The war with Mexico witnessed, perhaps, the most rapid promotions of
any other in the whole history of military affairs.
The rapid ascent of our young officer was a striking instance of
this. In two years from the time he had entered the service, with a
lieutenant's commission, he held the rank of major, in the--Regiment
of Infantry.
Fortune had not smiled upon our other young friend, Traverse Rocke--
partly because, being entirely out of his vocation, he had no right
to expect success; but mostly because he had a powerful enemy in the
Colonel of his regiment--an unsleeping enemy, whose constant
vigilance was directed to prevent the advancement and insure the
degradation and ruin of one whom he contemptuously termed the
"gentleman private."
Now, it is known that by the rules of military etiquette, a wide
social gulf lies between the Colonel of the regiment and the private
in the ranks.
Yet, Colonel Le Noir continually went out of his way to insult
Private Rocke, hoping to provoke him to some act of fatal
insubordination.
And very heavy was this trial to a high spirited young man like
Traverse Rocke, and very fortunate was it for him that he had early
been imbued with that most important truth, that "He who ruleth his
own spirit is greater than he who taketh a city."
But, if Colonel Le Noir crossed the gulf of military etiquette to
harass the poor young soldier, Major Greyson did the same thing for
the more honorable purpose of soothing and encouraging him.
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