Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1898-10-13

bear the hardest part, and yet with
them he was always the quiet, straight
forward, and courteous gentleman,
though shy and reserved. Time after
time had he been complimented in gen.
eral orders, and the fiery Sheridan sent
for him after the enemy was in full
rout at Winchester. and there in the
presence of his staff and many assem-
bled officers, thanked him, and after
ward sent his name up for promotion
to majority.
In the little lull preceding the IA
nous raid around Dinwiddie Court
House Sheridan had number of re-
cruits sent down to his army, and
seven of these were assigned to Pet
tis's troop G, Of the --th Regiment,
Indiana volunteer cavalry. Among
these seven was one man whom the
first sergeant had occasion to reprove
several times the first week for gross
carelessness and even worse. Finding
this of no use, he reported the man,
whose name was Cook, to the captain.
Pettis mildly rebuked and sent him
back, thinking that sufficient, but he
did not notice the gleam of cunning
recognition in Cooks eyes as he skunk
away.
The next day the sergeant brought
him again before the captain on the
charge of maltreating his horse. This
was too much, and Captain Pettis or
dered him confined in the guard tents
and sentenced to do extra police work.
After three days of punishment he
was released, and for time was well
behaved, but it was noticed that he
was exceedingly curious regarding his
captain. He asked many questions as
to where he had come from, when he
had first joined, his various engage
ments and victories, and made, every
now and then, sighting illusions to
the effect that he might tell some
thing-if lie was disposed-to the
captains discredit. The men paid no
attention to this the first time it was
remarked, but on his repeating the
offense, they warned him, in tones not
to be misunderstood, that his life was
not worth pinch of earth if he re-
peated it.
He then behaved himself well, till
the regiment was ordered with the en-
tire corps again in the field. The
day before starting, toward even
ing, the first sergeant reported that
Cook was missing, and also his horse
and equipments. The manner in
which he had left made it certain that
he had deserted. But the next day
he was brought into the lines, having
been captured by the provost guard.
He was taken to Captain Pettis's tent
for examination, and on being told of
his great crime, he turned angrily on
his captain and said: "You had bet
ter look to yourself, Captain Pettis, as
you are called. L know when you
went under another name. If I am
treated far, I'll say nothing, but if
not, then I'll drive you out of the
army"
"What do you mean, Cook? Do
not add to your crime by insolence to
your superior officer. Had you done
your duty, you would not be in this
trouble, and your best course now is
to answer the questions put to you,
truthfully and quietly"
He then dismissed him, but the
mans remark preyed on him, till the
next day when he became busy again
in chasing up the Confederates on the
last great rounding up movement.
The series of fighting marches and
resulting victories which daily ensued
drove everything else out of his mind,
and as Cook had been left behind for
trial the incident regarding him was
forgotten for the time being.
The surrender of Appomattox fol-
lowed, and brought with it the sure
prospect of peace, and officers and SOL
diers alike were looking forward
eagerly to the time when their SER
vices would be no longer needed,
when one day the colonel commanding
the regiment sent for Pettis, and on
the latter's reaching the tent he said
to him:
Captain, did you not have a man
in that last batch of recruits named
Cook, who deserted just before we
started out around Dinwiddie?"
q eyes, sir; but he was recaptured
and left at s. for trial." replied
Pettis.
"Well, the scoundrel, in order to
save his hide, has written very seri-
GUS letter against you. In fact he
wrote to me before we started out on
this last trip, but I paid no attention
to it, knowing it was but a lie. But
when he came up before his court for
trial, he made charges against you
which took the form of letter written
to the Secretary of War. The letter
has been referred here, through mill
tary channels, and l am ordered to in
vestigate it and report. Now you
read it and then, as know the thing
is an outrageous lie, you needn't
answer me at all, but leave it here on
my desk. No, don't say word. Good
by for few minutes" and the kind
hearted and brave warrior left the tent
alone to Pettis.
With sinking heart the young cap
tain took the letter, and as he feared
! it was there stated by the writer