The Olneyville times. (Olneyville [Providence, R.I.]) 1887-1917, 1898-07-29

Tragedies in our own camps, out
side of battles, were more common than
tle public knows " said distinguished
soldier.
1.-The shooting of Major General Mel
son at Louisville by Brigadier General
JEFF Q. Davis because Nelson IN 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 I myself was once so close
to a tragedy that it makes my gray hair
rise up as recall it
while a number Of officers of the
regiment We're in the majors tent said
something that "a captain took excep-
tiOns TO, and war of words followed.
When he pumped out, You are liar'
struck out with my right and set him
to bleeding. He came back at me like
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. l was adjutant. He
ranked me, and I confess that for time
did fear he would make me trouble in
the way of court martial, but the mat
ter seemed to blow over
lone fall afternoon the captain invit-
ed me to take walk with him. Think
ing that our troubles had completely
healed, consented. On the way back
to camp we passed through an orchard
/ climbed a tree to get some apples
Just as l reached for an apple saw the
captain reach for his revolver and glare
at me like very fiend. Instantly loos-
eDed my hold and dropped TO the ground.
Seizing a stake, 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 / 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 a crox.' 1t 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 / reached the
would be assassin and had performed
my duty and started TO go away, he
called out, 'Adjutant, come back.
When 1 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. I
have never had 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.
LAS 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 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
dier in battle, as brave as they made
them, but bulldog in camp. He left
the army q major His name? Never
mind that. 1t is true story. / wish it
we're not, for cannot forget that at one
time in my life l was IN a fair way to
be murdered. -
Report to your headquarters under
arrest, sir"
The colonel of western regiment
Missed that remark TO his lieutenant
colonel as he dismissed the parade one
evening in December, 1864, a few miles
back of Petersburg.
Il refuse to 60. d you," was the
reply.
"Adjutant, see that Lieutenant Colo
mel Blank goes to his quarters at once,
said the angry colonel, who was in the
right, for the lieutenant colonel, who
had been drinking, had disobeyed or
derS
The adiutant knew both officers well,
and that it would not do for them to
come together that night. He had a
merry time of it keeping them apart.
The lieutenant colonel would jump up
and start for the cabin door with a
threat to go to the colOnel's quarters
and cut him down with his sword. He
was a powerful man, able TO carry out
his threat unless the colonel should get
the drop. Once the arrested officer got
away and was half way TO the colonel's
cabin, with sword drawn. stop,
man," said the adjutant Would you
blot yanr record of three years by com
mitting murder? Think of that. Think
Of your wife and children. Come back
to your quarters. You shall not go
step farther IN that direction until you
have killed rls.
Il don't want to kill you, but Tn
going to kill the colonel F"