Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 24 January 1884 — An Energetic Officer. [ARTICLE]

An Energetic Officer.

Gen. Warren was the officer in command of our troops at this time. He was rather strict in his ways; the boys at first thought more so than necessary. When we came into the town it had been hastily deserted by many of its inhabitants. They supposed that their former activity in behalf of the Confederacy would subject them to arrest and punishment. Stores were abandoned with goods in them. Some of the boys would insist upon looking them through. Geri. W’arren had properly given strict orders against their doing so. One evening, as he was walking along the street, he found some of the lawless soldiers who had found a way through a back window into one of the deserted stores, and were taking a look at the tobacco and other like goods. Instead of haying them arrested Gen. Warren dismissed them in his own prompt and energetic way. One of them was the eccentric Weed, of Company A. He was always sure to be caught, if any one was. Weed soon returned to our company quarters. He had been suddenly converted. Gen. Warren was now his ideal of a thorough soldier. He rushed into the company quarters wild with enthusiasm—“l tell you, boys,” he exclaimed, “Gen. Warren is just one of the staving best officers we ever had! He means business! He is the kind of officer we want!” Such unexpected commendation for Gen. Warren brought all the boys around him, asking for explanation. Weed explained: “I just now saw the General catch some of the boys who had broke into a store and were stealing the tobacco and sugar. He did not fool about it a bit. He caught one fellow and kicked him lively—kicked him clear into the middle of the street. I tell you, boys, he is a splendid officer! He is a staving fellow! He is the boss!” As soon__asL this eloquent praise could be broken into, the boys asked: “Weed, who was it that got the kicking?” With increased enthusiasm Weed answered: “Oh, I tell you, boys, Gen. Warren is a staving fellow—a good officer—chock full of energy! I—got the—kicking.” And it was true. Weed in his awkward way had stumbled in after some of the other soldiers; they had skipped lively out of sight, and Weed, the most innocent one of the crowd, was left to be caught and booted into the middle of the street by the angry and energetic Fitz Henry Warren.— “ Army Life,” by A. O. Marshall.