Willmar tribune. [volume] (Willmar, Minn.) 1895-1931, 1903-08-22
Ole COLI NEL,S
% ORDERLY

erates l was detailed "a Co,ono,
AcOuntock's Il don't give his roo1
name) orderly. We were esnec;o1,v
49, 10 conceal our weakness from
tue enemy, and no one was permitted
10 pass our pickets
Colonel McClintock became tnfo+r-
a'eu With a woman who lived with her
o.ner within our lines. l rode ont
WIN hlm on his visits to her, which
were mostly made in the evening.
uno tue woman too city bred for that
region and learned that she and her
"other had arrived soon after our
toice. There was young man on the
pace called Dick, who acted as sort of
louuer' with whom became friendly
ne was sharp, keen fellow, and after
q OIL ne let out the information that
1nstead of being an old family servant
ne had been hired to come down from
washington for few weeks.
Ihere were other things to set me
rn1nk1ng, and the colonel hadn't paid
more than four visits before became
suspicious. The colonel was piled with
liquor at every visit, and he was al
ways "gabby" as we returned to camp,
and sometimes visibly under the influ-
ence of drink. In waiting on them
DICK had overheard the woman ask
ing many questions, and the colonel
seemed willing to answer them all.
After the seventh or eighth visit,
which covered a period Of less than
three weeks, l was satisfied that the
colonel was being worked" but was
helpless in the matter. could not
speak to him about it, nor did dare to
go to the brigadier without the plainest
evidence. Dick and l were in full &C.
cord, and we determined to find out
just how matters stood.
1t was in summer, with all the win
doWs in the house open at night One
could station himself under the sitting
room windows and hear every word
spoken inside. Mistrusting me, per-
maps, the widow had always had COL
ored servant on the watch against
eavesdroppers, but on the night of the
folonels ninth visit Dick saw to it that
this servant, who was a middle aged
colored man, had too much applejack
ito awake. and the field was left clear.
But for the issue at stake the act would
Ehave been contemplate. When | had
|crept beneath one of the windows
found the colonel telling all that he
knew under the widows cross Ques-
tioning. He had drunk until his tongue
was bound to wag. He gave her the
exact strength Of our force and the
strength Of our artillery, and mentioned
that the latter arm was short of ammu-
milton. as one of our wagon trains had
been captured. He told her how far I'D
the gap our vedettes were stationed
and what sort of defensive works we
had erected, and in half an hour she
had got all the information wanted. It
was bad enough to give away his own
force, but the chattering officer went
further. He gave her the strength Of
the force at Bronson's pass and at
tDerby's gap, lying east and west of us.
After hearing what did, l judged
that the woman would have some one
at hand to carry the Information to
the enemy. l had hardly left the win
dow when she came out to look for the
servant who had been made drunk.
Seeing his condition, she expressed an
Ber and disappointment, but was afraid
ito trust any one else with her MESA &c.
lShe returned to the colonel, and half
IAN hour later we rode back to the camp.
1t was easy to figure that word would
|be got to the Confederates next morn
ling at the latest, and the brigadier had
only finished his breakfast when l told
my story. he listened without Interrupt
ltion, but when had concluded he said:
Young man, l will send for Dick,
and if he does not corroborate you in
every particular l will have you drum
med out of the army. If you two have
put up job in this thing I'll have you
both shot,
Dick was not brought into camp, but
an aid rode out and managed to secure
an interview with him. Then there
was riding to and fro. Five hundred
men had been brought from Bronson's
pass and the same from Derby's gap,
and q new breastwork was thrown up.
Ammunition for the artillery was hunt
ed for in every direction, and not even
commissioned officer was permitted
to leave the camp under any pretext.
Officers and privates questioned and
Wondered. but the brigadier gave no
information. He made all ready for
an attack, and half the force was I'M
der arms all night. In the gray Of the
morning the enemy came marching
down the pass, thinking to find us only
5000 men and unprepared, and the hot
ATTACKS and repulses that followed for
the next six hours are matters Of his
tory. ~.e' a. 49, - T..
After it was all over the brigadier
sent for the. colonel, and after, an
hours talk the latter's resignation was
made out and forwarded to Washing
ton. AS to what was said between the
two men no other ears overheard. I
do not know to this day II the part l
played was told the colonel. 49,,
| When he had left the brigadiers
tent an officer with detachment OF
linen was sent to bring in the two wo-
L t5sFS s.sE. -