Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1912-05-02
KEPT THE PIPE ALIGHT
SOLDIERS ONLY THOUGHT WAS
OBEDIENCE TO ORDERS.
Incident That Is Typical of the Devo-
ton Field Marshal Butcher In
spired Among Men Who Fol-
lowed Him to Victory.

Old Field Marshal Butcher was par
ticularly fond of three things-a glass
Of wine, g game of cards and a pipe OF
tobacco. With the two former he was
frequently obliged to dispense, but he
could not and would not do without
the latter, nor could he help indulg-
| ing in smoking If it were ever so lit
tie, before he undertook anything seri-
Gus. a few puffs at the spur of the
moment would satisfy him, but to DO
without them at all was a matter of
impossibility. For this purpose he
had appointed as his pipebearer one
OF his boys" las he used to call his
hussars a fellow countrynan from Bo-
Standardization Hennemann - who
had charge of a large box of common
long Dutch clay pipes, all filed with
tobacco and ready for use at a mo-
ment's notice. This box constituted
the principal item of the marshaTs
field equipage. Hennemann was so de-
voted to his master and his charge
that he would have killed on the spot
anyone who attempted to purloin a
pipe from the box or bring the latter
in danger of breaking some Of the
precious Ito him sacred) contents.
On the morning of the memorable
battle of Waterloo Heunemann had
just handed his master lighted pipe.
when a cannon ball struck the ground
close by, scattering earth and gravel
in all directions and causing the white
charger on which Butcher was mount
ed to spring aside-a maneuver that
| broke the pipe into a thousand pieces
before the owner had time even to lift
| it to his lips.
Just keep a lighted pipe ready for
me; l shall be back in a few moments.
after I have driven away the rascally
French churls." With these words.
! Butcher gave the command, Forward,
boys!" and off he galloped with his
cavalry. Instead however, of a chase
of few minutes, it was a rapid march
Of nearly a whole hot summer day, as
we all know from history.
After the battle was over Butcher
rode back with Wellington to the place
where he first got a glimpse of the
combating armies, and nearing the
spot where Butcher had halted in the
morning they saw to their surprise a
solitary man, his head tied with a
handkerchief, one arm in a sling aPF
calmly smoking a pipe. MIDI
Bonner and blitz!" cried BlucheR
why, that is my Hennemann. Ho
you look. boy; what are you dom
here alone?"
Waiting for your speedy return,7
was the grumbling answer. you have
come at lasti ! have waited for you
here, pipe in mouth, for the whole
long day. This is the last pipe In the
box. The cursed French have shot
away every pipe from my mouth.
Have ripped the flesh from my head
and shattered my arm with their
deuced bullets. 1t is well there is am
end to the battle, or you would have
been too late even for the last pipe
Saying which, he handed to Butcher
the pipe, to enjoy the remaining fumes
Of the weed.
Wellington, who had listened atten-
lively to the conversation, here re-
marked to Butcher: You have just
admired the unfinching loyalty and
bravery Of my Highlanders: what
shall 1 say to this true and devoted
soul?"
But your Highlanders had no pipes
to regale themselves with. From
Spofford's Library of Wit and Humor-