wrong, had been done, and I must either stand by
it now or abandon all hope of controlling the regiment hereafter. I
watched the mob, unobserved by it, from an opening in my tent door. Saw
it gather, consult, advance, and could hear the boisterous and
threatening language very plainly. Buckling my pistol belt under my coat
where it could not be seen, I stepped out just as the leaders advanced
to the tree for the purpose of releasing the man. I asked them very
quietly what they proposed to do. Then I explained to them how the
soldier had violated orders, which I was bound by my oath to enforce;
how, when I undertook to remonstrate kindly against such unsoldierly
conduct, he had insulted and defied me. Then I continued as calmly as I
ever spoke, "I understand you have come here to untie him; let the man
who desires to undertake the work begin--if there be a dozen men here
who have it in their minds to do this thing--let them step forward--I
dare them to do it." They saw before them a quiet, plain man who was
ready to die if need be; they could not doubt his honesty of purpose. He
gave them time to act and answer, they stood irresolute and silent; with
a wave of the hand he bade them go to their quarters, and they went.

General Mitchell hearing of my trouble sent for me. I explained to him
the difficulties under which I was laboring; told him what I had done
and why I had done it. He said he understood my position fully, that I
must go ahead, do my duty and he would stand by me, and, if necessary,
sustain me with his whole division. I replied that I needed no
assistance; that the officers, with but few exceptions, were my friends,
and that I believed there were enough good, sensible soldiers in the
regiment to see me through. He talked very kindly to me; but I feel
greatly discouraged. The Colonel has practically abandoned the regiment
in this period of bad weather, when rigorous discipline is to be
enforced, and the boys seem to feel that I am taking advantage of his
absence to display my authority, and require from them the performance
of hard and unnecessary tasks. Many non-commissioned officers have been
reduced to the ranks by court-martial for being absent without leave,
and many privates have been punished in various ways for the same
reason. It was my duty to approve or disapprove the finding of the
court. Disapproval in the majority of cases would have been subversive
of all discipline. Approval has brought down u