Hattiesburg daily news. (Hattiesburg, Miss.) 1907-1908, 1907-06-21
Transposed Wedding
Costumes.
torisinal.l


Captain Bullwinkle during his term
of service in the civil war always con
sidered himself at the foot of a noun
tain of superior officers
Bullwinkle always thought that IL he
could get an independent command.
even Of his own company, he could
distinguish himself. When Sherman
marched to Atlanta the captain attain
ed his desire. He was left in the rear
to guard bridge.
There was house near the bridge he
guarded in which lived family Of
Confederate sympathizers. Bullwinkle
was informed by Union man that the
place was to be used as a cover for
Confederates to steal upon the bridge
at night and burn it He sent his Sec
ond lieutenant Walter Moore, to put
corporal and four men in the house.
Moore marched his men to the place.
They were fired on, and Moore ordered
retreat. When he returned and re-
ported what he had done, or, rather,
had not done, Bullwinkle was very an
CRY. Moore excused himself on the
ground that he was fired on by women,
and he didn't like that kind of war
fare. Bullwinkle sent a sergeant and
dozen men, who found no one in the
house except the family.
Now comes the captains unique dis
tinction. Being independent far from
superior, he could do pretty much as
he pleased. He made an example of
Moore, trying him for cowardice, and
| got the court to sentence the lieutenant
| to wear women's clothes for sixty days.
| Feminine clothing was obtained from
among the citizens, and Moore was
forced to array himself in It, For
few days the command was much
amused; then Moore's punishment be-
came an old story.
One day a young countryman with
yellow hair, blue eyes and without the
sign of a beard appeared at headquar-
tiers and asked to be enlisted. He was
accepted, and Moore's uniform was
| given him temporarily. He was an eff
Terminate little chap, and as the men
were disposed to make butt of him
he made friends with Moore. Then
there was sport sure enough. The re-
cruit and Moore were a great deal to-
gether and never appeared in company
without exciting derisive laughter.
The bridge was protected by block
house. One afternoon several hundred
Confederate troopers came down to
drive Off the Yanks. Bullwinkle gath
cred his command, some eighty men,
in the blockhouse. Moore, who of
course was not acting as lieutenant,
took a musket and fought in the ranks.
The recruit showed himself from the
first an arrant coward, and both off,
GERS and men looked upon him with
contempt. Moore however, excused
the boy on the ground that it was his
first fight and he would redeem him
self later on.
Finally the Confederates divided into
two sections, both of which attacked
the blockhouse simultaneously, one in
front and one In rear. The captain d.
vided his own force to meet the adj
vancing sections, taking command of
one section himself and placing the
other under his first lieutenant. Moore
was in the lieutenant's section. The
lieutenant was killed, and Moore, I'M
mindful of his degraded condition and
feminine dress, sprang at once into the
gap and directed the defense with
great GOODNESS and bravery, finally driv-
ing his enemies to cover. Then he took
his men to the captains assistance
and the other Confederate section was
} also driven off Soon after the Con
federates raised the siege and galloped
, away.
"You two," said Bullwinkle to Moore
and the recruit when the fight was
over, "change uniforms"
Moore looked much embarrassed, ant
the recruit turned pale.
: "Off with that uniform!" roared the
captain to the recruit
PLEASE, captain, mayn't go off by
myself to undressY'
go off by YOURSELF No, you COW
ard; strip"
Hold on, captain" said Lieutenan
Moore. well have to make an expla
nation. We're cornered."
San explanation! What explana
tionY
| well. to begin at the beginning
) when you ordered me to take corpo
raj and four men to the house up yon
der l was at disadvantage. I'd beef
to that house often after taps and ha,
been treated very kindly by the famil,
living there. One of them, girl, wa
] mighty good to me-"
f "a love affair, l suppose" growle,
) Bullwinkle That's no excuse in
matter Of duty"
when we were fired on, couldn'
stand to shoot people who had beef
> good to me, especially the girl, so
+ drew off my men,"
: "Well, what's that got to do wit
= this fellows cowardiceT
: ITS kind of hard to explain it," tn
| y;or,fov.a,,f In l,<rad ~, sth,1f fho foot I