Garrison Commander, Captain Charles Leib!

A Short Story

Captain Charles Leib

Captain Leib took a seat in the outer office and waited for Lieutenant Goff to summons him into the office of the Clarksburg Garrison commander, Colonel Stanley

“Ah, Good morning Captain Leib. Thank you for coming to my office so quickly. I’m sorry to have interrupted your morning routine. Lieutenant Goff, have an orderly bring us coffee!

Captain Leib, I’ve been called to a conference with General Rosecrans headquarters in the field near Buckhannon to discuss the deployment of my regiment and our departure from Clarksburg. I also understand that the General is anxious to deploy the Third Virginia (Union) as soon as they are fully mustered into the US Army. As a result, Sir, you will be the ranking officer in the Garrison, and Sir, I am having my Adjutant prepare an order appointing you as the Acting Garrison Commander in my absence. You will have all of the authority of that office and in that capacity responsibility not only for your current operations as the Assistant Quartermaster General but also for the care and safety of the Garrison itself. I know that you are up to assuming these additional responsibilities and I can assure you, Sir, that this will only be a temporary assignment until I can return.”

“Sir, thank you for this honor. I can assure you that I will faithfully execute my responsibilities to their fullest. I can assume, Sir, that I should report to the headquarters tomorrow morning promptly at 7 o’clock in the morning to supervise the morning guard mount and debrief the outgoing guard.”

“Yes, Captain, be prompt. I shall be departing a short time later.”

After his meeting with Colonel Stanley, Captain Leib walked back to the Quartermaster’s office. As he walked, he considered what he observed of his new ‘command’. He passed what he saw as dilapidated old buildings propped up by large beams to keep them from falling to the ground. He wondered how people could live in these squalid conditions. He thought that the small houses were old and rickety and wondered why they hadn’t been properly repaired by their residents. The bridges over Elk Creek were old and looked like they would collapse under the weight of a heavily laden wagon. He saw soldiers loitering around the town, fishing, and he heard the sound of soldiers splashing and swimming up the creek at Mr. Staley’s tannery pond. “Where is the military discipline and organization,” he thought. Since I’ll be in command that will all change in the morning!

The following morning Captain Charles Leib, the new acting Garrison Commander, was sitting at his desk waiting for his Sergeant Major and Adjutant Goff to arrive. He had a brief encounter with the Officer of the Day, Captain Sullivan, and asked about any events of the past twenty-four hours.

“Captain Leib, it was another quiet evening. When I made my rounds at 4 o’clock this morning all was quiet. The guards were on duty and their corporal attended with me to locate all of the posts. Post number four along the Phillippi Pike had stopped two gentlemen trying to enter the town. When they were questioned, they had the appropriate passes indicating that they had sworn the oath of allegiance and that they were carrying supplies from their farm to the quartermasters. They were allowed to pass. Captain Johnson of the 28th Ohio is my relief, Sir, and the new guard will be mounted at 7 o’clock and will relieve the previous guard. You and I and Captain Johnson will inspect the new guard and you and Captain Johnson will inspect the guard coming off duty.

“Thank you, Captain, for your report.”

A few minutes later Lieutenant Goff arrived in the office. He was closely followed by Sergeant Major Smithers and the duty sergeant.

“Lieutenant Goff, what are our orders for the day?”

“Sir, you will need to publish the signs and countersigns for the day and establish any other orders that you wish to establish.”

“Nathan, first I want to establish the daily schedule. I want you to ensure that the Daily Morning Reports from the remaining regiments and detached units are accurate and turned into this headquarters not later than 10 o’clock. You Sir, will verify the numbers and prepare the Daily Garrison Morning Report for transmission to higher headquarters.

The new guard is to be posted and they will present themselves for inspection not later than 8 o’clock. Any soldier or non-commissioned officer who is late will be brought up on charges. The Officer of the Guard and the Officer of the Day will personally inspect each soldier and insure that they are properly armed and that they have been provided rations for their twenty-four hours of duty. Also I insist that the oncoming guard be reminded that they are not to fire their weapons unless it’s for a strict military reason in defending their post.

I was dissatisfied with the number of men that I found yesterday outside of their camps without proper authority. In the future all men will be confined to their camps unless they are on approved duties and supervised by a non-commissioned officer or one of their lieutenants. Company Commanders are required to issue orders for such activities. Any soldier found outside their camp without proper authorization will be put on report.

Sergeant Major, you, and the Officer of the Day will inspect each of the camps daily and insure that the camps are clean and that garbage is collected and disposed of properly. The Officer of the Day will consume at least three meals a day in the regimental camps; breakfast lunch and dinner from a different mess daily and report the efficacy of the food that’s being provided to the soldiers of this command.

Lieutenant remind all of the unit commanders that weapons will not be fired indiscriminately within the garrison area and that all guards are required to turn in all of their unused ammunition to the company ordnance sergeant when they return from their duties. We’ve had too many incidents of soldiers being killed or wounded accidently when a weapon is accidently discharged inside a tent or a building. When the guard detail reports for relief each guard will be inspected, and they will fire their weapon in the air to ensure that it’s properly unloaded. Any guard whose weapon fires because it’s improperly unloaded will be put on report.

