The National tribune., 1902-10-30

neI' had lost much OF ltSi4hRfm. A man
does not like to swing from the same
slime" forever. Besides, this second per-
NIT which was, as printed, an exact copy
of the first, had written inored ink across
| the face thereof in a boldhnflegible hand
these words: mot through the Headquar-
ters of the Army" To lAy humble under
standing it appeared evident that the Sec
retary Of War was becoming ambitious to
be considered superior IN fank to any
Corps General, and in fact, to the Com
manding General of the Army, and l call
ed the Colonel's attention to the written
words asking if such was not their import;
was very positive, and Eeplied; "No, sir;
there's no other way by which you can
leave the army but by a,,1eaXe of absence
from Corps Headquarters. Well, that
settled it. and 1 made the application, but
concluded that would not part, this time,
with my permit from the War Depart
ment, but go in person with my papers
through the Irregular official channel"
My application for leave Of absence
having been approved by my company
commandant, 1 presented it in person to
Col. Mansfield for his signature, which he
gave, and l passed on through the 'reg-
ular official channer' to Brigade Head
| quarters, where they were approved by
Gen. Sol Meredith. Onward 1 passed
through the Irregular official channel to
Division Headquarters, and there, too,
my application was approved by Gen. Ly-
sander Cutler. Still on I passed through
the regular official channel up to the
very tent door of the Corps Commander,
where l was admitted for just moment
not into the presence of Gen. Newton, but
Capt. c.. Kingsbury, Jr., Gen. Newton's
Adjutant General. l approached him
with my hat under my arm, as becomes
an obedient soldier of the Great Repub-
lie, when addressing his superior officer,
presenting my papers and requesting, in
modest and unassuming manner, that he
would procure the necessary approval of
the Commanding General to my leave of
absence. The Captain examined the pa
pers with a disdainful touch and a gilt
tering eye. 1t was plain that his official
pomposity was stirred to the very bottom
of his august gizzard.. Immediately he
turned his withering gaze upon me and
spoke as becomes an officer holding q high
and honorable position:
"This, sir. is not the way to conduct
military business. You, Corporal, car
rying official papers from one General
Headquarters to another? I am surprised
that any such irregular proceedings should
be allowed at Division and Brigade Head
quarters. Nothing of this kind will be
tolerated here. Go back to your company
at once, sir, and forward your application
through the regular official channel and
it will receive attention when it reaches
these Headquarters"
1 was nearly paralyzed with fear, and
in a voice choked with emotion, stammer-
ed, as l took from his puissant hand the
papers | so greatly valued:
hnrr @as, n,,z
these papers is an order from the War
Department; for the other l have no use.
You seem to understand your business,
Captain, and very likely the Secretary of
War understands his" Then l tore the
application for leave Of absence, in his
presence, threw the pieces upon the
ground, put my permit carefully in my
breast-pocket; saluted thy, Captain and A.
A.-.G. and took my leave. >,
l did not return to my company, as the
Captain had ordered, but remembering
official of the provost department with
so simple a document as an order from
the War Department, concluded that my
only hope of reaching Washington and
receiving commission admitting me into
the fraternity of military ,sWell-heads lay
in accomplishing that same exploit again,
l went directly to the office of the Provost
Marshal at the station,s no more than
100 yards distant, presented my permit
from the War. Department with the same
assurance that l would have presented a
leave Of absence that had striumphantly
passed through the "regplarlofficial chan
mel" and asked for transppEtation to Wash
intgon. The Provost Marshal glanced at
the document, and without question wrote
the transportation. 4a
ITO he continued