The Meeker herald. [volume] (Meeker, Colo.) 1885-current, 1916-03-25
AN EPISODE Of
The CIVIL war
Brave Officer Revenges Insult
Of His Superior.

Among the generals Of the civil war
there were those who had received a
military education. those who won
their promotion from 4 natural fitness
for command. and politicians. General
Hunkins belonged to the last class.
In the army formation he was as
signed tie command OF division and
hrst turned his attention to keeping In
due subsection all interiors who might
dim his own iuster by distinguishing
themselves. The man he most dreaded
was young Ublonel Reckling, who had
entered the army from civil life.
Two armies were confronting each
other. HuDkins' division was on the
right. Colonel Reckling's brigade on the
extreme tip. The enemy resolved to
turn the Union right nank and hurled
whole division against Reckling's bril-
gade. Reckling held his position long
enough for Hunkins to send him rein
Of the kind. He watched the fighting
from an eminence and saw the rem
nant Of Reckling's brigade driven like
dust before hurricane. The Union
army fell back to stronger position.
When quiet was restored Hunkins rode
up to Reckling and reprimanded him
for not holding his position. implying
cowardice.
There II little or no redress In the
army against such I'M imputation by
superior oficer. certainly not In face
OF an enemy. Colonel Reckling would
have challenged the man who had in.
suited him. but the day Of dueling had
passed. and a challenge sent to a. SUI
periOr officer would have been consid.
cred mutiny. Nevertheless a duel be-
tween these two officers took place,
and this u how Colonel Reckling man
aged II:
One morning shortly after daylight
he rode up to his commanders head
quarters and, rousing the general, said:
.T think the enemy is meditating All
Important move. II you will ride out
with me to the picket line I'll show you
what I mean"
Hunkins proposed to send his chief
Of stan. but Reckling insisted that he
should see for himself. So the gen.
eral called his escort, and the two on
GERS rode to the picket line.
1--WE must go farther" said Reckling.
II would suggest that the escort re-
main here SO as not to draw the lre."
But said the general. showing ex-
IRENE reluctance to 60 on.
.Generalr exclaimed Reckling In
feigned surprise.
The general dare not refuse with
twenty cavalrymen looking on. He
rode with his Inferior a few hundred
yards to low fence. over which Reck-,
ling jumped his horse. Hunkins. know.
ing the eyes OF the escort were upon
him. dared not refuse to follow. He
was about to protest against this ap-
proach to the enemy's rifles rs unnec-
essary exposure when be noticed curl
on Reckling's lip. He saw the latter's
design. but he must either follow or
lose that respect Of his men which was
necessary to command.
A mimic bullet sang between the
two men, The general ducked. An
other and another. The colonel push
ed on. the general few PAGES behind
him. More struggling shots.
II see no change in the situation"
said the general LET US go back"
mot here" said Reckling: mot here
Farther to their left. think they are
massing a force on our right, just as
they did the other day. They can't get
at us on our left for the river and the
hill. where We have thrown up the
earthworks."
But we are not going to our right
We're going straight toward their right
center"
"We'll turn presently"
'How much farther have we to gof'
asked the general in few moments.
1--WE must ride along In front Of their
line till we reach that wood on our
left"
Putting spurs to his horse. Reckling
started straight toward the enemy's
lines. At the same moment storm of
bullets whistled by the two men. Hun
kins could not stand the test. He
turned and rode back as fast as his
horse could carry him.
| Bravery wins respect even from an
enemy. The Confederates. wondering,
watched Reckling coming. Presently
lie turned and rode slowly along the
front Of their line. Not shot was
fired. It was an eighth of mile to
cover. and as the soldier passed over
the distance and entered the wood a
cheer went up from the Union soldiers
and the Confederates. who were too
admiring to shoot so gallant man.
When the general Joined his escort
he knew that his military career had
ended. But his aptitude for different
Geld saved him in that Geld. He sent
home one Of his henchmen. who wa.
serving on his stan, with instructions
to write up the generals remarkable
service in the army and create de
mand among the people that he return