Nathan, each unit is required to post its drill schedule in its daily Orders Book and that drill will be inspected by the Sergeant Major or the Officer of the Day during their routine inspections.

As of today all passes for civilians to enter or leave the city environs for any reason must be personally signed by myself. Anyone who wishes to have a pass must attest that they have sworn the oath of allegiance prior to being issued a pass. I will sign passes from 9 o’clock to 10 o’clock in the morning and from 2 o’clock and 3 o’clock in the afternoon. All guards are to ensure that my signature and no other is on any pass into or out of the city. Is that understood?”

“Sir, what are the signs and countersigns for today?”

“Nathan today’s parole is MCCLELLAN. The countersign will be CLARKSBURG and today’s picket recognition is VIRGINIA.”

“Thank you, Sir, are there any further orders?”

“Not at this time Lieutenant!”

Captain Leib returned to the Garrison Commander’s office and reviewed the previous day’s Morning Reports. He found a wide variety of discrepancies in the reporting and decided that he should conduct an Adjutant’s Call and review the reporting requirements. As the Assistant Quartermaster General, he was familiar with the reporting requirements of his section and as a result, unlike Colonel Stanley, he quickly identified some of the common errors in reporting. He quickly determined that one of the companies in the garrison area had double counted soldiers who were assigned to guard duty and undercounted the number of horses that were assigned to the company. When he tabulated the final reports, he found that there were perhaps 250 men who were unaccounted for on the Morning Report and that the number of horses was overestimated. These errors could seriously affect the garrison’s supply and commissary requirements as reported to higher headquarters.

“Nathan, at 11 o’clock this morning have the bugler sound Adjutant’s call and I want you to go over the reporting requirements for the Morning Report and I want these reports to accurately reflect the exact numbers of men and animals assigned to each company and to each regiment. We cannot efficiently manage this large of a garrison without proper numbers!”

“Yes, Sir! I’ll have Bugler Walters sound the call at 10:30 o’clock and insure that each of the company and regimental Adjutants are present for your instruction!”

A group of grumbling men were waiting outside the Northwestern Academy beginning at 8 o’clock. They were clamoring for admission to get the pass needed to leave the garrison environs to conduct business elsewhere or to travel to locations outside the perimeter.

“What do you mean! We have to wait until 9 o’clock! We’ve got business to attend to!” yelled one man to Adjutant Goff who was barring the door.

“Sir,” replied Goff, “the captain will authorize passes at 9 o’clock. He has official government business to conduct.”

“I don’t give a damn about his government business! I’ve got my own business to conduct, and I can’t dilly dally around waiting for his pompous eminence to see me. I need to go NOW!”

“Sir, I’m sorry. I’m following my orders!”

“Your god damn, orders! You young whippersnapper, I know that you’re Nathan’s son and he and I’ve been friends for years. He wouldn’t ever question my business dealing. Who the hell does this ass think he is!”

“Sir, he’s the Garrison Commander and he’s the only individual who has the ability to issue you a pass. Without it you cannot pass out of the area. I’ll admit you as soon as the clock strikes the appropriate hour! As to my father, I’ll tell him Hello from you and that you mentioned his name in passing.”

When the clock struck 9 o’clock Adjutant Goff escorted the pass seekers into the captains office one at a time.

“Sir,” asked Captain Leib, “what is the nature of your business outside of the perimeter? I see you are driving a team to Jane Lew to deliver supplies there. To whom are you delivering these goods to and what is the nature of these goods? Ah, I see, farming materials for the local feed store. And, Sir, when do you expect to return? OK so you will spend the night and return tomorrow morning and pass through our lines at approximately what hour? A final question Sir, on your honor as a gentleman have you taken the oath of allegiance? You have. Excellent. Adjutant Goff prepare the pass for my signature.”

This went on for about an hour until the last merchant or tradesman was issued a pass. At 2 o’clock the process continued until the pass office was closed.

There was a lot of grumbling. The process was taking too long. They were being asked too many personal questions and the requirement to swear that they had taken the oath of allegiance or were required to swear to their allegiance prior to a pass being issued grated on many. The fact that if they, on their honor, hadn’t already taken the oath were required to swear the oath prior to being issued a pass was humiliating! The previous Garrison Commander’s hadn’t required any of this information; many felt that publicly swearing the oath was insulting!

Over the next week the process of gaining a pass became routine and the process went faster each day as the pass seekers understood what questions that they would be asked and were prepared with a quick answer. In some cases, new requestors would see the Adjutant and swear the oath prior to entering the building. On a number of occasions Lieutenant Goff would conduct swearing in ceremonies outside the office in the entryway to speed up the process.

