What an Oversight

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 39, 23 December 1893, Page 14

What an Oversight

AN AMERICAN WAR EPISODE

After the battle of Stone River, fought in the spring of 1863, General Rosencrans, commander of the Union forces, established a series of fortified camps, which, were connected with each other by telegraphic wires and also by a daily patrol of cavalry. The intervening thoroughfares were kept open by Union troops. The General had his headquarters at Murfreesboro, and one of the divisions was stationed at a place called Franklin. One morning a sergeant of the picket came toward the headquarters of the Franklin division, followed by a youthful officer in infantry uniform mounted on a big bay horse. Evidently the officer had been met on the picket line, and the seargeant, doubting the validity of his pass, was taking him'to the commanding officer’s tent for further orders. Halting there, the sergeant said to the orderly pacing before it: “ Tell the commandant I would like to speak to him.” The commandant appeared, and the sergeant said — “ This officer came up the pike, and Avas halted at an outpost near the railroad. He has a pass, and I brought him to headquarters.” “ Perfectly right, sergeant. Return to your post, I will attend to this.” By this time the young officer had alighted, stood at attention, saluted, and then offered his pass, saying at the same time with a smile : “ I am gdad to find your men on the alert. General Rosencrans has sent me out on an inspection tour, and he desired me in particular to note the dicipline and condition of the guards. I must certainly report you as AA T ide-awake at Franklin.” The General glanced at the pass, and then said, “ Ah, I see, you are Major White. I am glad to know you” “ That’s a splendid horse, too, for a dough-boy officer to ride,” said Mike, the orderly, as he seized the bridle. “ What do you Avish to see first, asked the commandant. “ Well,” said the Major, easily, “let us look at the works. I preceive already that you have made this quite a strong point.’’ “ Yes,” Avas the reply, “I have a West Point engineer Avith the 16th Regular Infantry, and he has laid out a series of defences which Avonld please Tristram Shandy’s Uncle Toby. “ I see,” said the Major, “ and most of the escarpments are open and smooth enough to be charged by cavalry, let alone infantry. What is your meaning in that ?” The commandant laughed in a selfsatisfied manner, and said : “I Avould like to see Forrest and all his ragamuffins charge them at once. Do you see these returns on the right and left there ? Well, Ave have six twelve-pounders in embrasures to rake the whole escarpment.” “ So, so !” said the Major, taking his notebook, and making a diagram of the situation. “ That is excellent. The General Avill much admire it, I am sure.” The commandant Avas pleased. Then the commandant and his visitor Avent from point to point, and and everything Avas duly admired — and duly noted. Returning - to the commandant’s quarters, Major White and a number of officers Avere entertained at dinner. Plates Avere promptly changed, glasses duly rinsed and then Mike stood at attention in the corner of the tent, AA'here the SAvords Avhieh the officers had laid aside Avere standing. While wit and the black bottle passed around Mike handled the swords Avith a light touch. He took up Major White’s. It Avas a nice silver-mounted affair. Mike laid it softly back among the rest and stepped out of the door. He A\ r as gone about ten minutes, and Avas not missed. The attention of the gx-oup at table was attracted shortly after Mike retuimed by the tx-amp of a squadjof soldiers, and by the cries

which halted them at the door of the tent. “ Halt! Order arms ! Rest !” “What is that, Mike P ” said the commandant, sharply. Mike hesitated and turned very red. Then he slowly took up Major White’s sword, held it under the General’s eye, and pointing' to an inscription cut beneath the hilt, said, “ Read that, sor.” The commandant read slowly, but so that all could hear, ‘ Colonel James Peyton, First Tennessee Infantry, C. S. A.’” Major White sprang to his feet, but a dozen muskets covered him, from the lifted flap of the tent-door.. Then he coolly thrust his hands info his trousers’ pockets and said: “ What an oversight!” “ Give me that diagram and your papers,” said his entertainer. Major White took out his papers and ilaid them on the table. Then he asked leave to write some personal letters. This was granted. Meanwhile two dispatches went over the ■ wires instantly. One was in these words spy. Had on Union uniform. HadL made diagram of works. How shall we dispose of him ?” This was the answer —“ Convene drumhead courtmartial. If guilty,, act instantly according to law,” When the relief brigade marched into Franklin next morning, they saw near the station a temporary g’allows and a newly-made grave. They related to what was only an incident in the great Rebellion. He was young and brave and noble, and he would have been successful but for a little? oversight.—Condensed from the New York Tribune.