Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-08-09


to fight. The one were actuated by
patriotism, the other by what they ex.
pected to make out of the asatter. 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 gtgan-
tic, bloody struggle, and with each
fight the army was In need of these
SO called soldiers.
Colonel Jim G. In 1862 commanded
the brigade in which l served. Tht
colonel had been a politician in a large
city and was one of the first to offer
himself a sacrifice to the Union" his
idea of that sacrifice being that be
would start out with rank OF colonel
and return with that of general, pick
ing up sundry 'perquisites'' by the
way, then run for a fat office. He was
a fine looking man and prided him.
self on being a lady killer.
No sooner were the troops grouped
into brigades and divisions than Colo.
mel Jim by virtue of the date of his
commission was placed in command Of
a brigade. AS soon as this elevation
took place he looked about him for a
staff. Being allowed two aids, ha
chose Louis Richmond and me, both
second lieutenants. Richmond told ma
that he didn't like the colonel and was
intending to ask to be returned to his
regiment. But 10 soone had he told
me this than on receipt of a letter
from the north he said hat he would
remain on the staff. l 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
coloneFs brow was very lowering.
Gentlemen" be said, there's a
thief on my staff. Last night while
was at Colonel BIS headquarters"-he
had been playing poker-"my trunk
was riled of a package of papers,"
AS he spoke he looked at all our
faces to note the effect of his words.
noticed that Richmond was the only
Of the staff whose looks indicated
consciousness. y
might not the thief be one of the
headquarters guard or an orderly Y'
suggested the commissary.
mo" replied the colonel; 1.-The rob-
berry was not committed for gain.
There was money in the trunk, and III
was not taken. Some one on my staA
took the papers for a purpose. If I
can prove 1t on him I'll have him court
martialed."
The colonel's eyes were fixed intent
ly on Richmond as he spoke. But Rich
mond went on eating his breakfast
with a fair amount Of equanimity con-
sidering that he was VII tualIy accused
of being a thief. Nevertheless during
the day he made application to Colonel
Jim to be returned to mis- 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 staff, and the nomination is
considered an honor. But he Is not
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-
cllned to issue the order returning him
to his regiment. Evidently the CON.
mander believed that his aid had
stolen his papers and proposed to forca
him to stay where he was until he
could reeover them.
Since Richmond made no denial of
being guilty of the colonel's charge we
treated him with GOODNESS and finally
refused to speak to him except off,
cially. Though the young man WINGED
under this, he seemed to be sustained
by a consciousness of innocence.
Meanwhile there were conditions be.
tween him and the colonel that we
could not 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 nc effort to
free himself from the obloquy that
rested upon him.
Such were the conditions when wa
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
owe 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 1t.
But the division commander did not
accept this excuse and called for
Colonel Jim's resignation. 1t was
handed In, and the political general
disappeared from the service.
Colonel Jim's RELOCATION to ward pol
itics relegated Richmond and myself "a
our respective regiments, Soon after
the fight he asked me to come to bis
quarters. There he made an explana-
ton of the conditions existing between
him and his commander. A lady had
written him that the colonel had a
number OF letters from her which she
was DESTROYS should be returned. The
colonel had declined to give them up.
She asked Richmond to get them for
her by hook or by crook. He had
hooked them.
OF course Richmond received his re-