The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1907-01-10

those present was Samuel Frank, who
was the long-armed mar of the regi-
ment. His arms were so much longer
than those of other men that the blous-
e made In army sizes were all too
abort in the sleeve. Frank compliance
to his company officers n b quar-
termaster about the blouse sleeves that
eaEe only a little below his elbow. but
VIZ iaughed at. and was advised by
tue coys to saw off his arms.
Finally, Frank, in desperation,
wrote to President Lincoln, stating his
case, with a good deal Of emphasis,
and asking the President if he couldn't
order proper blouses for lons-armed
men, He marked this confidential, and
sent it on to Washington. In a few
days a letter came from the President
TO the proper officers, directing them TO
provide Samuel Frank with a proper
fitting blouse. If this could not be
done in the field. the officers were In
structed to send Franks measure 10
the quartermaster's department at
" 6tOnt NDClC a DiOuct W la liC
long arms would be made. The blolse
was made. and was worn through
months Of hard service. Lincoln's or
der was given to Frank. and he has
Kept it as the most precious of his war
relics. After that order Sam was new
sr ashamed of his long arms, but was
proud Of Them"
II have 10 doubt said the Major.
tina Frank was a character. The
character of our regiment, the Fifty
the brigade came east to Richmond.
Va it e into camp on the south
side of the James River in the put
skirts of Manchester. / was then serv-
ing with the Twenty-fourth army
corps, and | went over to see the boys
of my old company in the Fifty-sec-
ond. On reaching their camp I found
Jack LETTERS, Of company X, buckihg
and gagging a mulatto boy he had
picked up at Frankfort, KY. In 1862.
The boy had followed Jack and his for
tunes from the Ohio to the Potomac,
but had his 'ornery' spells, and then
Jack disciplined him under what he
sslled the rules Of wal.
I'm the midst of the ceremony there
was a commOtion in the E~ighty-fifth
Illinois, and il was the custom of the
Fifty second to join in when the ILL
nois boys were in trouble Jack went
over. 1t appeared that a fellow who
had been lounging about a GONZALES
cent camp. irritated because he had
been ordered TO join his regiment in
front, said In the presence of the IN
sympathetic Eighty-fifth Illinois boy
mat he would like to dance a Jig on
Abe Lincoin's grave The Illinois boy
who resented this was of slight build.
and was getting the worst<of the scrap
e Jack came up at a run, caught
the e~opperhead by the shoulder and
proceeded to tan bis hide after the
manner of a past master in a rough
and tumble fight.
when the job was finished Jack *
planned to the crowd that when any
fellow jumped on one of his partners
In the Eighty fifth Illinois the fellow
had to lick all OF Dan McCook's fight
ing brigade. be ause the boys of the
brigade were as one family, and the
a who struck one might as we'll
strike all. Jack was not peculiar in
this respect. Men Of regiments bri-
yaded together for a long time became
very loyal to one another, and strong
men were always ready to go 10 .he
front in the interest of men net given
10 scrappIng. In one case | renember
. gentlemanly fellow was being abused
by a hard swearer. when one of the
boys went into action with a quick
airing profanity that silenced the 9th
sr's guns Then he saluted, smiled
and walked away with the air of a
nan Who had performed a pleasant
duty"
by Jinks." said the High Private
I wish 1 had thought of that scheI
pf Franks when | was in the SERVES
was the highest private In the com
pany, and as the man coming next tt
the orderly in line, I ought to have beer
The best-dressed man in the company
Instead Of that. / was the worst. ant
1T my best looked more like a scare
crow than any other man in the regi
nent.
II had long legs, as we'll as Ion.
Tms. and everything In the clothin:
line was too pesky short. The bottoms
IF my trousers were always two o.
three inches above my shoetops; m,
House wouldn't meet my trousers; m.
shirt was always working out betwes
blouse and trousers; the ends of III.
Bleeyes were nearer my elbows thai
my wrists. and / lad the appearance
n an oyergrown boy squeezed int
clothes two sizes too small for hin
Eordy. lordy. how / did cuss Uncl
Sam about them clothes. But cuss:a
did no good. If I had written to OIL
Abe I might have had some comfort
de was a tall man, and knew how
vas himself.
But things improved as the ga
vent on. | went into the battle Q
Stone River with a new suit on new
but short and tight The fight Gale
Tor hard work. and l forgot ali abot
ny clothes. As we retreated 1 stopps
b help some artlllerymen lift n cal
non out of a tight place. / was a goo
ufter, but when / lifted / split ever
aogonned garment | had on me exceI
my ~overcoat. Then for a spell | oil
any best at running to keep ahead
the rebs. and when | got to the ne
line I was a sight to behold.
"Just as [ had opened my overco'
b. show the boys what a wreck | wa
General Rosecrans rode among L
smiling, and / thought he was laug
ing at me. He wasn't. He was SIN
ing to make the boys believe it wass
much of a shower. He caught sight
me. however,, Ind asked what was 4
matter. l drew my overcoat bac
.bouod him what had haDDpned. al