Year: 1870

1t was during the earlier days of the Army


Of the Potomac-if mistake not shortly


after Mcclellan had sat down to the siege Of


Yorktown-and before that army had receiv-


ed that baptism of fire and blood, and had


gained that terrible discipline in the soldiers
duty, which the campaigns Of the next three


years brought it, that one of its infantry
regiments openly mutnied. OF course, that
regiment was not without its grievance:
even the worst Of soldiers (and these We're


by no means such) never undertake to revolt


against discipline aud to defy orders without
cause for complaint. The regiment in queS-
ton, although less than six months under


arms, and never yet under fire, had perform
cd difficult and arduous service. Both be-


fore Yorktown and elswhere, these men had
patiently and faithfully done their part they


had marched through long nights over
muddy roads, when sleep overlook them in
the ranks while they wcarily ploddea on
they had bivouacked on the cold ground
shelterlesS and without fire; and they had
unmurmuringly laid aside the musket and


toiled in the trenches under soaking rains


Y ct all this time they had not received 4 cent
Of pay; and clothing was scantiy and tarlily


furnished them.


Why ii was, | never exactly learned; but
those who were in the volunteer service can
readily understand how careless and incom-
petent officers may cause such in Justice rs
this to brave and deserving men. For
months they had submitted to this cruel
neglect, while the other regiments of the
brigade had been paid and clad with com
parative promptness and the respectful
representations they had from time to time
forwarded to their regimental commander
had produced no results At first loud and
bitter complaints were heard from them
then, as time passed and their condition was
not bettered, silence succeeded which the
officers should have seen was ominous of a
desperate purpose That purpose was
reached without the knowledge of an officer
or an orderly sergeant; excepting these, it
had the assent Of every man present with the
regiment. NIutiny was their determination
and the ringleaders waited few days for an
occasion to make their action perfectly cf-
fectual


The occasion came; just the one that had
been anticipated and desired. The regiment
was not at the time on duty in the trenches
its labors had entitled it to a rest, and it had
been drawn back to an open spot some dis
t;tnce from the line of the brigade. 1t lay in
the prescribed form of infantry encampment
CANVASS village with ten streets, each
bounded by row of tents on either side,
and the parade ground directly in front
Dress parade had been held for several
evenings; and on that preceding the morning
of the mutiny, the arms were left stacked in
regimental line, with a guard over them.
This was probably in obedience to general
orders to the whole command, and intended
as a precaution to insure readiness in case of
a sally by the enemy. After the retreat had
sounded that night, the order was commune |
Gated to each company that the arms were
to be taken after reveille roll-call the follow


ing morning; and in the silence of the night |
other orders We're secretly communicated to
the men by the ringleaders, and the 1lutny
was ripe.


The night passed, and with the gray dawn
the shrek and rattle of revelle resounded
successfully from the camps of u hundred |
regiments, and the drum-corps of this one
speedily aroused it from sumber. The
officers, hardly awake, heard the confusion
the buzzing and hummng caused by the
calling of the names of Brown, Jones and
Robinson, and the rest, by the Orderles and
then the mingled command from ten throats:


''Take arms!"


A pause, a silence followed then angry
and vehement eXpostulation but no rattle
or crash such as the taking OF arms from the
stack causes The command was repeated
and reiterated, with more eXpostulation
and next the commandant of each company
was visited ny Inc NeNeu, scared llce OF ms
sergeant, and the startling information that
the company would not take arms. Some of
the officers received the intelligence with
some gave vent to their vexa-
ton, and uniustly npbraided the poor order
lies; but all finally put on their swords and
repaired to the scene of mutiny, with sub
stantially the same remark ''We'll see if
they won't take arms for nae''


They did see and they quickly assured
themselves that the men would not put forth
a hand in obedience to this particular order.


Attention y shouted the captain of the
first company; and every man promptly
came to position.


''Take-armsn y Not n hand stirred.


"Right-iace!' - The command was in
stantly obeyed.


Front" The company came back to
line with beautiful precision.