Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1910-10-27

to fight. The one were actuated by
patriotism, the other by what they ex-
pected to make out OF the matter. But
the war, instead Of lasting but a few
months. as many at first expected. fur
nishing military titles and big pay for
this last named class. proved a gigan-
tic. bloody struggle. and with each
fight the army was in need Of these
so called soldiers.
Colonel Jim @. in 1862 commanded
the brigade in which served Tho
colonel had been a politician In large
city and was one Of the first to ''otKer
himself sacrifice to the Union" his
idea Of that sacrifice being that he
would start out with rank Of colonel
and return with that of general, pick
Ing up sundry ''perquisites' By the
way, then run for fat Office. He was
fine looking man and prided him
self on being lady killer.
No sooner were the troops grouped
into brigades and divisions than Colo
nel Jim by virtue of the date OF bis
commission was placed In command OF
a brigade As soon as this elevation
took place be looked about him for "A
stan. Being allowed two aids. he
chose Louis Richmond and me. both
second lieutenants. Richmond told me
that he didn't like the colonel and was
intending to ask to be returned to his
regiment But no sooner had he told
me this than on receipt of letter
from the north he said that he would
remain on the stafr. asked him why
he had SO suddenly changed his views.
but he shut up like an oyster and re-
fused to utter a word In explanation.
1t was not long after this that one
morning at the breakfast table the
coloneIs brow was very lowering.
Gentlemen" he said, there's a
thief on my staff. Last night while I
was at Colonel BIS headquarters '--he
had been playing poker-"my trunk
was rifed of package of papers,"
AS he spoke be looked at all our
faces to note the effect of his words
noticed that Richmond was the only
one Of the staff whose looks indicated
consciousness.
might not the thief be one or the
headquarters guard or an orderly r
suggested the commissary.
NO" replied the colonel; 1.-THE rob
berry was not committed for gain.
There was money in the trunk. and ir
was not taken. Some one on my staff
took the papers for a purpose. IL
can prove 1t on him I'll have him court
martiaIed."
The colonel's eyes were fixed intent
ly on Richmond as he spoke. But Rich
mond went on eating his breakfast
with fair amount of equanimity con-
sidering that he was virtually accused
Of being thief. Nevertheless during
the day he made application to Colonel
Jim to be returned to his regiment.
Now, the relations between a gen
eral and his personal staff' are OF a
peculiarly intimate and confidential
character. The general may nominate
his own stan. and the nomination is
considered an honor. But he is noe
likely to retain an officer who prefers
not to hold the position given him
What was our surprise to learn from
Louis Richmond that the colonel de-
clined to issue the order returning him
to his regiment Evidently the com
mander believed that bis aid had
stolen his papers and proposed to fcrcs
him to stay where he was until he
could recover them.
Since Richmond made no denial or
being guilty OF the colonel's. charge we
treated him with coolness and finally
refused to speak to him except on
cially. Though the young man WINGED
under this. be seemed to be sustained
by q consciousness Of innocence.
Meanwhile there were conditions be-
tween him and the colonel thas wo
could net understand. Neither took
any definite stand. The colonel did
not prefer charges, and Richmond
made no move to force the colonel to
permit him TO Join his regiment. which
seemed to be the only way to get rid
Of a very unpleasant situation. no.
ticed that Colonel Jim made no men
ton of the character Of the purloined
papers. and his aid made no effort to
free himself from the ObIoquy that
rested upon him.
Such were the conditions when We
entered our first fight. The colonel did
not show up at the head of his brigade.
and Richmond. who appeared to be
best fitted TO take his place. issued or
ders In his stead. When the fight was
over the colonel appeared, explaining
his absence on the ground that he had
got separated from his command when
the fight opened and could not after
ward find it
But the division commander did not
accept this excuse and called for
Colonel Jim's resignation. 1t was
handed in. and the political general
from the service.
Colonel Jim's relegation TO ward pol
tics relegated Richmond and myself to
our respective regiments. Soon after
the fight he asked me to come to his
quarters. There he made an explana-
lion Of the conditions existing between
him and his commander A lady had
written him that the colonel had
number Of letters from her which she
was desirous should be returned. The