The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1899-07-27

through the Mexican war with me
1 throop, and many brave lad tumbled
out of his saddle by greaser bullets.
Do We see this?" and the sergeant
pointed to long. white scar. extend
/ ing halfway across his forehead.
IVAN of their lancers gave me that,
| but saber cnt him down shortly
afther," and his eyes glared at the rec
objection.
when | go in don't care how soon
death comes" said John, gloomily.
One night while on stable guard
and with just enough whisky in him
to be ugly, he gave his horse Doug
las"-a beautiful bay and the best
horse in the troop-a terrible beating
with a stable broom. The snorting and
thrashing of the horse in his stall, and
his half-humau cry of distress, partial
" sobered Schuyler and showed him
what he was doing. Dropping the
1 broom he went into the stall, put his
arms around the neck of the splendid
ANIMAL and whispered. brokenly:
Douglas, old boy, forgive me. 1t was
the whisky, not |. You are the best
friend | have on earth, and how could 1
abuse you?" And the horse looked at
him sympathetically out of his large,
intelligent eyes, and laid his head on
the shoulder of the trooper.
Drink always made demon of him
for the time being, but when the eff
fects had worn away he was repentant
and sorrowful. He was more especial
ly remorseful during the 80 days he
usually spent in confinement in charge
of the guard, after the garrison court
martial had finished with him, for then
he could get nothing to drink. On his
discharge at the end of each enlistment
he would take the sum coming TO him
from the paymaster on his final state
ments,'' usually amounting to several
hundred dollars, repair TO the nearest
town and have royal debauch as long
as his money lasted. A soldier can get
higher pay during that enlistment
called ''reenlisted pay"-if he enlists
within 30 days after discharge; but in
every instance he had overstayed the
limit, and now, at the end of 2S years
service, was only drawing $l3 a month,
the same as the youngest recruit.
/ He wrote clear, legible hand and
was one of the best clerks in the regi-
ment, but could never be depended
upon, as he was liable to go wild at a
time when his services were most
needed. The former troop clerk, who
had held that billet for several years,
+ was a steady man as well as compe-
tent clerk. He had been discharged by
expiration of term of service" and
had taken his departure for the east,
intending to marry the sweetheart
who had been waiting for him to set
tie down TO civil life. The first SER
geant while qualified for the executive
part of handling the troop, was no
clerk, and Capt. Gresham, the troop
commander was in despair. For several
weeks he had himself made out the
troop returns, quarterly acquisitions
for all kinds of needed supplies and
numberless other official papers. In a
week or so the muster-rolls, which had
to be made out carefully six times
SSdi Ioi liC pay lidStSi, "oulu NC uuc.
The captain sent for First. Sergt.
O'Brien. Sergeant" said the captain,
"have you got man in the troop who
is capable of making out muster-rolls?
/ have made them out in yeans past, but
l am not equal to it now"
"Well, sir" said the sergeant, stand
ing to attention and assuming re-
fective air; there's no wan know of
except Private Schuyler, and he is
drunk all the time. He got 60 days and
$50 blind the lasht time he was tried
and he only came out to-day. If he
would only kape sober enough he could
make them out"
''Is he good at army papers, SER
geants'
"Shure he is the finest in the regi-
ment, sir-if he is sober" answered the
sergeant
"Well. he has just got to be sober un-
| til he makes out those rolls. You con-
fine him 10 the orderly-room. and have
his meals brought to him from the cook
house. Put a sentry on the door until
the rolls are all made out and the troop
is mustered on the 30th. Mind. now
shall hold you responsible for
him, and if he gets anything to drink
till this thing is over, I'll have you re-
| duced."
| The sergeant saluted and turned
away, with very serious face, as
| though the task was almost too much
for him. Going into the barracks he
found Private Schuyler engaged in
cleaning his kit. preparatory TO going
on guard the next day.
Schuyler, get your blankets and
| come with me-"
Whats the matter, sergeant; are
| you going to confine me? ] am only
out this morning, and haven't drank
anything yet," said the soldier, de-
spairingly.
NO won't confine you. Capt. G>es-
ham says you've got to make ont the
muster-roIls. I'm agoin' to lock you up
in the ordherly-room and put sentry
\ over Won So you Won't Oef n N VA hi sky fill