The copper era., 1902-03-27
OLD TIME SKETCH
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Z ULD- lime 0ktlCH !
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In the winter OF 1862 and 1863 there
were ouartered in La Mcsilla, New
Mexico. some 2500 California troops,
both infantry and cavalry. Quite a
I number OF desertions had taken place
and the commanding officer. Colonel
West. had got tired of it. a private
soldier bv the name OF Clifford deserted
aud was caught and placed in irons.
/ A sergeant OF Co. X. by the name OF
I Miller was in charge of the guard.
Some way the irons were got of from
the prisoner and he got away. Then
the commanding officer placed Ser
peant Miller in irons in the guard
house. Now, when q anon-commissioned
officer commits any misdemeanor he
should be placed under arrest in his
quarters but the commander thought
different and kept Miller in irons.
Then Miller's company kicked right
then and there. The first rash act was
to refuse to drill unless tho irons were
taken of from Miller. Capt. n. S.
Davis was away at,lsla.< Fe and the
commander of Co. X. was Lieutenant
Pattice. Every man had laid down his
gun but one, and that man walked with
his musket on his shoulder up and
down where the muskets were stacked.
He was jeered by the whole Co. and
called coward, but he said II came 10
soldier, and l am ready TO drill and
obey orders" Then corporal by the
name of Smith took the lead. He said
that he would not drill or do duty un-
Ill the irons were knocked off from Ser
geant Miller. 1t had got to be about
10 o'clock a. N. when the long roll was
beat. Lieutenant Pattice was ordered
to march his company without arms out
upon the parade ground. Co. A. was
placed first to the left of them, Co. z.
to the right, Co. d right in front, aud
all the cavalry were in line on horse,
just back OF each Co. Of infantry.
The colonel rode up, Sabre drawn and
asked: Is there any soldier who re-
fuses to drill or do duty?" and Corporal
Smith said: Il will not drill un,il the
irons are knocked off from Sergeant
Miller" Then you march out there
in 'front.'" and Smith took his place like
a soldier. The colonel then ordered
him to take off his hat. He obeyed.
then the colonel ordered Capt. Mitchell
of Co. ID. to swing his company round,
that brought clear space up the
street and Smith standing alone with
hat in hand. Then Colonel West rode
up to Smith and asked: Twill you go
To duty?' and Smiths reply was not
until the irons are knocked Off from
Sergeant Miller. Then the colonel
turned to Capt. Mitchell and said:
shoot that man." The Capt. said
load, ready, aim, fre!" Smith stood
unhurt, the Company. had shot high.
and said, "Will you go to dnty?' and
Smiths reply was mot until the irons
are knocked off from Sergeant Miller"
then the Colonel said: Capt. Mitchell
shoot that man." and the Capt. ordered
load, ready, aim, fire, but Smith stood
unhurt, the balls had gore on each side
of him. The first volley had killed a
man OF Co. A, who was cooking for Col.
West, by accident, and had shot a
government wagonAul, holes and
had killed a team in .nc street and
shot woman's leg of. BY that time
the Colonel was rousing mad. He rode
up behind the company and said, load,
ready. aim, down with your guns.
down l say, or will split you with my
sabre, now fire! ~ and Smith fell with
bullet in his chest. Smith raised on
his hand and knee and swung his hat
and said don't go to duty, boys. until
the irons are knocked off from Sergeant
Miller," then fell down and died.
Tho Colonel then rode up to Lieutenant
Pattice and said, Twill you 90 to duty?"
and tho lieutenant said II never have
refused to go to duty" Then he rode |
up 10 each and everyone, stuck his
sabre against their breast and asked
the same question, and everyone said
yes. Then he ordered all out for drill.
and until sun down we drilled all that |
long day. No one dared to kick. Then !
he formed us on the parade and made
his speech. ''Soldicrs, [ want you to
know that there has been over fifty
desertiOns here in the face OF the |
enemy, and l am in command. The
first man who refuses to do his duty |
his doom is sealed" And you can bet |
your life that everyone of us were
good soldiers from that day. Lieuten- |
ant Dick Hudson, William McCorm- |
mick and LaPoint of Cruces were there,
and plenty more that can substantiate
these facts. Now l will add that Col |
onel West was promoted and il l re-
member right gave old Pap Price a |
sound whipping somewhere in the
but lost an arm in his fight
with Price. l tell this story as near as
| can remember it.
c. B. STOCKING.