The National tribune., 1901-04-25
HOW SERG'T RAND
BECAME A PRIVATE.
A Tale of Self-Sacrifice and
HerOiSm.
By JOHN B. F00TE,
Lieutenant, O.. K, 18Th N. Y.

T1
passed through the Bull Run campaign,
and we were making ready for the PENN
sular campaign. Our regiment, from
losses incident to the service, had fallen
much below the minimum, and 1t was de-
Cided by the Government to consolidate 5.S
the 10Th n. Y. Militia with us. This
necessitated the resignation of surplus off,
GERS in each regiment and the reduction
10 the ranks of surplus noncommissioned
officers.
This was dreadful blow to these faith
full soldiers, but it had to be done. No
one but soldier who has been non
commissioned officer can appreciate what
a reduction to the ranks means.
After the 18th Militia had arrived, and
while the list of reductions was being pre-
pared, there were many sad ana heavy
hearts No one knew where the ak would
fall, and no non-commiSsioned officer felt
secure. But soldiers will talk, and around
the campfire at night the pros and cons
were discussed. There was, however, one
Sergeant who was considered safe, and
that was Serg't G. L. Rand, of Co. K.
From his entry into the service he had
been a favorite in the regiment. He was
always jolly. always a friend ready to
take the part of the oppressed, always
had kind word for those in trouble, and
there was no catastrophe from which he
could not extract some good. lie had
made himself conspicuous in his first bat
tie. For his distinguished gallantry he
had won the friendship and admiration of
every officer, from the General of Brigade
down.
Hence it was that these soldiers in their
starlight discussions unanimously decided
that he was absolutely safe. No one was
Jealous of him, no one grumbled or COM
planned because he WIS granted more priv
{leges than any other enlisted man in the
army. Although he was only Sergeant
of infantry, yet he was permitted to keep
a servant; he was also allowed to keep
n horse. He had the countersign when
ever he wanted it, and was admitted into
the regimental officers mess, and no dis
tinction was made on account of his lack
of rank. Was it any wonder that they
thought him safe from reduction!
The company officers had been ordered
to designate and hand in the names of the
unfortunates in their respective comPa-
nies. This had been a severe trial TO the
officers. Capt. Root, of Co. *, could not
make up his mind until the last minute
which one of his Sergeants TO sacrifice.
All had good records, all been tried by
fire in n terrible battle. and all exhibited
their valOr. But the stern realities of war
demanded it, and with a heavy heart he
made a selection. The next day at dress
parade the dread news was to be promul-
gated.
1t was long after taps that Serg't Rand,
on that eventful night, called at the quar-
ters of Capt. Root. He stated that he
wanted to ask a great favor, which, as
the sequel will show, was granted him.
The writer, who was in the Captains
tent, at this point retired, and long con-
versation was held between the two, after
which Serg't Rand returned TO his tent
1t was then that a compact Of secrecy was
made which was kept by the Captain IN
I'll Serg't Rand had fallen in battle and
had been enormously listed among the
dead, when the secret was revealed.
1t appears that his request was to see
The list, and his request was granted. He
saw the name of Serg't I. checked with
red ink. There was no help for it; he had
been selected for the sacrifice.
At grand rounds an hour later the Ser
geant of the Guard reported to the Field
Officer of the Day that shortly after mid
night Serg't Rand had been halted at Post
/: that he approached, leading his horse;
had correctly given the cOuntersign. He
would give no further account of himself,
then rode off. He thought he had taken
the Long Bridge road.
When he left camp he was dressed in
his regulation uniform. When he returned
the next morning his chevrons and stripes
had disappeared; he was in the uniform
of 4 private soldier. The guard noticed
the change and commented upon It, and
to their questions concerning the absence
of his stripes he iokingly replied that the
wind had blown them off,
1t was not necessary to wait for dress
parade TO know which Sergeant of Co.
X had been reduced. To a hundred in
quiries that morning as to how he hap
pened to be reduced his answer was that
better men than he were to be reduced
1t was sufficient that the Captain and
himself knew where the stripes had gone.
1t was six months later, when Private
Rand was supposed to be among the lost
in action. that Serg't T. first learned of
the sacrifice that had been made for him. |
Capt Root related to his brother officers
that when Serg't Rand found that Serg't |
L. was to be reduced to the ranks he was
very much worried, and remarked that he |
was the last man in the regiment that |
should have been selected. Serg't T. had |
told him that very day that he expected !
the AK to fall on him, as he was the least
able to bear it.
Captain" said Rand, "there is not
braver man in the army than Serg't T.
He told me that he had felt all along that
he was the Jonah, that his early advan-
tages had not given him the standing that
others enjoyed. but, Captain Root, that
man is full of honest pride and ambition |
10 reduce him to the ranks would be to
rob him of every hope of advancement:
If would break his heart, his life would
be blighted beyond recovery, his very soul
would wither within him. No, Captain.
we must save this noble man. If you
you may check mine
Before the Captain could recover from
his surprise Rand had taken the pen, |
dipped it in the red ink, and checked his |
own name. Thus he reduced himself to the |
ranks, five months after he had won, for |
most distinguished galantry in battle, |
Congressional medal OF honor. He did |
not consider his sacrifice worth mention |
ing. l never heard him mention the oc- |
cIIrrence, and / know OF no one who ever
did. So this will be news to many of his
old comrades.
Although he was now n private It was
noticed that he WAS never called upon for
guard duty. His privileges were not cur
tailed. He kept his horse, his servant and
his mess. The Colonel had assigned him
marker. or right general guide This
was only temporary, for he was soon de-
tailed to report 10 Maj. Meyer, Chief Sig
nal Officer of the Army for instruction
in the Signal Service. When he returned
To the regiment he WAS armed with a sig
mai gun and magazine filed with coun-
tersign rockets.
1t is only fair 20 say that when he sur
rendered his warrant he had nothing in
view except 10 serve faithfully in the
rsnkS as private soldier.
GEN. WILLIAM WALKER.
I viii not enter into details of his later
record, as L wish TO relate an instance
during his boyhood days that will be in
tcrestinS to boys. l will, however. state
that after the occurrence mentioned he re-
cciycd honors from two Governors of the
State OF New York and from three Presi-
dents Of the United States One Presi-