Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1904-04-14
PRIVATE HOGAN,
COWARD
. v c. .. L 2 svi


from the beginning. he had been sent
out on the mountain road to protect
the citizen laborers who were cutting
telegraph poles, and he had sat himself
down with his back Y rock and fall
en- asleep. There was danger from
marauding Indians, but he had posted
no pickets.
Private Hogan Was Il new recruit
who had never seen hostile warrior,
and he should have been warned how
TO act in case Of an attack. Two hours
had passed quietly away when ten
Sioux warriors Jumped the party.
They attacked suddenly and with
whoops and yells. and the sergeants
guard was thrown into panic and ran
away. All rallied after short flight
all but Hogan. lie was thoroughly
frightened and continued his flight for
a mile. Then his irish courage return
ed and forced his legs to take his body
back, and he arrived just in time to
help his comrades out of Il bad fix. \
citizen and soldier had been killed
and second soldier wounded, and
Sergeant Davidson quaked as he
thought of the report he must make to
his colonel There was one way to ex-
cuse his carelessness, ana he seized
upon ii.
In due course Of time Private Hogan
was court martialed for cowardice.
He had run away from the enemy and
left his comrades to fight ii out True,
they had run also, headed by the ser
geant, and it was also true that Hogan
returned at critical stage and fought
well, but the sergeant piled 1t on to
him at the trial and made out a bad
case against him. He must save his
neck by putting the rope around an
others, and the sentence was that Pri-
yate Hogan be dismissed from the
army for cowardice.
Two weeks later lie was escorted to
the gate of the fort one afternoon and
told to go. AS he left the gate the dis
graced man turned toward Wolf creek
and walked away without once looking
back He had made poor defense,
but he knew thai he was no coward
and that he had been sacrificed to
save the sergeant. TO be thus dismiss
ed from the army meant that he must
get out of the country. AS branded
coward even the squawS of the half
breeds would be licensed To spit upon
him.
There was bet one house at the cross
ing of Wolf creek, that of the Widow
Thompson. She had lived there with
her daughter Mary. now girl of twen-
ty, for three or four years past, fur
nishlng meals to the teamsters and be-
ing the only postmaster for many miles
around. Several soldiers at the fort
were sweet on Mary, but Sergeant
Dawson was supposed TO have the call
over all of them. His term of service
would be out in less than a year and
in his own mind he arranged to marry
Mary and settle down on the ranch. 1t
had been long since the Sioux raided
up Smoky valley, but there was no
telling when they might come again,
and beacon had been prepared by
the soldiers for the women TO light in
case they needed help night or day.
When Hogan reached the postofiice
he sat down on the doorsteps and let
his chin fall into his hands and did
some thinking by and by the girl
came out and found him there She
had heard of his trial and sentence,
and she pitied him.
Il suppose you desplse me the same
as the rest?" he said as he knew of
her presence, but without looking up.
You have been drum med out" she
queried in turn.
AYE, drummed out and disgraced
forever. I'm more of an object of con
tempt than squaw man. Why don't
you order me to 90 on?"
See here, Hogan, I'm sorry for you"
she said as she laid hand on his arm.
You might have lost your head for
time, but that wasn't cowardice."
Thank you for that, missy" he said
as he looked up, with tears in his eyes.
You'll have to go, but don't be hui
inflated. Some of the men have hint
ed to me that you might nave made
stronger defense at the trial"
Yes, l could have said more" he
unused as he nodded his head, but n
scapegoat was wanted, and | was new
to the company and had no chums.
Mis-, Mary, I'm a mind to But let
1t &C. I'm Citizen Hogan, the coward.
and will be till I'm 500 miles away and
among men who'll never hear of this
If they't only have sent me to the
guardnouse for six months and given
me another chance"
Don't fret over it" soothed the girl.
But TO call me a coward-me, an
lrishman-and to prove it against me!
| can't abide II, missy. | can't do ii.
II | only had another show I'd make
EN- sing different tune. I'm disarm-
ed and disgraced and turned out. but
I'd so for the Sioux with a club if the
Lord would only send 'em this way"
But that can't happen. and I'm tell
ing you
She was interrupted by shouts and
shots and the clatter OF hoofs, and
next moment the soldier mail rider ap-
peared around the bend OF the road
forty rods below. He was lying down
and clinging TO his horses neck. and
behind him We're twenty hostiles on
their ponies
Into the house, missy-in for Gods