Napoleon Shave-Tail by Owen Wister
A young officer, Augustus Albumblatt, arrives at Fort Brown, eager to apply his book knowledge of military tactics. The fort is a small, isolated outpost with a limited number of officers and no household staff, leading to a communal dining experience. The commanding officer, Captain Duane, and his wife, Catherine, welcome Albumblatt, who is immediately perceived as overly intellectual and somewhat pretentious by the seasoned soldiers and their wives. As Albumblatt attempts to impress the garrison with his modern ideas and knowledge, he inadvertently alienates them. His discussions about military theory and European practices are met with skepticism and ridicule. The soldiers, particularly Sergeant Casey, mockingly nickname him "Napoleon Shave-Tail" due to his youthful arrogance and lack of practical experience. Despite the initial friction, Albumblatt is assigned as acting quartermaster, where he disrupts the established routines with his meticulous and modern approach to logistics. His insistence on efficiency and accuracy frustrates the more experienced soldiers, particularly the German Quartermaster Sergeant Schmoll, who feels overwhelmed by Albumblatt's methods. The tension escalates when Albumblatt is tasked with capturing a fugitive Indian, Ute Jack, who has committed murder and is hiding in a lodge. Lacking practical experience, Albumblatt devises a complicated plan to surround the lodge, but his execution is flawed. When Sergeant Casey attempts to carry out Albumblatt's orders, he is killed, leading to a chaotic and humiliating situation for the fort. In the aftermath, Albumblatt's misguided strategies culminate in a farcical cannonade against the lodge, which ultimately fails to achieve its objective. Ute Jack, already dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound, becomes a symbol of Albumblatt's incompetence. The incident serves as a harsh lesson for the young officer, who learns that theoretical knowledge does not always translate into effective leadership in the field. As the story concludes, the garrison reflects on the events, with the commanding officer acknowledging the lessons learned from the encounter. The once-enthusiastic Albumblatt is now tempered by the harsh realities of military life, and the camaraderie among the soldiers is reinforced through shared experiences, both tragic and humorous. The narrative highlights the contrast between book knowledge and practical experience, ultimately emphasizing the importance of humility and adaptability in leadership.
By Owen Wister · First published 1910 · Genre: Military Fiction, Western, Satire · 5,299 words
First lines
Augustus Albumblatt, young and new and sleek with the latest book-knowledge of war, reported to his first troop commander at Fort Brown. The ladies had watched for him, because he would increase the number of men, the officers because he would lessen the number of duties; and he joined at a crisis favorable to becoming speedily known by them all. Upon that same day had household servants become an extinct race. The last one, the commanding officer's cook, had told the commanding officer's wife that she was used to living where she could see the cars. She added that there was no society here "fit for man or baste at all. " This opinion was formed on the preceding afternoon when Casey, a sergeant of roguish attractions in G troop, had told her that he was not a marrying man. Three hours later she wedded a gambler, and this morning at six they had taken the stage for Green River, two hundred miles south, the nearest point where the bride could see the cars.
What this Textopian page supports
Napoleon Shave-Tail is listed on Textopian as a short story by Owen Wister, dated 1910 CE.
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- Work type: Short story
- Author: Owen Wister
- Date: 1910 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Military Fiction, Western, Satire, Historical Fiction, Comedy
- Length: 5,299 words
- Structure: 1 section, 124 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Standard (8th-9th Grade)
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- Work identity for Napoleon Shave-Tail by Owen Wister
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
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Discussion starters
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Genres
- Military Fiction — The plot revolves around military life, duties, and the experiences of soldiers, particularly focusing on the character of Augustus Albumblatt and his interactions with military personnel.
- Western — Set in the American West, the story features themes of frontier life, interactions with Native Americans, and the challenges faced by soldiers in a remote garrison.
- Satire — The writing style employs humor and irony to critique military bureaucracy and the naivety of the educated youth in a practical military setting.
- Historical Fiction — The narrative is set against a historical backdrop, reflecting the realities of military life and interactions with Native American tribes during the late 19th century.
Tags
Western Fiction · Historical Novel · Coming-of-Age Story · Adventure · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Picaresque Narrative · Male Protagonist · Young Adult Fiction