The National tribune., 1902-12-18

L Ne uTSl Two OIL THESE were uUISes,
the third a company laundress married to
q member of my company whom we will
call "Snariey," not because that was his
name, for it was not, but because 1t IS
characteristic of the fellows mean DISPOSE
ton and manners. His wife was the only
woman cur eyes beheld during period of
over one year, with the exception of a
young Apache girl supposed to be the wife
Of our Apache hunter, and the wife OF
f1arigildo. our Indian guide, very dark
Ealf-breed.
Among the remount brought to replace
the stolen horses was a very pretty, lively
and graceful animal, which the First Ser
geant of tie cavalry, named David Gecio.
having the first pick, Immediately selected
for his mount. This horse became the
apple of his eye, his comrade and friend,
and was never permitted to be used by
anyone else. Now, it will be remembered
that there were only two commissioned
officers in camp, from which circumstance
resulted the fact that the junior officer
had to perform the duties of Adjutant,
A. A. Q. NJ, A. A. c. c. and Post Treas
urer. besides commanding his company.
the cavalry, and doing occasional scouting
service He was also the only available
officer to perform the functions of Officer
of the Day without being ever relieved
therefrom. This state of affairs caused
the following order to be issued from
headquarters:
New Post on the Upper San Pedro,
Department of Arizona, July ., 1866.
Post Order No. 26
On account of the reduced number of
commissioned officers present in this camp,
/. is ordered:
/. From and after tomorrow the follow
Ing non-commissioned officers will be de-
tailed in regular turns to do duty as Off
Ger of the Day of this garrison.
Max Lipowitz, First Sergeant. Co. e.
Do Inf VII
First Sergeant, Co. G. list Cav; John A.
Spring, Quartermaster and Commissary
Sergeant of the Post. :.
2. The Officer of the Day will report for
orders to the commanging officer imme-
diately after guard mount.
8. The First Sergeant of the cavalry
company will have a good horse, saddled
and bridled, in readiness for the use of
the Officer of the Day from guard mount
until retreat.
By order Of the commanding officer:
KINNEY, Adjutant.
The last mentioned of the three nom
commissioned officers was my own humble
self and had a suspicion-or, shall l call
1t presentiment?-tha l would be the first
one detailed for the designated purpose.
] knew that the principal and most i'm
portant function of the Officer of the Day
consisted in visiting the herd at least
twice during the day, and posting it so
surprise by Indians, by placing sentinels
selected from the herd detail upon promi-
nent points affording a good view upon
the surrounding country. With the excep-
ton Of few occasions on which had
been lifted upon one of my grandfathe IS
farm horses during harvest, while / was
yet of tender age, l had never been on
horseback. What was l to do? Con-
fess my total ignorance of all horseman-
ship, and thus be deprived of the great
honor of almost s'bossing" the whole camp
and wearing a red sash crosswise upon
! Rather diei bethought me of Lipowitz's
functions as Acting Sergeant-Major of the
Post. which would necessarily cause the
detail to be made by him, and at once re-
solved to bride him into detailing me as
third or last to the honorable office. If
successful I would profit by the delay in
obtaining gentle old horse and practic-
ing riding upon him in an out-of-the-way
canyon. In order to accomplish my pur-
pose. l provided myself with bottle of
treble X old Bourbon and 4 box of decent
cigars from the sutler store, and was
crossing the parade ground with these
articles towards LipowitZ's quarters, when
met the Adjutant's Orderly. who handed
me paper containing this legend:
Detail for Officer of the Day for July
4. John A. Spring, Q. NJ. and c. S. Ser
geant."
w MT now. Inc next pest tHiDg was TO
visit Grew. who had to furnish the horse,
and induce him to select for the purpose
the most gentle animal in his charge.
SECURING GENTLE MOUNT.
Serg't Grew was a jolly Irishman, who
mad seen much service, and who loved
liquor. In fact, he boosted sometimes in
jocund manner that he had made
away" in his lifetime with whisky enough
to float a nodernsized squadron of men,
of-war. Still, he was never found unfit
for duty; he either selected the time for
his heavy iibations when his services were
not urgent, or, if unexpectedly called for,
he would sober up in the space of few
minutes, unfortunately a very rare but
useful talent He was nearly always in
good humor. and easily melted to merry
doings; yet nobody had ever heard issuing
from his lips full-throated breezy laugh
as he rather INDUCED liz kind of spas
modic chuckle, which finished with an
abrupt jerk. He had very large, wide
mouth that in time of hilarity assumed
such a broad smile as TO make the corners
disappear seemingly behind his ears, while
ms eyes Kept winking and tremendous
grin spread over his whole physiognomy.
1t would take up too much space were
TO give the whole conversation that en- !
ened between us two. neither is this neces-
eary. Not having been acquainted with
Grew for much more than month, l did
not at first notice that he mad imbibed al
ready, probably in anticipation of the cele-
bra ton of ''the Fourth on the day fol-
lowing; neither did | observe in the half
darkness of the tent. illumined by a soli-
tary tallow candle. q tumbler. a sugar
bowl and some lemons standing on a
cracker box near his bed. The suffer had
permission TO sell to us three, Lipowitz.
Grew and myself, all the stimulants asked
Tor. and the other men were not much
stinted in that regard either
l placed my bottle and cigars on Crews
homemade table; he carried q corkscrew
OF course. We began by having a social
drink, and then another, upon which be-
Gan 10 develop the purpose of my errand.
Foolish pride caused me to hide the fact
that ! had never been on horseback. [
stated that l had never been much of a
rider. and had had no horseback exercise
for long time. All this, although strict
y true, was nevertheless q prevarication
under existing circumstances. Grew took
several drinks during these preliminary re-
marks. and became somewhat elated.
which now began to notice from the
gradual widening of his grins and increas-
ing thickness of his speech. When at last
! made my request that he would
Kindly select for my use on the following
day very steady, gentle horse, he jump-
% suddenly from his seat and exclaimed:
Join. old boy. ] am your friend: Won
shall ride Strawberryr'
With this he seized my hand pressed
and shook 1t till my efm ached to the
shoulder.
who or what is Strawberry" asked
somewhat astonisbed af tho 20 me- -.