The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1909-09-13
BILLY RIGGS CASE.
b. BRUCE PARKER.
ICopyright. 1909, by American Press ASS
citation

Ecopyright 1909. by American Press Asso-
ciationl
During the civil war one Of the many
things that interested me was the fact
that after a hard days march, when
we men were lying about on the
ground resting. the drummer boys
would choose a convenient place and
play ball One OF these boys Of our
regiment turned out 70 be a young
hero. He was known as Billy. and
bis other name was Riggs. He was
fourteen years old ana small for his
age
No one has ever been able to account
for the 'bunder" that won the battle
Of Missionary Ridge. happened 70
see that blunder at the time II was
made. Billy Riggs was the bunderer
Our regiment was one Of the line al
the base Of the ridge and ia one Of
the most exposed positions. We were
suffering under a fire that we could
not return with any hope OF hurting
any one. for we were obliged to shoot
up the side Of mountain at an enemy
we couldn't see.
Billy Riggs WINS standing with the
drum corps looking up the side OF the
mountain. Suddenly he made a jump
and, landing on a rock IN front Of him,
began to climb. In a few moments he
was sheltered behind precipitous
bank. There he began to drum like
mad. What he did It for didn't know,
but supposed it was TO let the men
know that II they would come up there
they would be under cover At any
rate, several men followed Billy, and
a number followed the several. and II
wasn't two minutes before the regi.
ment, or the bulk OF It, was climbing
70 Billy's position
But Billy wasn't there. Realizing
that there wasn't room for GOO men
where be stood and seeing a similar
position higher up, he went there and
stood rafting his sheepskin 10 let his
comrades know that there was plenty
Of room beside him The most daring
as well as the most chivalrous left
their cover TO make room for others
and followed Bully.
By this time the regiments on our
right and left. seeing our game, conclud-
ed 70 practice II 10 their own behalf.
In other words. three-quarters OF a
brigade We're climbing the steep Other
regiments followed, and regimental
commanders. thinking that an advance
had been ordered, took their com
mands where they saw others going
Before the general In chief could send
orders 10 stop the advance most Of
the army was halfway up the hin, and
soon after gaining the top the ridge
was won.
SO il was that what appeared to be
a foolhardy movement led to victory
and il recorded Ia history as ethe sol.
diers' BATTLE The soldier that led
that army was drummer boy, and
bis name was Billy Riggs
After the fight we men talked the
matter over and agreed that Il was
sort Of genius ID Billy, or which be
was entirely unconscious, that had
gained an important victory In other
words, be saw that safety was 70 an
advance But the officers either didn't
see hts act or declined to attach much
Importance 70 il.
In time I was given commission
in the regular army and ten years
later as major Of infantry was as.
signed to command OF three company
post west OF the Missouri river. The
day I arrived at my post as ] ap-
preached riding across plain heard
a sound Of drums and flies playing the
'Rogues March, / knew that some
culprit was being drummed out Of
camp and put spurs to nay horse 20 see
the ceremony Entering the gate.
saw the garrison drawn up Ii line
before which drum corps was lead.
ing a man with feather behind each
ear. There was something ID his walk
that was familiar to me. rode to
position where he would pass close to
me- and when he went BY / was sure
! had known him. Hating the squad,
| asked his name:
Private William Riggs"
Billy looked up at me and recognized
me. There was curious expression
on his face, or injured Innocence, NOR
tifeation and pleasure at seeing one Of
his old comrades under such distress
ing circumstances.
Stop this" | cried angnly.
"Onr commander" began the SER
geant in command, but cut him short.
r am commander here" said
sharply And, dismounting. took Billy
IN my arms, pulling the feathers from
behind his cars al the same time.
BY this time the officer temporarily
in command Of the post, lieutenant
out Of West Point several years after
the war had ceased, came prancing
across the parade to discover who
was interfering with the execution or
his orders. Seeing a gold leaf on my
shoulder, be came on hesitatingly, look
ing up at me as much as to say, who
are you anyway and what do you
mean by embracing man under pun
Hhmentg ] explained to him that /
was the new commandment, that / had
known Private Riggs in the civil war
as brave boy and that / preferred !
10 Investigate the case before it went
any further
The investigation proved that Billy
bad been FESTIVE under the command /
Of man who was his inferior in all /
except theoretic military subjects. an I
antagonism had sprung up between 1
them and Billy had got the worst Of I
n ar ..L..Ll.--.... -. - L-..-...l !