Don't call the colonel 'feller'

[welshman15]

From the diary entry of Rutherford B Hayes, March 20, 1862:

Colonel Scammon returned, also Major Comly, to Fayetteville. They send no news and bring no newspapers. Thoughtless fellows! No, I must not call the colonel fellow. He put down a countryman who came in with, “Are you the feller what rents land?” Colonel Scammon: “In the first place I am not a feller; in the second place, take off your hat! and in the third place, I don’t rent land. There is the door”!

Source: http://dotcw.com/rutherford-b-hayes-294/

[Pete K]

Folks need to learn their place!

[reddcorp]

I have often wondered what type of familiarity remained between officers and enlisted, particularly in the militias where officers were generally elected. While the election of one would indicate that the voters respected the man, the voters also knew him "back when." Just curious if anyone had run across any writings that discuss the matter.
A. Redd

[Rob Weaver]

Didn't a sentry in the 20th Maine greet Col Ames with a friendly "How d'you do, colonel?" The regular then proceeded to give the man a heated lesson in military courtesy that ended with "THAT is how you say 'How d'you do' to your colonel!"

[Calum]

'morning,

An excerpt from Wiley Sword's book on Berdan's SharpShooters has this account.

"...get himself into trouble while on guard duty. Sitting on a fence rail, his bayoneted musket thrust into the ground, he summoned an approaching field grade officer from Washington by shouting, "I say! Come over here a moment." When berated by the officer for unmilitary conduct, the recruit was incensed, saying he merely wanted some tobacco, - "to take a friendly chew.""

Calum

[Micah Trent]

Didn't a sentry in the 20th Maine greet Col Ames with a friendly "How d'you do, colonel?" The regular then proceeded to give the man a heated lesson in military courtesy that ended with "THAT is how you say 'How d'you do' to your colonel!"

I do believe that was the case or similar to it. I have read on several ocassions where Ames didn't let things like that slide by without an immidiate correction. If it was not corrected right then and there, then it would be in front of the entire regiment as a lesson. If I am correct, I think Joshua Chamberlain makes a reference or two about Ames in similar circumstancs more then once in his memoir.

[Rob Weaver]

IIRC, the soldier's posture was so slovenly that Ames yelled, "My God, man, draw up your bowels!" That one makes me laugh every time I think of it!