Evening star., 1898-10-29
HOW SERGEANT RAND
BECAME A PRIVATE,
A Tale of Self-Sacrifce and Heroism in the
War of the Rebellion.
Written for The Evening Star.

| are Hlleu Win the exploits OF our noble
sailors and soldiers, OF their specific acts of
| heroism and of their deeds of daring, l
am reminded of the career of soldier who
| vas an actor in the great war of the re-
| bellion, whose heroic deeds are recorded in
| the War Department and were executed on
the field before a majority of the present
| heroes Were born.
What 1 shall write is of my own personal
| knowledge, although it would require a
book to tell of interesting incidents that
| have been related of him during his eight
| years of army service by officers who serv-
| ed with him during the war and years after
| the war. These "reminiscences will be in
| teresting to the boys in the service
| and to the lads who are to make up the
| Grand Army and who are to fight the bat
| ties of the future.
| In the fall of 1861 our regiment, the 18th
| New York Volunteers, was quartered on
| Cptons Hill, about two miles this side of
| Camp Alger, near Falls Church, Va. We
| had passed through the Bull Run campaign
| and all that had followed it up to that
| time, and we were making ready for the
| Penlnsular campaign which was to come.
| Our regiment, from losses incident to the
| service. had fallen much below the mini
num- and it was decided by the govern
ment to consolidate the 18th New York
| Militia with us. This necessitated the res
fsnation of all surplus officers in each regi-
nent and the reduction to the ranks of all
surplus non-commissioned officers as the
occasion demanded.
This was dreadful blow to these faith
ful soldiers, but it had to be done. No one
but soldier who has been non-commis-
stoned officer can appreciate what a reduc-
ton to the ranks means.
After the 18th Militia had arrived on the
hill and the list of reductions was being
prepared, there We're many sad and heavy
hearts hanging in the balance. No one
knew where the AK would fall and no nom
commissioned officer felt secure But SOL
diers will talk. and around the camp fire at
night the pros and cons were discussed.
There was, however, one sergeant who, by
unanimous decision was considered safe,
and that was Sergt c. f. Rand of Com
Iany X. From his entry into the service
he had been a favorlte in the regiment.
He was always jolly, always friend ready
TO take the part of the oppressed, always
mad a kind word for those in trouble and
there was no catastrophe from which he
could not extract some good. He had
made himself famous in his first battle.
For his distinguished gallantry he had won
the friendship and admira ton of every Of
hcer, from the general of brigade down to
the rank and file. Hence it was that these
soldiers in their starlight discussions unan-
imously decided that he was absolutely
safe. No one w2s jealous of him, no one
grumb'ed or complained because he was
granted more privileges than any other en-
listed man in the army. Although he was
only sergeant of infantry, yet he was
permitted to keep a servant he was also
allowed to keep a horse He had the coun-
tersisn whenever he wanted it and was ad-
mltted INTO the regimental officers mess
ana no distinction was made on account of
MS lack of rank. Was it any wonder that
they thought him safe from reductionp
The company officers haG been ordered to
designate and hand in the names of th, nm
1Grtunates in their respective companies
tr;,
capt. Root of Company K could not make
ur his mind until the last minute which
one of his soreeants to sacrifice. All had
good records, all lad been tried by fire in n
terrible battle, and all had exhibited their
Valor. But the stern realities of war de-
naEded 1t, and with heavy heart he made
a selection The next day at dress parade
the dread news was to be promulgated
1t was long after taps that Seret Rand
OF that eVent1ul night called a the quar-
ters of Capt. Root He stated that he want
cd to ask great favor, which, as the Sc
quel will show, was granted him. The
writer, who was in the captains tent. at
this point retired, and a long conversation
was held between the two, after which
Sergt Rand returned to his tent 1t was
then that compact of secrecy was made
which vas kept by the captain until Serst
Rand had fallen in battle and had been cr-
roneously listed among the dead, when the
secret was revealed
1t appears that his request was tn 500 tI.o
list. and his request was granted He saw
the name of Sergt. T. checked with red
INK There was TO help for it; he had been
selected for the sacrifice.
At grand rounds an hour later tho
sergeant of the guard reported to the field
officer of the day that shortly after mid
night Sergt. Rand had been halted at nost
|; that he approached leading his horse.
had correctly given the counters,gn He
would give no further account of himself
tfen rode off; he thought he had taken the
Long bridge road
When he left ramT, he 6raavo3 L., ,,r,
regulation uniform When he returned the
next morning his chevrons and stripes ha
d.sappared he was in the uniform of
private soldier. The guard notced TIE
change and commented upon it. and to
their questions concerning the absence of
his stripes he jokingiy replied that The
WIND had blown them off.
1t was not Necessary to wait for dress
parade TO know which sergeant Of Com
pany + had been reduced To a hundred
inquiries that morning as to how he hap
pened to be reduced his universal answer
was that better men than he were to be re-
duced- 1t was sufficient that the CAPTAIN
and himself knew where the stripes had
gone.
1t six months later when Private
Rand was supposed to be among the lost
in action. that Sergeant T. first learned of
the sacrifice that had been made for him
Captain Root related to his brother officers
that when Sergeant Rand found that Ser
Sednt L. was to be reduced he was very
much exercised, and remarked that that
was too cruel. that he the last man in
the regiment that should have been select
ed Sergeant T. had told him that very
day that he expected the ak to fall on him,
as he was the least able to bear it. Cap
tain said he, that man has dependents
upon him and the few extra dollars a month
mean a great deal to him. 1t will entail
great suffering" Then, turning to the Off
Ger, he said: Captain Root / can manage
to get along better than he can on a re-
duced salary, and l would like your permis-
sion to have that name restored Check
my name, As he said this he took the
pen and checked it himself. Thus he re-
duced himself to the ranks five months
after he had won for most distinguished
gallantry In battle a congressional medal
of honor. He did not consider his sacrifice
worth mentioning l never heard him men
ton the occurrence, and l know of no one
else who ever did. So this will be original
news to many of his old comrades
Although he was now private soldier IT
was particularly noticed that he was never
called upon for guard duty or to do the
duty of a private soldier. His privileges
were not curtailed. He kept his dignity.
his horse, his servant and his mess The
colonel had assigned him as marker or
right general guide. This was only tenn
porary, for he was detailed to report to
Major Meyer. chief signal officer of the
army. for instruction in the signal seryice