Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1902-09-23
TEN YEARS. TRIAL
The Story Of Soldiers Struggle
BY Brigadier General Charles King
Copyright 1901 by Charles King
CHAPTER Nv.

fragile thing he looked. But meantime
there had been sport for Chicago pa
pers at Sheridan. There usually is. To
begin with, Dr. Bloodgood had pitched
into his assistant for quitting the post
without his knowledge or consent. Ar
instead replied that while it might
have been without his consent it
should not have been without his
knowledge, as the same means had
been taken of notifying the post sur
geon as in the case of the commanding
officer, note sent by Armistead's
servant saying that a telegram had
Just called him to Chicago on most
urgent personal business. The train
would be along in 90 minutes. There
was barely time to change uniform for
civilian dress and run for it. There
was no time to hunt up both the post
surgeon and commanding officer. The
servant declared he rang four times at
the doctors and, getting no answer,
concluded that the gale had deadened
the sound of the bell and such effort
was useless. So he crammed the note
under the door and went his further
way. But Bloodgood was in i'll humor.
In all that raging storm. he had to
struggle about the big post in answer
70 demands for medical services. and
things in his spleen that reach
ed the ears Of DR.. Armistead before
the eve of another Cay and led to an
open breach between the senior and
Junior practitioners of the post. DR..
Bloodgoo1 asked the colonel command
ing if he had seen the telegram DIR. Ar
mistead asserted had come to him from
town. The colonel had not and consid-
cred DR.. .Armistead's word as conclu-
sive. Dr.. Bloodgeo1 minated that he
had reason to believe, and so had the
other officers, that it wasn't the coming
Of wire from town, but man, that
drove Armistead ont of the post.
Through clerks, orderlies and kitchen
door cackle the affair got out in eXag-
! GRATED shape. Then famed the col
Hqmns of Chicago's unterrified press
with headlines of startling proportions
-"Arother Scandal at the Fort! Duel
Nippcd In the Bud! Row In the Regi-
ment! Further Sensations Sure to Fol
low! Colonel Sharpe Defies the Press!
Prominent Officers Arrested And in.
"a hours what had been placid and
fairly orderly military community was
engulfed in 4 whirlpool of gossip and
Frustrated at the contemplation of its
own cnormities as portrayed by the
papers. Sharpe was driven nearly rab-
Id by the reporters, who logged his
every movement and besieged his quar-
tiers I.,cr>, noon and night Bloodgood
refused Fat footed to be interviewed"
ard Armistead shut his mouth like a
clam. thereby compelling some journal.
lists to improvise the desired state
ments.
1t was from the inspired columns Of
The Palladium that the colonel first
learned that the cause Of the whole
trouble was ''the presence at the post
of man recently dismissed in dis
grace from the army, but who. in def
ance of law, regulations and common
decency, is now concealed in the quar-
tors of Lieutenant Nelson, a former
classmate. The man in question was
until his dismissal lieutenant in the
artillery, but his peccadillos, extend
ing over period Of years. had culmi-'
mated in cowardly assault on a broth
er officer at Fort Pawnee." And Sharpe
sent for Nelson and demanded the
facts. Nelson unerringly gave them
and said his friend was Frustrated still,
and the doctor forbade his being dis
turbed OF seen, which was all there
was to the assertion that he was con-
cealed. The colonel felt somehow.
that Langdon's presence at the post
was thing he ought to object to, and
he did. "See what an internal bob
berry it has kicked up!" said he. Now
they'll be demanding an explanation
from me at Washington. and what the
devil am to say? You ought to- have
consulted my wishes before harboring
q! man in Mr.. Langdon's plight"
u did not invite poor Langdon out
here, colonel" answered Nelson. 1.-TWO
of our men found him fainting and ex-
hausted in town and mercifully
brought him here. put him to bed in
my quarters as matter of course, and
IL that's military offense I'll stand
any punishment court martial may
inflict. As to Armistead and Lansdon,
beyond the fact that there is some deep
feeling between them. know nothing.
There is no likelihood of their meeting,
aud when Langdon is strong enough to
move he will need no hint from head
quarters or anywhere else" .e.f
Then the colonel said something
about reporters which, being interpret
ed. was the reverse of complimentary
and not altogether just, because, like
soldiers. these hapless toilers have
their orders and cannot but obey. They
were sent to Sheridan to get some
thing sensational something to make
the paper SELL" and the fellow that
came back empty handed-none Of
them did, of course-stood in danger of
discharge. The colonel really wanted
to know the nature Of the telegram
that called DR.. Armistead SO suddenly
to town. The senior surgeon, Lieuten.
ant Nelson and one or two others had
animated that it was not the coming
G. the telegram, but Langdon, that sci