The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-07-13

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Those reports of proposed revolt
IN the Russian army in ManchoOria,
said the Colonel, made a good many
old soldiers smile. The idea of any
part of an army 5000 miles from home
cutting itself loose from the govern
ment tha. held transportation lines
and supplies as well as authority, was
absurd, but the report was circulated
all the same. As matter of fact 1t
is not possible for any army organ
lied on the modern plan to revolt, but
in every war Hlere is talk about ar
mics throwing down their arms or re-
fusing to fight or declining TO do this
or that.
More such talk was indulged in
concerning the volunteer army of the
civil war than of any other army that
ever did any real fighting. The talk
began in the army, where it passed
for mere buster and extended to the
politicians and the people at home, to
whom 1t seemed very menacing indeed.
In the earlier years of the war l was
In the engineer corps and was pretty
close to headquarters. After Antietam
I was informed confidentially that Nc
Clelland was to be sent to Washington
and that Burnside was to take COM
mond Of the Army of the Potomac.
1T was explained to me by regular
army officer that Mcclellan really had
been removed from command, but the
President, fearing mutiny In the
army, desired to have the soldiers be-
lieve that Little Mac had been called
to Washington to take the place of
General Halleck. 1 was informed
also that when Mcclellan started rear
ward there would be open revolt
against Burnside, and the end of
things would come soon. 1 did not
believe word Of all this. and said
80. But was asked to wait l wait
ed, and 1 saw Mcclellan go without
demonstration of any kind and Burn
side welcomed everywhere with
cheers.
"The truth was that the Army of
the Potomac was made up of Ameri-
can citizens who were in the army to
fight, not for Mcclellan nor for Burn
side, nor Pope, nor Hooker, but for
the Union, and most of them, much as
| they liked Mcclellan, felt that the time
had come for him to go. There was
| absolutely no thought of mutiny on his
| account, but hundreds OF men who
knew better limited that there was the
gravest peril in sighting Mcclellan
because the army as an army was so
attached to him that it would resent
injustice by refusal to obey orders of
| another.
Participated officers of this school
often misled the people, as well as the
| officers in cOmand. l remember one
case in which the field officers of two
| regiments in Virginia intimated to the
| general in command that their men
were in ugly mood because a deserter
from one of the regiments was to be
shot. They expressed fear that if
| the men were ordered out to witness
the execution they would mutiny. and
suggested that it might be well to not
insist that the regiments be present.
''The general heard them in amaze
ment. but said he would consider the
matter. The day of the execution the
two regiments were ordered out with
out arms, and each was placed In the
square opposite to a regiment fully
armed and equipped. No one under
stood the situation except the officers
who had talked TO the general of mutt
ny, and to them it was a rebuke that
stung like blow in the face.
1.-The truth was there had been no
excitement in either regiment about
shooting the deserter, and absolutely
no disaffection and no thought of mu-
tiny. This was made known to the
general In good time, and he sent for
the recreant officers and told them
bluntly that they must get over their
old women's notions, or he would rec
Dmend their dismissal from the ser.
vice. They never hinted at mutiny
after that"
Il remember" said the major, "that
when it was announced that negroes
would be enlisted as soldiers there was
much wild talk in the army abou,
throwing down guns and declining to
10 duty If negro regiments were
brought to the front. The men of nc
particular regiment said they them
selves would mutiny, but they were
always talking about the men in some
regiment In the next brigade, swearing
by the great horn spoon that they
would do that very thing if the darkies
came to the front wearing the army
blue. The darkies came, and not 9
hand was raised aginst them.
"We had in our regiment a little
Dutchman who was in chronic state
Of revolt. He was always on the point
Of defying the government and of re
fusing to obey orders. But the crisis
never came, and the boys bore witt
Charley's mutterings and stubbornnes:
In the belief that cure was impossible
One day, as we Were retreating up s
mountain road, pursued by a heavy
force of the enemy. we were ordered
to move quickly to the right, so that ;
mountain battery posted in the roat
above us could open on the pursuin:
rebels.
1.-The order to right oblique ant
clear the road was sharply given, ant
was promptly Obeyed by most of tn,
men, who realized the necessity fo
haste. Dutch Charley, however, stub
| how, hold I,,ol- and