved family, that he
is content to forget the past and to
look forward with anticipation to the
future, while he enjoys the happiness
of the present. THE Owl.
No More Burnt Fingers.
h. l. -