The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-05-17


And If I should entangle military
movements with hotel rates, or the
price of beans with olden glories, you
will attribute it, trust, to intense ap-
plication to new duties the past half
year.
Reading and writing" Dogberry
says, "come by nature" but hotel keep
price of which is eternal vigilance and
occasional incursions into the very SUI
burbs Of profanity. This is, however,
as the Irishman says, Sub rosa and
above board"
If my effort should present to your
practiced ears what the boys call
"chestnuts," consider the old proverbs
and be wise: There is nothing new
under the sum-" and You should never
look a gift chestnut in the wormhole."
In considering subject, / have Won
dered if we haven't, for a moment at
least, sufficiently familiarized ourselves
with the more ponderous and famous
events and men of the great war; Are
there not vast numbers prone, and
prompt, and eloquent to write, or sing.
or talk of Sherman's triumphant march
to the sea OF Sheridan's dashing ride
to glory?-And the imperishable hon
ors of that silent hero who was above
all men
Patient in toll,
Serene amidst alarms,
Inf1exible in faith,
Invincible in arms!"
the beloved and lamented Grant?
So let them sing. and speak, and
write: they thrill our hearts and bring
20 our eyes the tears sacred to such
memories alone!
But there are other and lighter
fnemes to which we may turn with a
different satisfaction. Camp life, like
poverty. made strange comprehensive:
and when we reflect that every hour
had its little history. with tragedy and
comedy closely jostling elbows, a thou
sand items spring up to remind US of
the brighter sides of duty, and Of the
peculiar characters who made us laugh
IN spite of ourselves throughout the
entire war.
/ have in mind just such a one-a
most unherOic fellow of mine-whose
roguish tricks, unconscious wit. and
unsuitable appetite for mischief and
punishment were at once the delight
of the regiment and the perpetual de-
spair Of the unhappy rascal himself
l call him SAM" partly because it's
m easy name to get hold of, and partly
because it really was his name.
& first distinctly remember him at
kemphis along about the middle Of
the war, just as we were getting ready
one evening for dress parade / was
standing in front of regimental head
quarters with number Of the officers,
all In the glory Of full uniform, when
. green. gawky-looking fellow, evident
~ one OF our new recruits, edged into
the party, and with a familiar nod
prodded his thumb gently into my ribs,
saying:
BE you Captain o. Co. b."
1t was a rather surprising question
at that time in the war, when almost
every man, woman and child in the
country was familiar with the uniforms
and badges Of rank. and the eagle,
perched on my shoulder-strap, was
staring him in the face as he spoke.
However, / answered, mo, SIR"
A faint smile on the faces Of the
other officers must have raised a doubt
In his mind, for he persisted, Eyes.
you be-"
mo, sir: you are mistaken" I said
again, and so earnestly that, with a
half apologize grin on his queer face,
ne responded:
BE lingo! they said you be-" and
then he faded away backwards into
camp among the jokers who sent him.
And this turned out to be Sam"
who made much Of our military life
one vast substantial SMILE" He never
especially meant to be funny, and was
rarely kDoWn to smile himself; on the
contrary, - seemed as simple and seri-
Gus IN manner as he was cadaverous
In appearance. Tall, very slim, freck-
led and homely, awkward, a born
poacher, controlled instantly by his
slightest impulse for mischief, and ap.
parently without knowledge of wrong
from right, he passed his days between
devilment and plunges into spasms OF
repentance and remorse when confront
ed. as he was almost daily. by the vari-
Gus punishments in vogue in camp
next remember him a short time
afterwards in camp. just above New
Orleans.
The day Of our arrival there a party
OF some so soldiers was marched into
quarters for assignment TO duty with
our regiment. strange Lieutenant had
charge OF them, and as our Adjutant
was not present at the moment to call
and verify the roll. took 1t, and, STEP
ping out in front Of the line, called
and checked 1t of myself While doing
80 felt that some one, presumably
the Lieutenant, was close behind me
breathing heavily over my shoulder az
ne watched the interesting process
Name after name / called, with some
little haste and annoyance at the face
could feel. rather than see, at my
shoulder; and as the last response was
noted / turned abruptly to the left, and
fairly bumped noses with this same
Sam who had so recently insisted tina,
was Captain Of Co. b.
We were standing out alone, at leas,
20 feet from any others, he staring me
In the face with innocent curiosity.
didn't speak, but looked at him stead.
lily until he seemed to realize that one
OF US had committed some Improperly;
and. as before, he sought a quiet refuge
back among his comrades, who ROLES
upon the ground laughing at his fresh.
ness.
We had scarcely gotten straight In
camp and begun to discipline and in.
struct our new men when an officer ar.
rived from general headquarters Il
make close inspection OF US as t.
drill, discipline. and general condition
He gave notice merely by calling at m,
tent in full paraphernalia with the an
nouncement that he was ready" and
OF course, the Colonel flew around ant
got the regiment ready also. The In
spector was Regular Army officer
strict, sharp. and determined to learr
IN a hrfof oil