He Got Left

[Cdoug96]

From the Regimental History of the 9th New York Heavy Artillery by Alfred S. Roe

He Got Left. — The boys of the old 138th will remember that
Company — had a fine-looking lieutenant; his mustache was
coal black, and he took with the ladies, and although he was
a married man, he delighted in a little flirtation with the girls
when the opportunity presented itself. On the trip to New
York after leaving Auburn on the way to Washington, the
train stopped at Schenectady. The girls as usual flocked to
the station to see the soldiers, and the dashing lieutenant lost
no time in getting up a flirtation. So absorbed was he with the
fair ones, he did not hear the warning whistle, or the "all
aboard" of the conductor, and the consequence was the train
pulled out without him, and he did not catch us till we got to
New York city. The boys took in the situation, said nothing,
but waited for the proper time to come. Now the lieutenant
was an expert drill-master, one of the very best in the regiment,
and he delighted in drilling; he was ambitious to put Company
F at the head, as one of the best drilled companies. He would
march backward before the company with the hilt of his sword
in his right and the point in his left hand, and as his left foot
would come to the ground he would call out "Left, left, left,"
when one of the mischievous boys who had become weary,
answered back "At Schenectady." The drill for the time being
was suspended, and never more did the lieutenant call out
"Left, left," but after that day he was very careful to keep the
cadence of the step by calling out "Hep, hep, hep."


(Note: I believe I have identified the LT., but I will not post his name here).