Lexington gazette. [volume] (Lexington, Va.) 1871-1962, 1906-07-11
Double Discipline
[cnnvrirht. 1aOs. br Homer sprague..ii

DAYS. Inc pODOB OF ulSClplue udu lo-
Taxed, and the rank and file had
I "slouched."
Awaiting Company A was young
Lieutenant White, fresh from Vest
Point and bringing with him his high
| Ideas of discipline. He beheld the rag
ged men riding In, and his soul revolt
ed. There was less discipline than
among a gang Of cowboys. The nrst
lieutenant was already away on leave,
and almost at once the captain of Com
pany A took his departure, and this
left the cadet officer In full command
of the sixty men. When he talked dis
ciplIne to his fellow officers they adj
yised him to give his men rest for
few days and not push them. He elect
ed to take his own way, however. The
command had come riding In one morn
ing ct 8 o'clock. Next morning at the
same hour Company A was ordered
out to drill. The men had not yet
picked the sand burs out of their hair
and the cactus spikes out Of their fin
gers, and great was their amazement.
There was muttering and cursing, but
orders were obeyed. The officer went
among his men at quarters to criticise
rusty guns and sabers and personal
appearance and In a day he had the
whole garrison wondering and talking.
Company A was detailed to ride
down the trail for fifteen miles to
meet and escort a lot Of army wagons
on their way up. 1t was not believed
that there was a hostile Indian within
fifty miles Of the fort. Lieutenant
White was to 60 In command, and 1t
was a proud day for him. His troopers
were marshaled and remarshaled, and
he rode away only when they sat
their saddles az If on exhibition at
riding school.
Five miles down the road the Salt
Valley trail came In. The lieutenant
was riding ahead Of the command,
and without order from him the troop
ers turned off the main trail. AS soon
as he discovered their action he rode
after them calling a halt. No halt was
made. He rode nearer and shouted
louder, but not a man halted or looked
back. The astounded officer then pushed
to the front and, with saber waving
above his head, commanded a halt.
He and his horse were pushed aside by
the men, who came riding steadily on.
Sergeant, what in - does this
mean?" he exclaimed as he forgot dis
cipline for a moment and rode at Ser
geant Harris.
TOO much drill" quietly answered
the sergeant.
But this is mutny-rank mutlnyl
Halt! Halt! command you to halt!
IF you don't obey orders l will have
every man court martlaledr
No man halted The lieutenant sat
his horse and. cursed and ragged. AS
he came up with the men he drew his
revolver and fred It's contents over
their heads and shouted for halt. No
attention was given him, but half a
moment later the sergeant repeated the
words, and the command halted
"Men ! want to know what this
means?" said the lieutenant in a hoarse
voice and trembling down to his toes.
"You are off the road and you refuse
to obey orders. Are you deserving in a
body?"
TOO much drillw answered every
man In chorus, and then the sergeant
gave the word to move on.
The cadet officer could say nothing
In reply. He could not ride back to the
fort alone and report that the company
had mutinied, and he could not exact
obedience from the men where they
were. He followed after the troop in
maze, not knowing what step to take.
The problem was solved for him. Sud-
denly there was u rife shot ahead,
quickly followed by three or four more,
and the bullets came singing over the
troopers heads. There were Indians
ahead
Fright and left wheel and take COW
err shouted the sergeant, and a mo-
ment later the men were lined across
the road and had the shelter of rocks
and timber.
The young officer had chafed at the
thought that the campaign was over
and he had not had hand In It. He
had been told that 1t might be two
years before he would have a chance
to see hostile redskin, and yet here
they were before him and his company
had virtually mutinied and he had no
authority over them. He cursed and
shed tears as he thought Of 1t, and 1t
was like blow upon blow as he heard
the sergeants voice shouting:
Extend right and left tanks! Fire
slow and don't waste your bulletsl
Horse holders lead the horses to the
rearw
The cadet dashed forward at the SER
geant. His face was white, and his
voice would not come, and the grim old
noncommssioned officer pitied the boy
as he looked into his eyes.
"Your chance, sir" he said.
"And the men won't obey me, and l
am disgracedr whispered the lieuten-
ant
as 1t fight or drillW
For moment the cadet hesitated. 1t
was hard for him to surrender, but
maybe he had been too hard Cd the
men. If the other officers were salts
fed with the discipline he ought to be.
"It's fight and fight like --| he
shouted
take command then. Boys, the lieu
tenant is In command. Extend still
farther to the left and fight like -w
And they did and beat off force of
200 Indians and returned to the fort
with glory and renown. and not for
year did any man outside the company
know that military tactics had been re-
versed for once and an officer disci-
pllned instead of private.
NJ QUAD
Drew His Picture.
1t is told Of Major General Sir VIII