The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-07-30

Nj
When the civil war came on two
classes Of men IN the north went out
70 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 d few
months. as many at FIRST expected. fur.
nishing military titles ana big pay for
this last named class. proved a gigan-
tic, bloody struggle. and With each
night the army was ia need Of these
50 called soldiers.
Colonel Jim G. In 1862 commanded
the brigade In which served. The
colonel had been a politician in large
city and was one Of the FIRST 10 'ofer
himself sacrifice 10 the Uulon.r 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 'perquisitesp by the
way, then run for fat Office. He was
"a nne looking man and prided him.
self on being n lady killer.
No sooner were the troops grouped
into brigades and divisions than Colo.
mel Jim by virtue Of the date or his
3 commission was placed in command OF
brigade AS soon as this elevation
took place he looked about him for a
stan. Being allowed two aids. be
Z chose Louis Richmond ana me, both
second lieutenants Richmond told me
that he didn't like the colonel ana was
intending TO ask to be returned to bis
regiment But no sooner had he told
me this than on receipt OF a letter
from the north he said that he would
remain on the staff asked him why
he had so suddenly changed his views.
but he shut up like an oyster and re.
fused TO utter q word ia explanation.
II was not long after this that one
morning at the breakfast table the
colonePs brow was very lowering
Gentlemen" he said there's a
thief on my staT Inst night while /
was at Colonel Rs headquarters he
had been playing poker-"my trunk
was ri1ed Of package OF papers"
As he spoke he looked az all our
faces TO note the effect Of his words.
noticed that Richmond was the only
one OF the star whose looks indicated
consciousness.
Might not the thief be one Of the
headquarters guard or an orderly p
suggested the commissary.
NO" replied the colonel. 1.-THE rob-
berry was not committed for gain
There was money in the trunk. and 1t
was not taken. Some one on my STAFF
took the papers for a purpose. If /
can prove it on him III have him court
martialod"
The coloners eyes were fixed intent.
~ on Richmond as he spoke But Rich
mond went on eating his breakfast
with a fair amount Of equanimity con
sidering that be was virtually accused
Of being a thief. Nevertheless during
the day lie made application to Colonel
Jim to be returned TO his regiment.
Now. the relations between gen
eFal and his personal staff are Of
s peculiarly intimate and confidential
character. The general may nominate
hh own stair. and the nomination is
considered an honor. But he is not
likely to retain al 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 his aid had
stolen his papers and proposed to force
him TO stay where he was until he
could recover them
Since Richmond made no denial Of
being guilty Of the coionel's charge we
treated him with coolness and finally
refused to speak to him except OH
cially. Though the young man WINGED
under this. he seemed 70 be sustained
by 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 70
permit him TO Join his regiment which
seemed to be the only way to get rid
OF 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 obloquy 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 hts 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
nccept this excuse and called for
Colonel inns resignation. II was
handed iii. and the political general
disappeared from the service.
Colonel Jim's relegation 70 ward pol
itics relegated Richmond aud myself to
our respective regiments. Soon after
the fight he asked me TO come to his
quarters. There he made an explana-
ton Of the conditions existing between
him and bis commander A lady had
written him that the colonel had
80. ,e inttnrn f,n,A1 hnr rrhlch She