Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1901-12-05
TRUMPETER MUELLER,
. . SOLDIER p =
The Story of a Man Who Was I
Thought Fit Only to Blow
Bugle Calls.
By EDWARD b. CLARK.
BIZ EDWARD b. CLARK.

IN the Third cavalry. Hans was more
or less of a butt for the jokes of the
men of his troop lie took all kinds
of gibes with a good nature that was
as perfect as il was stolid. The trum-
peter knew more about music than he
did about muskets. When for awhile
he tried what the other men called
straight soldering. he was continually
getting tangled up with his equip
ments, and on several occasions at
skirmish drill he came within an ace
Of shooting himself. His comrades
told Hans that as long as he confined
his efforts to killing himself they would
offer no strenuous objection, but that
If he got real careless and shot the
head off some one else he must look out
for trouble As a matter Of fact, be
did one day come pretty close to put
ting a bullet through the heart of Ser.
geant Peter Nelson, who forthwith
thrashed Hans in an approved style.
Captain Roberts called Hans gross"
and said that he must stick to his
trumpet.
rhe edict OF his chief made Hans
feel bad He blew the whole scale
Of calls from reveille through fatigue,
recall ard drill to taps. but his soul
wasn't in his music. Down deep in
Hans soul there came the thought that
somehow he was not like other men.
The smartness of appearance which
characterized Sergeant Nelson, COrpo-
raj Brady and a score Of privates he
knew could never be his. There was
lacking in his makeup that something
which gives dash to a soldier. Hans
used to fall over his feet in most IN
military way. and his hands were new
or in the proper places. There was
one thing, however, that could be said
for him. he always tried TO obey orders
implicitly. lie generally Numbered
while making the attempt, but the in
tent was right, and that covers a mul
titude Of sins much more serious in
nature than mere plumbers.
The Third cavalry was in the Wyo-
ming country I'm the Elkhorn creek re-
gion. There had been a good deal OF
trouble with the Nez Perces, and l.
troop had been kept on the jump most
of the time for a month. L troop was
Hans outfit. There had been one con
slant succession Of scoutings. 1t had
been necessary to send small squads in
half dozen different directions at one
and the same time. The trumpeter had
been forced to stay with the main
body. which was not a very big main
body at that. at all times He bad
been IN everything in which the whole
troop was engaged, but the idea of
sending Hans out on a reconnaissance
where GOODNESS and the suhtlety Of the
devil We're necessary for safety was
the last thing that ever entered the
head Of the troop commander.
one day, however, one of the coolest
days of the second winter month. It
became necessary to send scouting
party to investigate the rumor of the
approach of band or sayages. Now. 1t
happened that tie whole command
was tagged out. and this IN a nutshell
Is the reason why Hans Mueller found
himself for the first time I'm his life IN
a position. OF acute responsibility. lie
was ordered by Captain Roberts to
proceed with Sergeant Nelson and two
priyates northwest until something
was felt or until the sergeant was
satisfied that n wrong report had been
turned into the camp.
When the little body set out. the IA
tlgue Of the individual members Of the
troop showed that it was not, SO TO
speak. strong enough to keep these
same individuals from giving Hans a
sendolf. Hans had a carbine ana re-
yolver. His trumpet was hanging up
on peg One Of the hystanders said
TO the sergeant in command Look out
FOR Hans il you happen To get into
scrimmage. The first thing YOU know
he'll forget himself. ami he'll try to
blow retreat on his carhine. You may
lose one man If Hams puts his mouth to
the wrong end Of the barrel"
Then they said few other things 10
Hams. lie was told t. lie sure not Ia
get Lis canteen mixed up with his car.
fridge belt and e make sure that he
took note Of the landmarks On the way
oar 50 he could get back 10 camp in a
hurry If he happened 70 hear Vu Indian
shoot of his gun. Hans took al this
well enough. because the thought Of
actually going out on a scout was sui
tcient 70 knock all other things ont of
his head, resentment along with them
They had left the camp far behind
them. Sergeant Nelson. who was an
old and tried campaigner. turned 10 his
men and said. we are getting near
the place where we may expect 10 see
something" Then he spoke seriously
% Hans. Mueller" he said. you're
not half rs bad perhaps ms the troop
makes out. but tell You honestly that
I'm kind of afraid of You when il
comes 10 pinch. DO the best you can
md don't run As matter of fact.
.hiuk that Jim Crosby WAS pipe dream
lug when hc brought tile rumor IL reds
lu this vicinity into camp bur you may
have chance 10 see trouble and II YOU