The Maine bugle ... campaign; 1-5 Jan. 1894-Oct. 1898 - Maine.gov

278 'THE MAINE BUGLE.
you go in there they will put me in the guard-house, and that's
a d d sight worse than being in Congress.'
Many of these colonels, it must be admitted, however, pre-
ferred the glories of the field to talking in Congress, and finding
after a short experience that it was difficult to drill a regiment
before going into action, and dangerous to lead it into battle,
got Mr. Lincoln to make them brigadier-generals so they could
remain in the rear of the line of battle, the tactical place for
generals. It was this sort of thing which added so much to the
General population of Washington city, and gave, point to
Artemus Ward's wicked joke about shying a stick at a stray
dog and hitting a general.
But after a while the politicians disappeared and the fighting
colonels came to the front in all senses of the word. As a rule,
however, they did not stay there long, for a gallant colonel who
desires to show his men how to fight, is very apt to pay the pen-
alty and get knocked over. Many fell never to rise again.
Many others were maimed for life, and had to retire from active
service, or be promoted for gallantry, giving place to other
brave fellows who had in the meantime shown not only their
ability but their eagerness to lead American soldiers in battle.
These vacancies continued to be made during the war, the
places being filled by the brave and the meritorious, so that our
two th