As Captain Leib made if way throughout the camps in the garrison area, he noted a significant improvement in the cleanliness of the camps and the Officer of the Day was reporting that he had noticed a significant improvement in the standards and quality of the food being provided to the soldiers in their mess. The Sergeant Major reported fewer and fewer instances where soldiers were found outside of their encampments without proper authorization.

Leib was asked to authorize Boards of Survey during his tenure as the Commandant. Colonel Runion asked for a board to declare some horses and mules as no longer being fit for service. He appointed one of the regimental captains to serve as the president of the board and two lieutenants from different regiments to serve on the board to survey the animals and confer with the Veterinarian or one of the farriers about the conditions of the animals. Once the survey was complete the president would report to Captain Leib and he would determine the method of disposal; sale, rest, or putting the animal down.

Daily he would sign orders to the acting Quartermaster to provide transportation on the railroad for soldiers to travel at government expense. In some cases, if the officer or soldier was on furlough he would authorize transportation and order the soldiers regiment to ‘dock’ their pay to reimburse the cost of their travel.

By the end of the first week Captain Leib felt comfortable in his duties.

On Monday Lieutenant Goff caught him right after the mounting of the new guard.

“Sir, Mr. Eli Marsh is here, in advance, and he demands to see you immediately and get you to issue him a pass. Mr. Marsh is a prominent man in the community and…”

Marsh burst into the Commandant’s office passing by the guards and demanded to see the Commandant immediately!

“Are you the one in charge!” Marsh demanded!

“Yes, Sir, I am and you will have to wait your turn. Others are also here to receive a pass, and you Sir, must wait in line like the rest!”

“I’ll have none of that, Captain Leib. I’m Eli Marsh and you can immediately contact Colonel Hewes, and he’ll vouch for me. I’ve never had to wait for a pass to enter or leave and I’ll not do so now!”

“Sir, I’ll have my Adjutant remove you forcibly if need be. You, Sir will wait like everyone else in this town. If Colonel Hewes is such a good friend of yours, you should know that he’s currently indisposed and at the front with General Rosecrans; ergo he can’t vouch for you. Now Sir if you will kindly leave my office and wait your turn!”

A grumbling and cursing Eli Marsh was escorted out of the old Academy building by Lieutenant Goff. Marsh sat in his carriage and cursed the Army, cursed the Garrison, and finally directed his most vile curses towards Captain Leib. His commotion was heard throughout the Academy grounds.

When Eli March was finally admitted to the Commandant’s office, he demanded that Captain Leib grant him an open pass so that he wouldn’t have to go through this aggravating process again. He told Leib that he had to leave town and visit one of his plantations and check up on a daughter who was ill.

“Sir,” stated Captain Leib,” I don’t issue an open pass. Each pass is good for the day it’s issued. You may return on the issued pass, but to leave town you will need to obtain a new pass explaining where you will be traveling, why you are venturing outside the garrison area and when you will return. On your honor as a gentleman, have you sworn the Oath of Allegiance?”

“Swear to that accursed oath! Never. I’m an outstanding and honorable citizen of this state and I don’t need to swear an oath of any sort. Again, my good man, my friend Colonel Hewes has never questioned my loyalty. Now, Sir, I must have this pass issued immediately, I’ve got ill family members to care for!”

“Very good Mr. Marsh, I’ll gladly accommodate you, once you’ve sworn the oath.

“Never, Sir! As a gentleman I refuse to swear any form of oath.”

“Then Sir, we are at an impasse. Until such time as you satisfy the requirements for a pass you shall not be allowed to leave the town. If you do so without a pass I will send a guard after you and place you under arrest.”

As Eli Marsh was being led out of the headquarters Captain Leib, as well as others could hear the older man cursing and screaming as a guard unceremoniously escorted him from the building.

One man stated just loud enough for most to hear him, “I don’t particularly like this Lieb fellow, but it’s good to see that pompous ass Marsh put into his proper place. These FFVs (First Family of Virginia) need to understand that there is a new nobility structure here now and he’s no longer on the top of the pole!” With that there was a hearty laugh that went through the crowd of pass seekers.

Marsh stayed in town until Captain Leib was relieved of his position as the Garrison Commander and he returned to his duties as the Quartermaster. Marsh’s friend Colonel Hewes finally intervened with Colonel Stanley and Stanley provided him a pass without Marsh’s acceptance of the requirement to take the oath of allegiance to the United States government.

But there was a new, stark understanding that the old order, those men who felt that they were superior, were no longer in charge of the fate of the town and the county. They no longer made the rules; they now had to follow the rules of the federal government as prescribed by the US Army. It was a new day in western Virginia, and the old order was about ready to crash and be replaced.

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The Advisor Series:

• “The Advisor, Kien Bing, South Vietnam, 1969-1970. A Novel” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B09L4X5NQ3)
• “The Province Senior Intelligence Advisor, Kien Song Province 1970-1971; A Novel” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B0BHL2XCX5)
• “The Hardchargers,” Vietnam 1972-1973; A Novel” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B0C7SPR1JY)
• “The Tuscarora Trail” (Available on Amazon ASIN: B0D3QY2GM6)

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