Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1902-04-10
SEVERE MEASURES.
An Incident Of the Civil War in New
Mexico.
DEs-RTioNs WERE STOPPED.

In the winter of 1862 and 1863 there
were uartered at La Mesilla. New
Mexico. some $500 California troops,
both infantry and cavalry. Quite a
number of assertions had taken place
and the commanding officer, Col. West.
had got tired of it. A private soldier
by the name of Clifford deserted and
was caught and placed in arms. A
sergeant in company X by the name of
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
geant Miller in irons in the guard
house. Now, when a non-commission-
ed 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 the
irons were taken off of Miller.
Capt. N. s. Davis was away at Santa
Fe. and the commander of company X
was Lieutenant Pattice. Every man
had lain down his u but n and that
man walked with his musket on his
shoulder up and down where the mus
kets were stacked. He was jeered by
the whole company, and called a cow
ard, but he said, 81 came as a soldier.
and | am ready to drill and obey or
ders."
Then a corporal by the name OF
Smith took the lead. He said he would
not drill or do duty until the irons
were knocked off from Sergeant Mil.
Ter. It had got to be about 10 o'clock
a. m, when the long roll was beat.
Lieutenant Pattice was ordered to
march his company without arms out
upon the parade ground. Company A
was placed right to the left of them,
company E to the right, company d
right in front, and all the cavalry were
in line on horseback just back of each
company of infantry. The colonel rode
up sabre drawn, and asked: rs there
any soldier who refuses to drill or do
duty?"
Corporal Smith said: 81 will not drill
until the irons are knocked off from
Sergeant Miller"
Then you march out there in front"
and Smith took his place like a soldier.
Inc colonel then ordered him to
take off his hat. He obeyed. Then
the colonel ordered Captain Smith, of
company ID, to swing IS company
around, that brought a clear space up
the street and Smith standing alone
with hat in hand. Then Colonel West
rode up to Smith and asked: Will you
go on duty?" and Smiths reply was
not until the irons were knocked off
from Sergeant Miller.
Then the colonel turned to Captain
Mitchell and said, Shoot that man."
Tho nopfoiu caid CT nad roody oipo
fire!"
Smith stood unhurt-the company
had shot high.
ine colonel then rode up again to
Smith and said. will you go to duty?"
and Smiths reply was mot until the
irons are knocked off 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 Smith stood un-
hurt, the balls had gone on each side of
him.
The first volley had killed a man Of
company A, who was cooking for Col
onel West, by accident, and had shot a
government wagon full of holes, and
had killed a team In the street and
shot a woman's leg off.
BY that time the colonel was rousing
mad. He rode up behind the company
and said: Load, ready, aim, down
with you guns-down | say, or III
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 to
duty boys until the irons are knocked
off from Sergeant Miller" then fell
and died.
The colonel then rode up to Lieuten.
ant Pattice and said: will you go to
duty?"
The lieutenant said: Il never have
refused to 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 orderet
all out for drill, INT until shutdown we
drilled all that long day. No one dared
to kick. Then he formed us on tn
parade ground and made this speech:
Soldiers, | want you to know that
there has been over fifty assertions
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 ev
eryone of us were good soldiers after
? that.
: Lieut.. Dick Hudson, William McCor
mick and La Point, of Las Cruces, were
| there, and plenty more that can sub
stantiate these facts.
Now | will add that Cilonel West
, was promoted and If | remember righI
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 re
: member tic. w. Stocking. in Copper
Era.
Chronic Bronchitis Cured.
For ten years | had chronic bron
chitis so bad that at times | could no