The Hartford republican. (Hartford, Ky.) 18??-1926, 1905-05-19
STANCE STORY OF CIVIL WAR,
Stupid Recruit Turned Spy in
Order TO Kill an Officer
Who Had Destroyed His Home
and for Want of Shelter
Wife and Child Died.

spring VI lou q toAi' i0'iN' $40"
looking man entered one of the
camps of the Confederate General
Johnston, at Nashville, Tenn, and
said he would like to join the regi-
ment." He was turned over to a
Drill Sergeant, with instructions to
try to make soldier out of him.
The Confederates We're never con-
spicuous for soldiery appearance;
indeed, they were best noted as
fighters. Yet, Notwithstanding the
want of attention to the army regu-
lations, the recruit at once became
noted for being the most unsoldier-
ly man among them. The bump of
discipline seemed to be a hollow in
his head. He was constantly wan
dering from his command and spend
ing long terms in the guardhouse
for doing so. Though the Sergeant
spent hours drilling him. the recruit
could never learn the difference be-
tween carry" and shoulder" aims.
At least if he did he was sure to for
get it the next day. On post he was
continually making blunders. He
was the butt of his regiment and the
subject for innumerab!e tricks.
One morning he appeared at his
Colonel's tent and told him that he
had been appointed spokesman for
the enlisted men of his regiment to
say that they desired to be led at
once against the enemy. The Colon
el looked at the man,aStOniShed, then
quietly wrote a note, gave it to him
and told him to take it to the regi-
mental surgeon. The surgeon, af-
ter reading it, examined the bearer
for his sanity, but sent him back
with a paper stating that he was
perfectly sane, though stupid.
The recruit next appeared at gen.
eral headquarters and reported for
orderly" 1t was never known
whether this was by mistake or for
a joke, but the adjutant who made
the detail was sent back to his COM
pany for doing so. The recruit at
tracted the attention Of the staff for
his awkwardness. and when the Gen
erals tent was vacant Numbered in
20 it and was caught reading the
Generals papers. He was sent back
to his Colonel under guard, with a
report of his conduct ,whereupon the
Colonel, after considering the pro-
priety Of ordering him before a
Court-martial, decided to recon-
mend his discharge. on the ground |
shat it would be for the good of the
service. But, the Cenfederacy at |
that time not being overburdened |
with powder food, the General COM
manding declined TO grant the dis
charge, an the ground that if the
man was fool he should be placed !
in the front rank, where the army
might get rid of him to a purpose.
One night when the recruit was on
outpost duty a shot was heard COM
ing from where he was stationed,
and he came running in, crying:
THE Yanks air comm! The Yanks
air comin"l The long roll was
beaten and the command turned out,
forming in line Of battle. But no
enemy came. After waiting the at
tack for some tiae, skirmishers
were thrown out and found the body
of the Major who had been officer of
the day visiting the Dickets. He
had been shot through the head.
The men were sent back to their
tents and the recruit was sent up I'M
der guard to the General who sent
him hack to his regiment under care
of an aid. The Colonel was directed
either to have the stupid ass shot
by mistake" or connive at his de-
sertion.
Che Colonel chose the latter course.
He called the recruit into his tent
ard told him he had decided to have
him shot at sunrise the next morn
ing. Then he sent him to his regi-
ment with orders to his Colonel to
plaee him where he could escape
during 1he night.
That was the last seen Of the stupid
recruit in that army. When the sun
rose in the morning he was far away.
The officer of the dav reported the