Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-11-10
GOVERNOR AND CAPTAIN.
An Instance OF Prompt Recognition
OF GsliRntry on the Field
OF battle.


eidents during encampment week."
said the captain, relates the Chicago
Inter Ocean, illustrating changes in
the status of officers and of men who
served in the ranks. There were in
the city a good many privates of the
old army who now rank high in bust
ness life or civil office, ana one of
these approached the captain OF his
old company in the union army. The
private of the old time greeted his SUI
perior officer warmly, saving enthusi-
astically that he was proud to have
belonged to the old company. The
captain was busy with some political
friends and he responded TO the en-
thusiastic greeting in a busy mans
way.
He could not quite conceal his an
noyance at being interrupted, but
said, perfunctorily, that he was very
glad to see any member of the old
company, dropped the subject, and
turned to resume his conversation
( with his political friends The pri-
vate hung around as though he would
| like to have little more talk, and
finally the captain turned to him with
, show of cordiality, and asked a few
, stereotyped questions, winding up
/ with How is the world using you ?
What are you doing now?' The men,
/ Der of the old company looked up sur
| prised. realized at once that he had
not been recognized, and said, with a
smile: am trying to be governor of
/ Ohio.'''
THAT reminds me-" said the major,
"of story they used to tell of old
Gov. Tod, OF war times. There
was a private in one of the Ohio regi-
ments who exhibited great courage
| and dash at the battle Of Corinth. AS
the lines came to close quarters the
confederate color bearer was shot
deed and fell with the flag under
/ him. A young man in the union regi-
ment sprang forward, tore the flag
from the confederate's hands, stained
as it was with the dead mans blood,
and started back TO his own regiment.
| He was the mark at once for a hun
dred rifles, and before he reached his
own line fell fat on the captured con-
| federate flag.
There was stormy, furious fight
about him, but he held on TO the flag,
and, although he had three serious
| wounds, he carried back the colors
stained with the blood OF the confed-
! crate color bearer and himself. The
] newspapers got hold of the story, en-
larged upon the incident, and made a
/ touching appeal for the sorely wound
! ed man, who was slowly dying in a
! hospital. Gov. Tod read the reports.
and, moved by fine spirit OF friendli-
ness toward the private soldier, sent
the dying private commission as a
captain. This fact was also enlarged
j upon by the newspapers as an in
stance OF prompt recognition of gall
, lautry on the field.
'ln the course of months the man,
: whose case had been regarded as hope
less, recovered-or recovered sufficient
~ to be sent home on a furlough. He
! still had the governors commission
and his note of warm congratulation.
, and il occurred 10 him that il would be
. only right to call upon Gov. Tod and
, thank him for his kindness and for the
, commissions, which had up to this time
been of no benefit 70 him in the matter
of service or pay. ~ fSS-
"He went into the executive office,
: believing in his heart that the gov
ernor would in some way recognize
him, His case was so exceptional that