[legendsport]

from the Columbia Patriot, March 8, 1894:

The Fifth U.S. Corps, stationed along the Mason-Dixon Line in Pennsylvania has a grand view of Maryland. Under the command of Major General William Shafter, the Fifth is considered the most likely spearhead of any U.S. attack into the Confederacy. This reporter was given a tour by Shafter's aide-de-camp, a tall, sprightly fellow from Ohio with the rank of first lieutenant and the unlikely name of Denton True Young.
Lieutenant Young threads his way through the maze of tents that form the Fifth's massive encampment, greeting the men with kind words and a smile. The men, for their part, return Young's pleasantries with unfeigned comraderie. I ask Young why he is such a popular fellow.
"Well, a lot of the fellows enjoy a good game of base ball, and I'm a fair chucker, so they like to have me on their side," he says with a wink. He throws a wave at a bear-like sergeant who bellows "Cyclone!" at the top of his lungs as we pass by.
Cyclone, you see, is Lt. Young's nickname. Apparently the Ohioan is more than a fair chucker - as a pitcher, none of the soldiers have seen his equal. With the soldiers waiting for some development in the political quagmire between Richmond and Columbia, several base ball teams have sprung up within the Fifth's encampment and Young is in much demand.
"The General is very understanding of the men's need for some good, clean fun, and encourages baseball as a pastime," Young explains.
Spirits are high in camp, and Young explains his tour is also a scouting mission. "It seems there's a fellow in the 22nd Pennsylvania, who is reckoned a fair player, and I'd like to talk to him." Young says, then adds, "His name's Hans Wagner - I sure hope his English is good."
Wishing the Lieutenant good luck on his scout, I head back for Shafter's headquarters...