The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1905-10-26
WAS .BooTED" BIZ GEN, PORE.

- - ~. ~ NJ - AAN
WAS BOOTED" By GEN. POPE.
How an Illinois Cavalryman Was Re.
warded for Faithful 'serysce Q. q Dark
! and stormy Night:
/ Editor National Tribune: The Incl
dent I am going to relate occurred at
that strenuous time when the gunboats
were hurting shot and kissing shells at
Island No 10. was with my company,
L OF the 7th Ill. Cay. 1--WE were de-
tached down in front of New Madrid at
| Gen. j. A. Palmer's headquarters doing
dispatch duty while he was endeavoring
to keep back the rebel gnnboats which
would come just opposite, guarding
transports with supplies for the island.
| This was the only means the rebels on
the island had to get provisions.
| During the daytime we could see the
rebel fleet away down the river in the
distance. They were awaiting the COM
| ing of night, as they would not venture
across the stream in the daytime. Gen.
Palmer had some "long Tom siege
guns, and the frowning muzzles of these
big cannon deferred the rebs from maxi
ing any rash ventures with their steam
boats
| Whenever it became necessary to
>
quarters at New Madrid some member
Of our company had to take it, Well,
| the night the Carondelet ran the block
ade just above New Madrid, the Adju-
tant about 10 o'clock called for an or
derby. l responded, and went into the
| Generals tent He said:
| Here is a dispatch which will have
to go to Gen. Pope's headquarters at
| once"
| The night was a stormy one. The
| darkness was intense and rain was fall
/ ing i'm torrents.
Get your horse" added the General.
land come back to my tent. and I will
show you where to conceal the dis
| patch"
1 saddled my horse. and when 1 re-
turned to the General he told me to
put the dispatch next to my bare skin.
| just under my saber belt. / did so, and
| started on my 25-mile ride through the
| storm. After plunging into several
streams, my faithful horse carrying me
| safely through the swollen tides, final
| 1y came to higher ground. and while
going up a hill my horse fell and broke
| its shoulder. That left me in an awful
| fix. My animal was unable to travel,
so ] left him and CROPPED my way along
| on foot in the darkness and rain. After
l had proceeded some distance ] was
| startled by the sharp command: Halt
7 halted.
who goes there?" sang out the pick
Friend with the countersign," was
my prompt reply.
/ was ;hen commanded to advance
and give the countersign, which did.
/ asked the picket how far distant
| was Gen. Popes headquarters and what
time of the night it was
His reply was that New Madrid was
three miles away and that it was almost
morning. l then resumed my trudge
rain T IN
the skin, muddy, and as hungry as
church mouse. I certainly presented
the picture Of a forlorn cavalryman.
Just after day had dawned most
cheerlessly I came to New Madrid, and
asked the first person l found where
Gen. POpe's headquarters were. A large
wall tent was pointed out to me. 1t
was surrounded by many other tents.
| Marching up to the wall tent, I in
formed the sentinel who was pacing
before it that l was AN orderly. He
made no reply. and pulled open the
fly In one corner of the tent can
see him now in memory-stood Gen.
Pope making his toilet. He was in his
shirt sleeves.
/ began to partially disrobe In order
TO get at the dispatches had concealed
next to my skin. Gen. Pope came
threateningly towards me, exclaiming
angrily:
He then proceeded to kick me out Of
the tent. About the third kick he gave
me caused me TO tumble over and al
most turn 4 SOmerSault.
"Now, stand there" he shouted as
arose. He then quickly went into his
tent to get his revolver and Kill me, as
supposed. My thoughts quickly revert
| I'd to home and mother, when the Cen
| eral reappcared wearing his saber. He
then commenced to drill me savagely
in sword exercise.
Now" he said, az will teach you
how to come into Generals headquar-
tiers without slluting"
After putting me through a few more
IF the movements I'm the saber exor-
cises Gen. Pope commanded me to go
to the Adjutant's tent. ! started down
the line but before reaching the tent of
his Adjutant I practiced the saber salute
a few times. fearing ] would get an
other boot inspection"
/ stepped timidly into the Adjutant's
tent, drew my saber and took off my
hat. The Adjutant looked up and
smiled. l got out my dispatches and
gave them to him. Just as / emerged
| from the tent I met my own beloved
Col. KeIlogg-William Pitt. / presented
where did you come FROM" he
asked.
When l told him l had rode and
walked all night through the darkness
| and storm from Gen. Palmer mead
quarters; that / had lost my horse and
| had then been kicked by Pope as re-
ward for my pains, it raised the Col
onel's ire.
you come with me-" he said mo
Regular Army officer can kick one of
my volunteers.
Reaching Popes tent. he read Popes
pedigree to him. and said If he made
enc move he would put hole through
him big enough to drive six mules
through" My Colonel then got me
some breakfast and horse. and that
afternoon ! returned to Col. Palmers
headquarters.
few days later, when Palmer at
| tackled New Madrid, Pope was shot at.
and the missile came within an ace of
hitting him. He then left the COM
mand and went North, and never more
was seen in the Army of the Tonnes
see.-Simon p. Powelson, Co. L, eth Ill.
Cav, Canton, III.
Who Has Fink's jug?