Albuquerque weekly citizen. (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1891-19??, 1902-04-12
SEVERE MEASURES.
An incident Of the Civil War in New
Mexico.
oEs-RrIoNs WE'RE STOPPED.

were uartcrcd AZ La Mesila New
Mexico some . 500 California troops,
both infantry and cavalry quite a
number of dcscrtiOns had taken place
and the commanding officer Col West
had got tired OF H. private soldier
by the name 81 clifford deserted and
was caught and placed IN arms. \
SERGEANT In company Is by the name of
Miller was il charge OF the guard
Some way the irons were got Of from
the prisoner and he got away Then
the commanding officer placed Ser
goant Miller in irons in the guard
house. Now. waou "A non-cpmmi -siun.
ed on Ger commits any misdeme anor
he should hc placed under arrest in
his quarters. but the commander
thought different and Kept Miller in
irons Then Miller company kicked
right then and there. The first rash
act was 10 refuse 20 dril unless tn"
irons were taken off of Miller
Capt. y :. Davis was away a santa
Fe. and tine commander OF company N
was Lieutenant Pattice. Every man
had lain down his gun but one and that
man walked with his musket on his
shoulder up and down whore the mus
kets were stacked. He was jeered by
the whole company and called a COW
ard, but he said, ~ came as a soldier.
and ! am ready to drill and obey or
ders
Then q corporal by the name ~
Smith took the lead He said me- would
not drin or do duty until the irons
were knocked of from Sergeant Mil
Ter. II had got to be about 10 O'Clock
"a m when the long roll was beat
1 at IN -
march his company without arms out
upon the parade ground Company \
was placed right 10 the left of tn IN
company T. TO the right. company u
right IN front. and all IN" cavalry were
in line on horseback just back of each
company of infantry Tie colonel rode
mp sabre drawn. and asked: Is there
any soldier who refuses 10 dri, or do
duty"
Corporal SMITH said Il will not drill
until the irons are Knocked on from
Sergeant Miller"
Then You march out there In front
and Smith took his place like a soldier
Inc colonel then ordered him 70
take OF his hat He obcyed. Then
the colonel ordered Captain Smith. of
company y. to swing s company
around. that brought a clear space up
the street and Smith standing alon,
with hat in hand. Then Colonel West
rode mp to Smith and asked VIII you
20 on duty?" and Smiths reply was
not until the irons were knocked of
from Sergeant Miller
Then the colonel turned 20 Captain
Mitchell and said Shoot that man"
The captain said Load. ready. aim,
fret
Smith stood unhurt-the company
had shot high.
Ihe colonel then rode up again To
Smith and said. win you go to duty >"
and Smiths reply was Not until the
irons are knocked of from Sergeant
Miller"
Then the colonel said Captain Nit,
chell said, Captain Mitchell shoot that
man" and the captain ordered. Load
ready. aim. fire." but Smltn stood un.
hurt. the balls had gone on each side of
him.
The first volley had killed man OF
company a, who was cooking for Col
onel West ny accident, and had shot a
government wagon full of holes and
had killed a team in the street and
shot woman's leg off.
BY that time the colonel was rousing
and said: Load. ready. aim. down
with your guns-down say, or IN
split YOU with my sabre. Now fire. "
and Smith fell with a bullet in his
chest.
He raised on his hand and knee
swung his hat and said. Don't go tC
duty boys until the irons are knocked
ON from Sergeant Miller" then fell
and died.
The colonel then rode up to Lieuten
ant Pattice and said VIII you go t.
duty"
The lieutenant said Il never have
refused 10 go to duty"
Then he rode up TO each any every
one, stuck his sabre against his breast
and asked the same question and ev
eryone said Yes Then he ordere,
all out for drill and until shutdown We
drilled all that long day. No one dared
10 kick. Then he formed us on IN
parade ground and made this speech:
Soldiers, ! want you to know that
there has been over nifty desertions
here in the face of the enemy, and
am in command. The first man who
refuses 20 do his duty, his doom
sealed"
And you can bet your life that ey
eryone OF us were good soldiers afte
that.
Lieut. Dick Hudson. William McCor
mick and La Point. of Las Cruces. wer
there and plenty more that can sui
stan,ate these facts.
Now | will add that Cionel Yves
was promoted and II remember RICH
gave old Pop Price a whipping some
where in the southwest. but lost hi
arm in the fight
| tell this story as near as can r.
member it.-C. w. Stocking. In Cope
Era.