The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-06-07
THE NEW COLONEL.
How Grant Proved Himself to Ds q
Master of Men.

Master of Men.
When Captain Grant, formerly of the
regular army, was appointed colonel OF an
Illinois regiment in place Of Colonel
Goode, John A. Logan while escorinS
him to the camp said: Colonel, the regi-
ment is little unruly. DO you think you
can manage the boys:'
"I think can" replied Grant.
Logan and McClernand, two congress-
men, made patriotic speeches, and Logan,
after two hours Grafton, led forward a
quiet man in plain citizens clothes, say
ing:
"Allow me to present to you your new
commander, Colonel u S. Grant"
"Most Of the soldiers observed him for
the first time" writes Hamlin Garland,
from whose "Life of Grant" we have
quoted. "They were astonished and dis
appointed. Grant looked like a grave
country doctor. But he showed that he
could manage the "unruly boys" There
were loud calls: "Grant Grant, A
speech" Their late colonel used to
"orate" before them. The new colonel
stepped two PAGES toward them and said
in clear, calm voice:
"Men, 60 to your quarters!
If an 8 inch shell had exploded in their
ranks, the "boys" would not have been
more surprised, but they went to their
quarters. There was that in the new colo
nels voice which expressed command.
The tone was not loud, but it was given
with clear cut infection which showed
him master Of men.
That evening at dress parade, as he step
ped to the center of the regiment wearing
no uniform save pair Of gray trousers
with stripe running down the outside
seams and an old sword, the men jested in
low voices about their new commander.
Colonel Goode, the late colonel, not In
frequently used the daily parade as an oc-
casion to make a speech, and the men ex-
pected one from Grant. The line officers
advanced, and the adjutant saluted.
"a soldier first duty is to learn to obey
his commander. I shall expect my orders
to be obeyed as exactly and as instantly as
if we were on the field Of battle"
That was all he said AS the men
marched back to quarters a private asked:
"What do they mean by sending down a
little man like him to command this regi-
ment? He can't pound dry sand in o
straight hole"
"He can't make speech. Look at the
clothes he wears. Who is he anyhow"
"Boys," retorted sergeant, "1n tell
YOU who he is. He's the colonel Of this
regiment, as you'll find, and don't you
forget it,"
The sergeant was a prophet. The regi-
ment had obtained all the liquor it wished
for. Grant stopped that. A man resisted
arrest.
"What's the matter9" asked Grant Of
the officer of the day..
"The man persists In bringing liquor
into camp and refuses to give it up"
"Put him into the guardhouse."
"He refuses to CO."
Grant stepped up to him, seized him by
the collar and jerked him outside Of the
camp gate. "Get out Of my regiment" he
said. You are not worth disciplining. II
you come back, I'll have you shot!" A
big, dangerous man named Mexico was
tied up with score Of others for leaving
camp without permission. For every
minute I stand here I'll have an ounce OF
your blood" said he to the colonel.
Gag himp' replied Grant.
One by one, as the hours passed, the
other offenders were released by the off,
GERS of the guard. Grant released Mexico
himself. The bully saw that his colonel
was his master, and the regiment began
to find out that it had acolonel.-Youth's s
COMPANION.