The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1898-10-05
HOT BLOOD IN CAMP.
ARMY ouARRELS THAT ALMOST END
ED IN TRAGEDIES.

OMceF-A fencenisking AdjEtant.
Tragedies in OFT own camps. n
side of battles, were more common than
the public knows, " said q distinguished
soldier.
THE shooting of Major General Mel.
son at Louisville by R~rigadior General
JEFF Q. Davis because Nelson in a ft of
anger had called Davis q long string of
hard names, is II of the few that came
to the surface. You wouldn't think it
probably, but | myself was once SO close
to a tragedy that 1t makes my gray hair
rise up as l recall It.
while a number Of officers Of the
regiment were In the majors tent l said
something that q captain took excep-
tions to, and a war Of words followed.
When be pumped out, You are q liari'
l struck out with my right and set him
to bleeding. He came back at me like q
tiger cat. We clinched and for three on
four minutes had 1t hot and sharp; then
the others separated as. He made all
sorts Of threats. l was adjutant. He
ranked me. and I confess that for q time
] did fear he would make me trouble In
the way OF court martial. but the mat
ter seemed to blow over.
"One fall afternoon the captain inyit-
I'd me to take q walk with him. Think
ing that our troubles had completely
healed, l consented. On the way back
to camp we passed through an orchard.
1 climbed a tree to get sorne apples.
Just as reached for an apple I saw the
captain reach for his revolver and Riare
at me like q very fiend. Instantly l loos-
eDed my hold and dropped to the ground.
Selling a stake, l 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 a hot griddle for q
month. though I made no threats and
had no thought Of reporting his atseLlpt
30 assassinate me.
"Ths next fight We got into we made
mp 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 60 home to
make . crox.' 1t happened in shis way:
The colonel had given the order TO form
line Of battle. Az adjusant it was my
duty to see that each captain carried
out the order When / reached the
would be assassin and had performed
my duty aud started to go away, he
called out, 'Adjutant, come back.
When / complied, he took my hand,
looked me squarely in the eye and said:
Lieutenant, can you forgive me for all
Of my n to you? hope &C. I
have never had a 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 / said, nothing else came up to
separate us while in the army. We
eve met after being mustered out He
died three years ago. OF oourse l 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 I did not. He was q good SOL
der in. battle. as brave as thoy made
them, but q bulldog in camp. He left
the army q major. His narnei Never
mind that. It is a true story. l wish 1t
were not. for l cannot forget that at n
time in my life / was In o fair way 70
DO murdered"
Report 70 your headquarters under
arrest. air.
The colonel Of q western regiment
Kissed that remark to his lieutenant
colonel az he dismissed the parade q
evening in December. 1864. o few miles
back Of Petersburg.
II refuse to GO. d. you" was the
reply.
'sAdjutant, see that Lieutenant Colo
mel Blank goes 20 hisquarters OF once"
said the angry colonel. who was In the
right, for tho lieutenant colonel. who
had been drinking. had d~isobeyed or
ders.
The adjutant knew both officers well,
and that 1t would not do for them to
come together that night. He had q
merry time of 1t keeping them apart.
The lieutenant colonel would jump up
and start for the cabin door with q
threat to go t o the c~olonel's quarters
and cut him down with his sword. He
was a 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 TO the colonies
cabin, with sword drawn. stop,
man, said the adjutant. Would You
blot your record of three years by com
hitting murderg Think Of that. Think
Of your wife and children. Come back
to your quarters You shall not go q