Beadle's Dime Novels No. 119: Blackeyes — page 11: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

4 ledge of woodcraft are valuable to the border sol - Aside from the provision which he procures, and the practice BENT GETS A LECTURE. 13 they are unable to resist? If I did not know that your re- marks were dictated only by your own presumptuous folly, I should regard them as a personal insult,” . “T had no thought, sir, of referring to you, or of saying any thing that could possibly be considered offensive, for I re- spect you as my commander, and there is no one whom I esteem more highly as an officer and a gentleman, than your- self. I was merely proceeding to iliustrate the position that I had taken, with regard to the employment of irregular troops in an. irregular warefare.” ©” “ Enough, sir; I wish to hear no more of your new-fangled ideas, and boyish arguments. <A pretty pass we have come to, when a young lieutenant, who has never seen a battle, pre- Sumes to instruct a veteran of nearly forty years’ service, and to reflect upon his ability to command, It was my own fault, however, and I have no one to blame but myself, for I ought not to have encouraged you to step beyond your position and the line of your duty to make a display of your ignorance and presumption. I wish you to understand, Lieutenant Bent, that the flanks and rear of my command are well guarded, and that I also have a strong force of secuts in the advance; not, however, for the purpose of defense against the Indian rubble, but to feel the way, and to find the sneaking scoundrels if possible. There is no ground, therefore, for your puerile fears that I may be drawn into an ambush. I wish you further to understand that I consider that your conduct, since you joined this expeditionary force, has been prejudicial to good order and the discipline which should prevail in the army. You have encouraged the men in hunting and other irregular habits, and have permitted them to. stray from their camps and Commands for the. purpose of engaging in such pursuits, You have thus caused a laxity of discipline which, ean: no longer be tolerated.” a “Do you not believe, sir, that skill in hunting, and a Which enables him to subsist without a commissiarat, the hunter learns to charge lis weapon coolly and to fire with pre- cision, track his cnemy, and to know the wiles and maneuvers of the Indians.” comichooks. com.