The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-07-06
Ole ARMY KICKER

Copyright. 1904. by T. C. McClure.l
1t had been known in the Seventh in.
fantry for months that Captain Harper
of Company D and Captain White of
Company G were bitter enemies. The
bitterness between them dated back
for years-way bac to the days when
as young men both loved the same
girl.
One day the two companies were de-
tailed to reach and hold two gaps in
the mountains Eve miles away. Com
pany B was sent on to cover the
mouth of Green Cove a which was
really the post of danger. At Smokers
gap. taken by the other company, the
body of troc ps could be sent through it.
At the cove there was a road over
which divisions had marched, and their
guns and wagons had followed.
Company G reached its position, roll
ed powders together for a breastwork.
and the men in blue stationed behind it.
A corporal and two men were sent up
the gap a hundred yards to take posi-
ton as vedettes, n as they sat down
on a rock one of the privates said:
Look here, Corp. 1t seems to me
that there is a sight of foolin' around
In this old army of ours. What are
they %expectin' us to do hereT'
Flight, mebbe." replied the corporal
as he lighted his pipe.
Yes. that's just like General Grant.
Here we are, about ninety strong, and
he expects VS. to hold this gap agin 10.
600 Johnny fighters. I'm no hand to
kick, but
b what you kicking forT" de-
manded the corporal You are the
worst old growler in the company.
You'd kick If they offered you your
discharge tomorrow
Look here, corporal. you don't know
enough to walk under a COW shed when
it's rainin' outdoors. but mebbe l can
drive an idea into YOU skull. Here
we are, AIM weT'
W amt anywhere else"
"Then that's settled. Down there is
| Company D. two miles away. We are
to hold one gap-they the other. They
won't see a cussed Johnny down there.
while we'll have a thousand on us be-
fore that old brass watch of yours says
it's II o'clock noon. Can less'n a hun
dred men lick 1O,OOOY"
I've neaFO OF Sucn Cn1ngS, placlQly
replied the corporal.
"Oh, you have! We can lick no TO-
0OO, nor yet 500, but the pint 1 want to
make is that Company D won't move
a foot to back US. That Internal Cap
tain Harper will see US all wiped out
before he'll give an order"
Nobody wants him to Jack US. Wen
do our own fighting and get the glory
OF it. Say. Bill. eneral Grant give
me a little p'inter for you the other
day. He said if you'd cut your hair,
wash your feet and stop kicking he'd
make a brigrdier of you right off"
WAL, he might do a heap wuss," re-
piled the private as he opened his
haversack to get a bite to eat. You
Jest mind. however, what l said about
Captain Harper. 1 can fight and kick,
too. and you be afraid of my
runnin away, but when the sun goes
down tonight there won't be no more
of Company D."
Half an hour passed away, and then
the three vedettes caught sight of a
dozen Confederates making their way
down the gap. There was every rea-
son to believe that a large force was
behind them.
Il told you they'd be comm down
this gapr' growled the kicke as he
made ready with his musket. There's
q whole regiment behind them f~ellers.
n we'll be chawed up in ten minits."
II sort O. think we'd better fall back
answered the corporal. "rhey are com
ing down the gap sure enough, and
they'll be right on top of us next thing.
Come on"
The C~onfederates marching down the
! gap numbered a full regiment. and FIVE
minutes after the retreat of the We
dettes Company G was fighting for its
life. Captain White saw at once that
he was vastly outnumbered and that
he must be REINFORCED. and. though 1t
went against the grain to do it, he sent
of a messenger to Captain Harper.
Tell him l have no men to spare AMI
that he must hold his position to the
last man. was the word that came
back.
The men of Company G were told of
the message. and after a moment of
cursing they swung their hats and
cheered. 1ney could not hope to hold
the position a quarter of an hour long
er, but they would obey orders and
die there. The C~onfederates had doz-
ems of men killed as they charged the
rocky breastwork. but they came agaiE
and again and always reaped an ad-
vantage.
They finally brought up a neldpiece,
and the men who had e fighting
with a faint glimmer of hope now
groaned out In despair. Three or four
molfd shot tore tho hroo or p-0rk fn