The National tribune., 1902-11-06

events of my whole military service, and
amply repaid me for the long and arduous
struggle experienced in reaching it through
the entanging meshes of red tape.
BEFORE THE EXAMINING BOARD.
The Board consisted OF Maj.-Gen. Silas
Casey. President; assisted by a Colonel
and two or three officers of minor rank,
whose names | did not learn, with med
ical department, or Examining Surgeon
with the rank of Major.
The Colonel. who acted as mouth-piece
for the Board, and conducted that part of
the examination relative to the examines
knowledge of military facts and affairs,
possessed a magniloquent voice and was
perfectly attired in neatly-htting uniform
which fairly blazed with gilt buttons,
while gaudy straps sparkling with the
silvery plumage of the emblem OF MS
country and rank, adorned his broad
shoulders. o, he was peach OF Col
Onel, the best dressed if not the bravest
hero that | ever had the honor of meeting
in military uniform.
First he examined me upon the tactics,
and as the tactics then in use in the army
were compiled by the same Gen. Casey
who presided over the Board, l was soon
aware of the fact that my knowledge of
the tactics was satisfactory to the pre-
siding officer. Then the Colonel branched
out into general military history, but being
quite familiar with the campaigns of such
noted warriors as Alexander, Cesar, Han
nibal, Napoleon, Powhatan, and Red
Jacket l was very much at home therein,
and the satisfied expression of the old
Generals hOmeiy face gave assurance
that my answers to the ColoneIs questions
were about correct.
TILT WITH A COLONEL.
At this point our Colonel seemed to
realize that his bleeding country required
of an officer of his magnificent parts
more exalted service than propOun1ing
questions that an enlisted man could read
lily answer, and turning full upon me the
awe-inspiring spiendor of his majestic
cOuntenance, he said: Il am sorry to say,
sir, that you present very unprepossess-
ing personal appearance, to say the least,
for soldier who aspires to fill the dig
nified position of a commissioned officer
in the army; in fact, you scarcely look
fit for the position you already hold. Why
is it that you do not wear better clothes!
Can you give any reasonable excuse for
coming before this Board without present
ing more respectable appearance?"
People who have, all their lives, been
accustomed to meeting gentlemen and re-
CeltDuS ulutI dHS anu
all circumstances may imagine, if they
can, the feelings of a free-born American
citizen who had grown to manhood in the
glorious West when addressed in such
language. That Colonel knew that with
in the FIVE months just passed, l had
marched on foot from Fredericksburg,
Va, to Gettysburg, Pa, and from thence
a goodly portion of the way to Richmond,
He knew that, from the beginning of the
bod in.
the march, in battle, and in prison. He
knew that very recently Lees army had
been making it exceedingly interesting for
US, having re-established their lines.
which they held for time, in their old
position at Bull Run, and from this active
front / had just come. not on a holiday
occasion, but as soldier on duty, and
under orders, and yet he had the brutality
to taunt me with my personal appear
disease, that quite unmans a man, fire.
quently robbing him of every vestige of
common sense and common decency.
Well, having met Colonels before, was
not wholly unprepared for this onslaught,
and recovering my breath, answered.
Yes, Colonel, can give good and suffi-
cient reasons, satisfactory to this or any
other Board. l am not gentleman OF
fortune with a bank account to draw
from, but common soldier, dependent
upon my salary of 13 Qately increased to
15) greenback dollars a month. As a sol
dier, l am expected to wear, and do wear,
what the Government furnishes, and what
] draw in excess of the regular clothing
allowance / pay for. The Quartermas-
ter's Department made no arrangements
to furnish me a new uniform for this oc-
casiOn, and it would be unreasonable to
require or expect a soldier to put up in
this city for suit of clothes in which to
appear before this Board. 1t is true that
my uniform has seen hard service, but it
Is neither ragged nor dirty, and is not
service honorable for both the soldier and
his uniform? At all events, 1t is the best /
have, and must of necessity serve with me
until receive commission or until such
time as it may become convenient for the
Government to furnish new uniforms tc
soldiers in the field. As to its respectable
ity, it compares favorably with the uni.
forms worn by my comrades in the army
when ! came from the front the other
day, and was considered quite respectable
there, and uniform that is respectable
any time and all the time in Gen. Meades
army ought to be respectable for a few
days In Washington. Furthermore, l had
every reason to believe that this Board
was established for the purpose of exam
lining soldiers with regard to their know
ledge Of military matters. 1t would seem
like utter foolishness on the part of the
War Department to order soldiers from
the front to Washington to have their uni
forms inspected"
Gen. Casey's eye twinkled, but he said
nothing. The ColoneIs eyes flashed as
he snapped: ''But a soldier is expected
at all times to have some regard for his
personal appearance. A collar would add
greatly to your looks; now, what excuse
have You for not wearing a collar" Then
quite unexpectedly, Gen. Casey seemed to
turn against me, and to champion the Col
oners collar theory by remarking: "Yes.
that is true; a soldier may be excused
from wearing shirt sometimes, but from
appearing publicly without wearing col
lar, never"
1t would not do to allow the citadel to
be captured at this stage of the battle,
so l arranged by small force to the best
advantage possible on short notice, for a
countercharge. Addressing Gen. Casey,
himself, l said:
II beg your pardon, General, but as I
take exceptions to the rule as you have
stated il, l ask for a full and fair hearing
on this question. 1 have served in the
Army Of the Potomac from the day Of
Its organization, except when unable for
duty or in Jail. l have appeared pub
Gcly' in the presence of Gems. Mcdowell,
Mcclellan, Pope, Burnside, Hooker and
Meade, and on state occasions in the pres.
ence Of President Lincoln, always wear
ing an army shirt as furnished by the
Quartermaster's Department, with never