The Montgomery advertiser., 1904-01-10

sy-Aour hours leave of absence and con- Ts TsSsauentiy was not available for duty. .ne ane oetall was changed and Lieut.. Col. Stcauman was named in his place. The notice Of the detail of Captain Clark went to his quarters and was received by the 'se !rs Lientenant commanding.
 Inat officer knew that when a com pany was called on for any service, in the absence Of the Captain, the Lieuten- ant commanding took his place and car !a I,sa out the orders. The Lieutenant, to the case in hand, decided that he must take the captains place and act as off, Ger of the day.
 He accordingly prepared himself, and a. me proper hour appeared at guard service. Colonel Steadman only went through the ESuaY manOeuvres received tne guard which was turned over by the oIa oificer of the day and so far as he Knew nothing out of the usual occurred It was true he noticed that Lieutenant M. was on hand uniformed and mounted ana seemed to be taking part in the ma noeuvres, but as the Lieutenant occasion ally imbibed too freely he thought he was merely feeling good and disposed to make an exhibition of himself, so he paid no further attention to him. As is well known by old soldiers, one of the special duties of the officer of the day was dur ing the night to visit the different posts to ascertain if the sentinels wer alert and doing their full duty. Lieutenant M re- turned to his quarters and early in the night sent for Private B. and told him that he was far from we'll and really did not feel equal to the task of making what was faniliarly known as the Grand Rounds, and he begged of Private B. 10 take his place and perform that duty B. demurred and said he could not think of such a thirg. Letter, seeing that Lieu tenant M. was really not well enough to make the rounds" and Lieutenant NJ. fN I1nSx heA l.x Haw that duty to be neglected, he finally con- eented. being assured by Lieutenant M that no one would ever know anything about it.. s4s
 tenant M. g. uniform. mounted and went forth to inspect the posts as officer of the day, in the name of lieutenant M. Gen. w.. H. T. Walker of Georgia, an old West Pointer, w6S at that time in command of the post at Pensacola, as 1t was called. He suffered from asthma, and when so suffering he could only sleep sitting in chair. On this particular his complaint and sitting up, wishing to have report from the officer of the day, told the Sergeant of the guard at his headquarters to notify the officer of the day when he reached that post that he tGeneral W.), wished to see him. Colonel Steadman in due time reached the guard at General W.'s quarters, was notified, went in. made his report, and left
 0OOh dETlVoQ ALSO at NIeneTdA W.s headquarters. The Sergeant, not understanding why there were so many officers Of the day, received E. in all for mallty and also notified him that General Walker wanted to see him. This unex- pected develo pment nonplussed B, very much and he declined to go in to see Gen eral Walker. The Sergeant, deeming the request equivalent to a command, insist- ed that B. should go in. The altercation became so noisy as to attract the atten- ton of General w., who came out and inquired what was the matter. The Ser geant-replied that it was another officer of the day. and that he refused to go in to see General w.
 General ". then asked "Who is it?" B. replied, Lieutenant M. ,aeting as off, cer of the day in place of Captain Clark, who was absent. Walker at once ordered the guard to arrest B.. and sent or hur- riedly for Colonel Steadman. B. did not like the looks of things, and tried to ex- plain to General W. how it was he was officer of. the day. Walker. however, would not release him. Steadman soon returned, when B., seeing that he must De found out, made g. clean breast of it and told the whole matter. Walker was VeIy indignant at this breach of military dis cipllne and rules, and ordered both B. and Lieutenant M. in arrest and close confinement until the whole affair could be investigated, with intimations of d courtmartial and severe punishment for both men, General Walker had quite a reputation for strict military discipline, and the two men under arrest and theIr friends were concerned for the outcome. Lieutenant M: and B. were both quite crestfallen and visions of a stern court martial and sunrise shooting squad f1oated through their minds.
 General Walker was called on early next morning by the friends of the two men who tried to appease his wrath and get them out of their trouble. At first he was very indignant and refused to listen to any appeals for mercy or leniency After talking with him for some time ne began to sec the ridiculous side of the affair and finally got to laughing over it. Tho result was that before the day was over both men were released, but with severe reprirnand, especially for LIeI- tenant M., whom Walker deemed the greater delinquent. It is now more than two-score and two years since this incl dent took place, and with the exception of Colonel Steadman and the writer. al who had any connection with it have passed away.
 General Walker gave up his life defend- ing his native State He was killed in the battle of Atlanta, July 9, 1864. Colonel. after General Clayton, lived through the war and died some years ago, while Pres ident Of the State University at Tusca- loosa. Lieutenant M. and Captain Clark both died early in the war
 Gallant Tom Brannon, for he was the hero of this nights adventure served out his time, twelve months, with the 1su Alabama Infantry. re-enllsted in the 39th Regiment or AIaD aDama Infantry. became Captain of Company K, of that Resi- ment and served with it until the war closed, participating in all the battles Tn which it was engaged. and as senior oQi- cer present, commanded his Regiment m its last battle. that of BentonviIle. N. q. He came home after the surrender. mar rIed an estimable lady of Eufaula (Miss Florida Copeland), moved to Georeia. reared a family and some years ago an- swered to his last earthly roll cali. ana passed to that country where thcreN IS neither war nor rumOrs of war I thInk his widow stIll survives. do not ln1vr where his children are, but do know he has one daughter who is an honored mat. ron of Alabama's Capital City, and hrr son, Thomas Brannon Hubbard some months ago failed to pass the physical eXaminat ton for entrance into West Point venture to say that, knowing the soi- dleriy. career of his grandfather Uncle sam, twithstanding that seeming phys ical defect, thereby lost the chance of securing a first-class soldier.
 The evening shadows arc fast gathering about all the surviving Confederate vet erans and in few years moro all that will he left of them will he the memory of their gallant deeds.
 $. II. Dent.