Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 14, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 April 1893 — Lenient Discipline. [ARTICLE]

Lenient Discipline.

•Skulking and misbehavior la action were treated severely by all worthy commanding officers, ” says Captain C. A. Stevens, historian of his company, “but disobedience of orders of an unimportant or trivial nature, where the comfort of the soldier was concerned, was sometimes treated leniently.” Two instances are cited. On one of the long marohes where rations were scarce, a man in Company A stole a chicken, notwithstanding the general orders against foraging. Not knowing when he would have a chance to cook it, he put it alive in his haversack. The chicken peeped loudly, qnd as the soldier was near the head of the regiment Colonel Berdan could not well pretend that he did not hear it The soldier was put in the guard-house, and at court-martial the next day the Coldnel asked why he was under arrest. . I “For stealing a chlokeu,” replied thd soldier. “Are you sure?" asked the Colonel. “Yes,' responded the man. meekly. “Keep him under guard at the rear of the regiment, * ordered the Colonel. A day or go later the soldier was again questioned and gave the sane answer. For the third time he was questioned, and becoming more outspoken because of his long humiliation, ho ohanged his answer. “For not having cut the chicken’s head off, ” he said. | “Go to your company.!’’ said the | Colonel. No more chickens were car- ' ried alive in haversacks. On another occasion, when the regiment camped for the night there was no wood for lire to boll the coffee, so that, i despite orders to the contrary, the men wore compelled to take fonoe-ralla. One ; of the men, in order to save time, made a short cut. which took him in front of the Colonel’s tent. He was at onoe brought to a halt, and then and there made to rnaroh in front of the tent for a half hour with the rail across his back. The Colonel then stopped him and asked him If he know for what ho had been punished. “Oh, yes! because 1 did not go behind j your tent," was hts prompt reply, | “Go to your company!" said the 1 Colonel. The soldier was well laughed at by his comrades, and the o!d proverb was made olear to him that "the longest; way round is the shortest way home."