The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1912-06-24
An Igno1niiniious
Fall
By JAMES r. WINSLOW

north TO volunteer, DuI dIleE eolht
eighteen months had passed enlist
ments fell off, and the government
was obliged to resort to the draft.
Herbert Bradford, young married
man with several very young children
was drafted. He was struggling to
keep the wolf from the door, his wife
was In delicate health, and he had nc
money to pay substitute. His case
| was distressing. Neither he nor his
wife had relative I'm the world on
whom his family could rely for sup.
port while he would be away. The
only person who could be even of do
mestic assistance was Alice Bradford,
girl of twenty, and she bethought
herself what she could do for her
brother and his family in their hour OF
need Had she lived in these times
she might have taken a position on
salary, but that was before women
became companion workers of men.
One morning when Herbert Bradford
was preparing to report to the station
where he was to be enrolled he receiY-
ed a note from one James Harrison
stating that he had been hired to go to
the war as Bradford's substitute. On
the same day young man who gave
his name as above presented himself
for enrolment. Harrison was a rosy
checked boy who looked too young to
be a soldier, but by this time almost
anything was considered good enough
food for powder, and young Harrison
was readily accepted.
At the first fight his regiment was
knocked to pieces by a superior force
of Confederates. While the confusion
was at it's height Harrison found him
self In cornfield so frightened out OF
his wits that he didn't know which
way to run and started in the direc-
ton Of the enemy, He ran into the
color bearer. who was shot down at
the moment of their meeting. and the
Tag, the staff having been shattered.
got entangled about Harrison's neck
and shoulders. The major. who was
vainIy trying to rally the fugitives.
seeing him going with the colors
straight at the Confederates. sang out:
See that brave boy carrying your
colors to victory! II you have a spark
OF manhood left turn and follow him"
The sight of the flag borne in the OPP
posite direction and the majors words
had their effect. The men turned, re-
formed, went after Harrison and re.
covered the ground they had lost
Moreover their work encouraged their
fianking corps and turned defeat into
victory.
Harrison found himself hero. He
had sense enough TO keep his mouth
shut, but he was the most astonished
man In the army. He was summoned
to the colonel's headquarters, where he
was complimented in the highest terms
by his commander and ordered TO as
sumo the duties of his captain. who
had been shot in the fight. Harrison.
while these encomiums and honors
were bestowed upon him, stood with
his eyes bent on the ground, appearing
TO all who saw him marvel of mod.
esty.
His commission arrived in due time, |
and he was the most admired man in
his regiment. But what he was going
to do when the next fight came on he |
didn't know. He hoped that If he were |
again inclined to run away he might 1
again run toward the enemy. But soon |
after his promotion the army went into
winter quarters. and there was no /
more fighting until tie following I
spring
During the winter the major died of
wounds, and the lieutenant colonel T
vent home for sick leave, from
which he did not return. Captain
Harrison became second in command
II the regiment, beardless boy. the
curiosity of the army. No field officer
# his corps was so young and girlish
n appearance. Indeed, 1t was this
emininity that caused every one to
wonder at his bravery.
One day the colonel received an or
Ter TO report to Washington and, de-
iring to show his boy commander to
he magnates there, took Harrison
With him. After introducing the
rave officer to the president, the sec
etary OF war and other great men,
rho looked at him with envy for his
equation for marvellous courage, the
olonel invited lot of them to dine
nth himself and his subordinate. As
Don as the dinner had been finished
le colonel gave an account of the
ght in which his lieutenant colonel
ad distinguished himself, told how
e seized the colors from the man
tho fell against him and. bearing
lem forward, stemmed the current of
lgitives and led them back to vic
Try. The colonel was raising hts
lass to drink to the brave soldier
hen Harrison caught sight of a
ouse running along the Dashboard. |
18th suppressed shrek he jumped
D on to his chair and from thence on
the table.
A few days after this fall from glory '
lice Bradford. who had been long
isslng, reappeared at her home. She l
,ver explained her absence, but the
,pearance Immediately after the
ose of the war of the colonel of the
giment in which Harrison had serv-