Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1900-11-02

friends and he responded, to the entlu-
greeting in II busy mans way.
"He could not quite conceal his an
noyance at being interrupted, but said
that he was very glad to
see any member of the old company,
dropped the subject, and turned to re-
sumo his conversation with his political
friends. The private hung around as
though he would like to have a little
more talk, and finally the captain turn
ed to him with q show of cordially and
asked a few stereotyped questions,
winding up with, How is the world
using you? What are you doing nOwy'
The member of the old company looked
up surprised realized at once that Tie
had not been recognized, and said with
a smile, I am trying to he Governor
of Ohio"
''That reminds me-" said the Major,
"of a story they used to tell of old Gov.
Tod of war times. There was a pri-
vate in one of the Ohio regiments who
exhibited great courage and dash ut
the battle of Corinth. AS the lines
came to close quarters the Confederate
color-bearer was shot dead and fell
with the flag under him. \ young nan
VI the Union regiment sprang forward,
tore the flag from the Confederate's
hands, stained as it was with the dead
mans blood, and started back at his
own regiment. lie was the mark at
for IL hundred rifles, aud before
he reached his w line fell fiat on the
captured Confederate flag.
"There was n stormy, furious fight
about him, but he held on to the flag,
and, although he had three serious
wounds, lie carried back the colors
stained with the blood of the Confeder-
ate, co%lor-bearer and himself. The
newspapers got hold of the story, III
larged upon the incident, and made a
touching appeal for the sorely wound
ed man, who was slowly dying in IL
hospital. Gov. Tod read the reports,
and, moved by n fine spirit of friendli-
ness toward the private soldier, sent
the dying private II commission as a
captain. This fact was also enlarged
upon by the newspapers as an instance
of prompt recognition of %gallantry on
the field.
lin the ours of months the man,
whose case had been regarded rs hope
less, recovered-or recovered sufficient
ly to be sent home on furlough. He still
had the Governors commission and his
aote of warm congratulation, and it
occurred to him that 1T would lie only
right to call upon Gov. Tod and thank
him for his kindness and for the COM
mission which had up to this time been.
of no benefit to him in the matter of
service or pay.
HE went into the executive Office,
believing in his heart that the Gov
rno would in some way recognize
him. His ( .se was so exceptional that
1t seemed to him only natural that the
Governor should spring up when lie
entered the door and greet him with
o~utstretched hands. The Governor did
nothing of the kind. He was engaged
in earnest conversation with three
members of Congress, and he turned
IHupatiently toward the man, who came
in With q painful limp, to say: We'll,
sir, what can 1 do for your The gal-
liant fellow, who had been coddled and
praised for six months, stood for a
minute abashed and indignant. Then
he hurst put with: why, Gov. Tod. 1
am the man who captured the rebel
flag Mt Corinth, to whom you sent a
captains commission The Governor
looked the man over and said on i'm
pulse, is 1t possible? Lord bless you,
man. l thought you were in heaven
long ago!
This came like q wet blanket to the
poor fellow, who had expected a warm
greeting from the soldiers friend. He
showed his disappointment SO keenly,
he looked SO grieved and crushed, the
Governor jumped up, went to him, aud
spoke wordsSof appreciation and praise
that made amends for his careless
speech. He asked at once IL the cap
tain had been assigned t any COM
mand. The private with a captains
commission said he had not. aud lie
asked the Governors intervention. The
Governor interviewed, but the War De-
partment was against him, and the
man who captured the rebel tag at
iCorinth was discharged from the SER
vice asa private holding the Governors
commission asa captain"
.Thes.most interesting phase Of the
encampment to me" said the Colonel,
was the CLOSE .fellcw-slippdng Of old
AArnU1nAnS kfN~ fntrh-S-s- -