The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1914-08-19
THE NEW
CAPTAIN
By M. QUAD
Copyright, 1914, by Associated Lit
erary Press.

tain by transfer. He was fair hair
ed, blue eyed man, who lacked rugged
ness and sternness. The rough and
rugged men looked the new captain
over and said to each other:
Bah! He's no fighter. They've sent
us man who hasn't the heart to Kill
a sheepp
Later on. when Company III had been
out on the picket lines and had sharp
skirmish with the enemy, there was
strange talk among the men.
"Do you know" whispered the order
" sergeant to the first corporal, "that
they gave us a cussed coward for a
captainY
Hush, hush'' replied the corporal.
az won't hush. / was watching him
in that little scrimmage, and he was as
white as sheet and trembling like a
leaf"
Next day the captain sent for the or
derby sergeant, and the latter had
strong suspicion, but he was greeted
quietly and pleasantly, and the captain
asked few questions before saying:
80. sergeant, you think I'm cow
ard and should be forced to resign|
Sergeant Clay was a BLUM, blunt
man. The captain had asked him a di-
rect question, and, throwing military
etiquette to the dogs, he answered:
"You didn't make no record to be
proud of out there the other day."
81 was very nervous" slowly admit
ted the captain after long pause.
1T was my first time under fire. /
wasn't afraid of being killed, that can
remember, but the excitement upset
me. Suppose you and the boys wait
bit before you send me request to
resign. I don't know myself yet, and
you can't fairly call me failure until
we have another turn at 1t. Ii my
nerves fail me in the next crisis you
won't have to demand my resignation.
Are you willing to waltz
Captain the sergeant whispered as
a feeling of awe came TO him. ut amt
for you to ask this or that of us. It's
for me TO say that there'll be no more
talk among the boys and that in our
next fight you'll make record TO be
proud Of.
II had been man to man instead OF
captain to sergeant, and it was still so
when their hands were extended and
clasped.
.sWell?" queried half a dozen ser
geants and corporals as the orderly re-
turned to his quarters.
''well, you hear me now" replied
the man as he looked from one TO the
other. We've done lot Of talking
with our mouths. From this time on
till we've seen our captain prance
about in another scrimmage we are
going to shet right up. The chap as
does any blowing won't be no friend OF
mine"
A week later began the campaign
which ended in the battle Of Antietam.
Fighting Joe" Hooker was leading
the division to which the Third bri-
gade and the Tenth volunteers belong
ed, and as Company Fl pressed for
ward the second sergeant muttered TO
the orderly:
"How's-hows things goin' to be at
the head of the company
Now, don't you worry the shirt off
your back before it's time, Joe Hope!
I'm going to<wait and see, and the rest
of you have got TO do the same. Durn
q man who won't give another man
fair show"
AS the Tenth regiment got the word
the captain of Company II passed swift
" before his line. In the ghostly light
he seemed taller by foot. The men
who peered at him saw that his jaws
were firm and set and his eyes blazing.
'.He means fight" whispered the first
Corporal
Say, he'll lead us into hades and
back muttered the second sergeant
Forward. guide left, moved the
Tenth, and the front line had scarcely
brushed the wet off the cornstalks
when they met with volley 1t was
SO close and deadly that there was con
fusion. The center broke back, the
TANKS halted, and order and discipline
were lost
Attention, Company II! BY the right
flank-march. On the. left into line!
Forward-doube quick-charge bayo-
netsr'
II was the voice of the new captain,
and, like clockwork, the men who were
tumbling over each other fell into line
and plowed their way out Of the huFly
burIy. As they cleared the mob their
muskets came down to the charge, and
with shouts and cheers. they drove
through a line of battle and sent a
thousand men scurrying away through
the mists. As they stood painting, with
dead and wounded under their feet,
the other companies came marching up
TO Join them and to hold the position.
Then the sun blazed up over the Nils
and devoured the mist at a gulp, and
every living man in Company II turn
ed TO look at his captain. His face was
as white as dead mans, but there
was a grim smile Of triumph over II.
and the exultation Of battle was max
ing his blue eyes shine Ike stars.
well. I'll be cussed" whispered the
second sergeant.
BLAST my eyes. II he amt fighter"
sasped the first corporal
The orderly sergeant caught the cap
tain's eve and nodded and brought up
his hand in salute. He received a nod