The Plymouth tribune. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1901-1911, 1909-03-11
Getting Out of the Army.


ferred to me to decide was during the
winter when the Army of the Potomac
went into quarters after the battle of
Fredericksburg. Very soon after that
fight. and while | was i'm charge OF
brigade hospital. n private soldier be-
longing co a New York infantry regi-
ment suddenly lost his voice. While
do not deny that there were a few
genuine cases of this kind, there were
certainly ten counterfeits to one genu-
inc. The first few cases had such luck
in securing discharges that the army
biIks made it their favorite disability"
for n time. 4 soldier without the DOW
ers Of speech would not be worth the
bareback Uncle Sam had to issue to
him. and whenever case came to me
pushed the investigation TO Il speedy
termination.
The name of this soldier was DAILY.
and he was n strapping big fellow with
the look and dfmeanor Of a homesick
man.
He was out on picket one night when
ii rained. and got wet through. Next
morning he could speak only in a whis-
per. The same thing has happened to
thousands of people. but the hoarsencss
passed off in a day or two In DAYS
case il remained. He was given a
remedy 0y bis regimental surgeon. and
thoroughly treated. but his lost voice
did not propose to be coaxed back. He
could speak in whispers, but no more.
When he was sent up to me | made n
careful examination of his throat.
There wasn't the slightest evidence
that he had even had Il bad cold.
Every portion Of 1t was in a perfectly
healthy condition, and I saw at once
that the man was shamming. | kept
my thoughts to myself however. He
had been pretending for a month, and
there was no hope of exposing him ex-
cept by some scheme of which he had
no suspicion. | gave him syrup to
take and gargle 10 use. and gave him
quarters In small room by myself.
Before he took possession of ii a peep
hole was arranged so that he could be
placed under surveillance.
The first pointer we got was on the
fourth day after Days arrival. He
left a hale finished letter lying on the
table while he went out to the buffers,
and during his absence the nisslve was
read II was TO his brother, and DAILY
stated that his plan had worked all
right so far, and he was now where
he expected his discharge in few
days. In case he got it he was to 20
into the substitute broker business with
the brother. land If we can't beat
Uncle Sam then we are no good" He
finished and mailed the letter with
out being any the wiser for the pointer
he had furnished us. His general char
acter was that OF an obstinate, mullsh
man. AS he had gone into thi~ thing
to win he was not likely to be TIPPED
up by any ordinary stratagem.
thought the case over for a day or two,
hospital about two miles away and
bring me q package. The surgeon
there was under instructions to detain
him so that he could not return to us
until after dask.
The officer Of the day was taken into
the plot, and the sentinels on that side
Of camp where DAILY would approach
were duly posted as to their action
when the man appeared. 1t was 6
o'clock of dark and disagreeablc
evening when DAILY came trudging
along. As this was the first time he
had been outside the sentinel since los
ing his voice lie must have been bit
anxious as to how he was to get in.
The sentinel permitted him to come
within twenty feet, and then challeng-
ed:
who comes thereT