The Superior times. [volume] (Superior, Wis.) 1870-1912, 1903-07-04
A SOLDIERS
PASTIME
[Originall

] VI.
tached. we will call IIoyt. The younger
had devil may care way with him
and the lmpudence of Satan. Ii was
one of IIoyts duties to take charge OF
the generals private purse, and any
moneys received or expended went
through the young aid-de-camp's hands
One night the general left his tent
without an attendant to 20 the grand
rounds" 1t was long after taps and
lights were out in the tents of the men
and there were few In those of the Off
GERS. When the general was returning
from his tour he noticed n light in one
Of the tents occupied by his stafl and
heard voice say, Raise you twenty
II was evident that there was party
within playing poker. The general
sang out Grand rounds" and imme-
diatcly appeared at the tent flap. In
side sat Iioyt with three other mem
beers of the staff, gambling with dollar
bill grcenbaCks In lieu Of chips.
All rose, standing respectfully, wait
ing the expected rebukc.
Lieutenant Hoyt," said the general,
"you will report for duty to the colonel
Of your regiment
This being reduced from the position
Of an aid-dc-camp to be second lieu
tenant in the line was n greater change
than to be reduced from second lieu
tenant in the line to the ranks Iioyt
10. Of
lty with men far above him in rank, he
would no longer know of doings ut
headquarters that generals would be
glad to know. Instead Of being mount
cd he would trudge along with the 9th
ers a mere unit in an army. Ncverthe-
less he accepted his fate without
murmur and in the morning reported
to his colonel for duty,
IIoyts place WAS supplied by Lieu
tenant Eben Bayliss, who also succeed
ed To the generals private cXchequer.
Bayliss was considered an extremely
moral young man and soon won the
generals entire confidence. He was
never known 10 yield To the practice so
common among the officers OF the
Union army playing poker with green
backs and attended all religious serv-
Ices. soon after his appointment as
the generals confidential aid pay
master came along with funds. aud the
general directed Bayliss to make out
his pny accounts and present them to
him for signature. This was done and
the money paid to Hayliss.
1t was nt this time that the Confcd
crates. just before daylight one morn
ing, swoOpcd down on the troops OF
General y. ana there was desperate
fight. In which the headquarters bag
gage was captured by the enemy. Aft
or comparative quiet was restored Bay
llsS went To the general with Il mgu-
brious countcnunce and reported that
the money. some $500, which had come
from the paymastcr Ind gone TO the
lmpcCunious Johnnies. General y
begged his aid not TO distress himself,
since such were the fortunes of war
Nevertheless the general was placed in
financial difficulties 10y the loss,
The first official paper that caught
General Ms attention after the fight
was rcgimcntal order honorably men
tioning Lieutenant iIOyt for gallanlry
during the recent fight. Then one
evening when the general was sitting
In camp chair before his tent up
comes iloyt, with a pleasant smile, sd
ntcs respectfully and tells the general
that he has heard of his loss and If the
general will accept of n loan of the
amount lost he Will confer Il favor ON
the lender, who considered himself uu-
der many obligations
where did YOU get so much money,
Billy asked the general
'Won II at poker"
"H'm" gruutcd the general. I'm
much obliged for the offer but am
not in the habit OF borrowing from
Junior officers, especially money made
In that way"
lloyt snIuted with unusual formalty
| and took his leave. The general, caught
! 10y the boys frankness and remember
! ing his bravery, secretly regretted that
/ he was not in his old position.
THE impudcut young rascal" he
/ muttorcd "lhat was just like him."
! The next fight made the general com
maudcr OF m army corps and iloyt Il
/ first lieutenant. with another mention
I for bravery Rayliss' conduct during
the engagement was criticised unfn-
vorably lloyt was badly wounded
and placed In hospital As Soou rs the
general heard of II he ordered his horse
and went to see his former aid As lie
was mounting his chief of stan APP
preached him with a very serious look
and a paper.
General" snld the officer. Il have
received charges against Lieutenant
RnyijSS FOR conduct uubevouliug an Of
tcrr ana Ecuuemn the speytca-
uons being approprmtng money aud
reporting that IL had been captured
with the headquarters baggage"
The scowl ON the generals face and
the Errwl on his lips wyrr omiuous
Issue mn order" he said. suspend.
inE him from the stan pending trial
aud another detailing Rjly Hoyt 10 his
old position" Then mounting he rode
away He found his aid towering he
tween life and death
billy" he said h,udinE over tn,
boy, i've ordered you detailed hark
on the stan lou may plHy poker cv
cry minute you're not on duty and
draw on me FOR the fluids
Billy recovered RayNSs was con
vlcted OF appropriating not only d
brother officers. hut the generals, mon.