The National tribune., 1900-01-11
"NOW WILL YOU BE GOOD"
The Practical Joke Played by a Lieutenant
on the Captain of His Company.

EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: The
cavalry command of Gen. S. p. Garter was
making a forced march over the Cumberland
Mountains in Midwinter, march of nearly
200 miles. Gen. Carter, with a large
cavalry force, had made a raid from the
Blue Grass region of Kentucky over into the
valley of the HolstOn in East Tennessee,
where they had destroyed the railway
bridges over which the Confederate armies
of the East and West were able to reinforce
each other as occasion needed. After de
strOying the railroad bridges Gen. Carter s
Union cavalry had a 20O-mile march to
make over the Cumberland Mountains in
Midwinter to reach the Union lines. The
pursuit of the enemy was vigorous, and the
pace was hot, with little rest for either
man or horse.
. During one of the resting spells at night
while in deep sleep, had the misfortune to
have his boots nearly burned off his feet
at the campfire. In the morning, to his
great distress, he found that both feet We're
also so badly burned that he was totally
untitled for duty. There was no time for
worrying, and Capt. Simpson turned over
the command of the company to Lieut..
Schuler, who helped to bind up Capt.
Simpsons feet in pieces of blanket, and
with the assistance of the First Sergeant,
lifted Simpson into his saddle. Thus
equipped, the Captain was able to keep
along with the company, but he was abb
solutely useless in his crippled condition.
Later that day the pursuit of the enemy
became more vigorous, and the Union
cavalry was in danger of capture. AT this
supreme moment Gen. Carter, the COM
mander, sent orders along the line that
every useless thing should De abandoned,
and the column be put in as light-marching
order as possible.
1t was on receipt of this order that Lieut..
Schuler gave the peremptory order to Capt.
Simpson to Get off that horse, and be quick
about it.I
"Why, what do you mean, Schuler?" said
Simpson.
'Imean what Isay," replied Schuler. my
orders are to abandon every useless thing
in this company, and the most useless thing
in it is Capt. Simpson; so climb down quick;
| want that horse you are on for a man
who can use a gun"
"Why, Mart Schuler, you certainly don't
mean that it is your intention to abandon
me right here, in my helpless condition,
without food, in Midwinter, and 100 miles
within the rebel lines"
"Yes, yes" said Schuler. Don't be so
long about it. | am obeying orders to
abandon every useless thing. Get off that
horse"
Now, Simpson and Schuler had been
friends of long standing, and the old man
looked upon Schuler as his particular pet,
voice said, "Well, well, l never would
have thought this of YOU" and again ap-
pealed to Schuler not to abandon him to
such terrible fate. After some hesitation
Schuler appeared to relent a little, and
said that maybe he could manage to get
the Captain along.
At this sign Of returning of the old
affection, Capt. Simpson again implorei
the Lieutenant to get him out of these God
forsaken mountains. Schuler said: well,
if you will promise"-- 80, I'll promise
you want" said the Captain, not
waiting for Schuler to finish. WELL"
said Schuler, Eve must have your solemn
promise you will always. be good to the
boys of Co. G so long as you live, and that
you will never swear at any of us again;
that you will let every soldier do as he
pleases ever after this day."
81 promise, l PROMISE" said Simpson;
"but = you, Mart Schuler, | believe you
are playing one of your jokes on the old
man because you know he is helpless"
For many years since the war Capt.
Mart Schuler (who afterwards succeeded
Capt Simpson on the latter's promotion)
has been one of the leading men connected
with Sells Brothers Circus, and in this
has Travelled three times around
the world, visiting Japan, India, China,
Africa, and Europe +.
Co. ID, 7th Ohio Cav.