The Globe-republican. [volume] (Dodge City, Kan.) 1889-1910, 1900-01-04
STORY OF an OLD LETTER.
"A Choice Bit of UnwrItten Army His
tory Recalled by the Resur
rected HIIssiVe.


ten army history The letter was
written on May 2, 1854, the day the
men of the Second Kentucky in
marched IN orderly column to the
coloneps headquarters. and asked
why they we're not to be discharged
May 10, three years from the date of
their muster-in-
..The First and Second Kentucky
sgiments were organized at Camp
Clay, o. Many of the companies
had been organized as early as April
30, and when the men were sworn
Into the service May 10, for three
sponths,, it was understood that
sistment woul5 date from April 30.
But early in June the regiments
were reorganized for the three years
service, and mustered June s, on the
promise that the term of service
would date from AIey 10. When the
matter was submitted to the war de-
partment in 1864. the secrsctary
decided on the muster rolls on file
that the term of enlistment would
not expire until June s.
ssWhep the decision was announced
there was great excitement in the
two regiments, and the men of the
Second kentucky waited on their
colonel as a sort of com mittee of the
whole. The unusual procedure called
to the quarters of the Second Ken
gtucky ali the unengaged officers and
men in camp, and / was among
them. When the flap of the colonePs
tent was thrown aside / expected to
see Col Sedgwick step out. But in
stead of the boyish figure of Sedg-
wick there strobe forward tall,
ktirsnly built, resolute man, wearing a
Eseutenant -co1cnel's shoulder straps
Il was startled, because I had seen
that same man carry out bold
scheme of escape from Libby prison.
tsWhile L was in the officers quar-
ters at Libbey, confederate surgeons
came in occasionally to look after
the ailing or the sick. My reccllec-
tion is that each surgeon or hospital
steward wore on his arm green rib
bon, which passed him through the
streets of Richmond. A surgeon in
the performance of some unexpected
Y service, dropped the ribbon from his
arm, and n prisoner known as Maj
Hurd caught it up and hid it about
person. Two minutes later Hurd
tied the ribbon on his own arm, and,
Strengthening himself, walked with
an authoritative air past the guards
and through the streets Of Rich
anond, making good his escape.
y ssThose who saw Hurd start for
tho entrance could scarcely believe
their eyes when they saw him walk
out unchallenged. I. for one, ex-
pected to see him come back in five
minutes, but he never came back. ]
was set at liberty through the slower
process of exchange, and I heard tha;
Capt or Maj Hurd was again with
his regiment, but I had not seen him
since the Libbey episode until be
sterped out of his tent as the com
:. manding officer of the Second Ken
tucky, to meet 500 excited and in
dignant men, asking a question thai
might lead to the manifestation of q
mutinous spirit. I wondered what
the man who had been SO cool in
making an escape from prison woult
say and do.
He stood before the excited men
with the same assurance and air o
authority exhibited that day in Rich
monc, and i felt that he would carr
his point. He said, courteously: IN
opinion is. men, tn at you are entitled
Y TO discharge May 10, but the war de
s,artment, having only our three
81 wear muster rolls on file, has decided
that you are not entitled to discharg,
v until June s. This a disappoint
ment to me, but I have been in tn
habit of obeying the orders of
government which the confederate
will tell you is too strong to be resis
ed. This is the whole case Their
Is no point open for discussion.
can only say that you will be treate