# The Colonel — Short Fiction character guide > The Colonel in Short Fiction by O. Henry. **Role:** supporting **Also known as:** the Colonel, The colonel **First appearance:** 0000-lord-oakhurst-s-curse ## Snapshot A round, diamond-ringed foreigner whose cargo of Winchester rifles and whispered revolution draws a curious Clancy into his cause. ## Who they are He is the brown-faced little man in white who catches James Clancy peering into a crate of rifles and begs his discretion, then pours wine and flattery until the Irishman pledges his arms to General De Vega. His conspiratorial charm and grandiose talk of oppressed peoples mask a practical need for men willing to do the work. He matters because his recruitment of Clancy launches the filibustering adventure that follows. ## Relationships ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _professional_ The Colonel is a superior or colleague of the narrator, often involved in military or authoritative contexts. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _professional_ The Colonel is a superior or colleague of the narrator, often involved in military or authoritative contexts. ### [Unknown Narrator](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/unknown_narrator) _professional_ The Colonel is a superior or colleague of the narrator, often involved in military or authoritative contexts. ## In the story ### [Bexar Scrip No. 2692](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/bexar-scrip-no-2692) Mentioned as the Commissioner or chief clerk who signs orders for file access. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/ii) Colonel St. Vitus, the host, invited Professor von Bum to the party. ### [A Snapshot at the President](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-snapshot-at-the-president) Mentioned as the managing editor who assigns the reporter to interview President Cleveland. ### [The Sensitive Colonel Jay](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-sensitive-colonel-jay) Colonel Jay, a sensitive and quick-tempered man who shoots at a stranger for tapping his pipe, then apologizes and offers a drink. ### [Chapter II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/chapter-ii) Colonel Smith, the judge's brother, confesses to the murder at the funeral. ### [The Winner](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-winner) Participates in the lying contest and begins a story about his Saturday morning. ### [The Colonel’s Romance](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-colonel-s-romance) The colonel tells the story of returning to Crosstree, Alabama, and finding a lost love note in a hollow tree. ### [Paderewski's Hair](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/paderewski-s-hair) Colonel Warburton Pollock, the raconteur who tells the tales of Paderewski's hair and the Australian adventure. ### [A Question of Direction](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-question-of-direction) The colonel recounts the story of the shooting at the debating society, defending the action as justified and reflecting local norms. ### [The Pint Flask](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-pint-flask) The protagonist, a Houston colonel and church member, who is tormented by a pint whisky flask he accidentally carries. ### [Money Maze](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/money-maze) Colonel Emilio Falcon, private secretary to President Losada, sent to Coralio to recover the lost treasury funds. ### [Dicky](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/dicky) Referred to as the comandante, Don Señor el Coronel Encarnacion Rios, who makes advances toward Pasa and is assaulted by Dicky. ### [The Duplicity of Hargraves](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-duplicity-of-hargraves) Major Talbot, a proud Southern gentleman, is the victim of Hargraves's mimicry and later unknowingly receives charity from him. ### [Friends in San Rosario](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/friends-in-san-rosario) Referred to as Major Tom Kingman, president of the First National Bank, who stalls the examiner with a story. ### [Cupid à la Carte](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/cupid-la-carte) Referenced as a figure in the story's setting, but not a central character. ### [The Renaissance at Charleroi](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-renaissance-at-charleroi) An old friend and solicitor who lends Charleroi to Grandemont for the dinner. ### [Art and the Bronco](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/art-and-the-bronco) Senator Kinney, the picture's champion and sponsor, delivers a speech praising the Briscoe legacy. ### [Out of Nazareth](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/out-of-nazareth) Colonel Peyton Blaylock is a trusting, optimistic man who has been deceived before but maintains faith in humanity. He plans to open a bookstore in Skyland. ### [The Fourth in Salvador](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-fourth-in-salvador) Mentioned as Henry Barnes, an American who joins the celebration and contributes to the patriotic fervor. ### [The Pimienta Pancakes](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-pimienta-pancakes) Judson Odom, the camp cook who tells the story of his rivalry with Jackson Bird over Miss Willella Learight and the pancake recipe. ### [The Gold That Glittered](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-gold-that-glittered) Referenced indirectly as part of the café scene; not a major role in this chapter. ### [One Thousand Dollars](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/one-thousand-dollars) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Rathskeller and the Rose](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-rathskeller-and-the-rose) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Ransom of Mack](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-ransom-of-mack) Referred to as 'old Mack Lonsbury'; Andy's partner who retires with him to Pina and becomes justice of the peace. ### [The Making of a New Yorker](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-making-of-a-new-yorker) Not present in this chapter. ### [II](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/ii) Colonel Jackson T. Rockingham, the prominent citizen of Mountain Valley, is the target of the kidnapping plot. ### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/iii) Colonel Jackson T. Rockingham, the kidnapped railroad president who writes the ransom letter. ### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/iv) Colonel Rockingham, the kidnapped railroad president, introduces his brother and other officials. ### [An Adjustment of Nature](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/an-adjustment-of-nature) Not present in this chapter. ### [Blind Man's Holiday](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/blind-man-s-holiday) Mentioned as a figure in the café; not directly involved in the main plot. ### [The Fool-Killer](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-fool-killer) Revealed as Jesse Holmes, the Fool-Killer, and Kerner's father; he threatens Kerner but eventually reconciles. ### [The Handbook of Hymen](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-handbook-of-hymen) Not present in this chapter. ### [Calloway's Code](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/calloway-s-code) Not directly present; the story focuses on the Enterprise staff. ### [Proof of the Pudding](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/proof-of-the-pudding) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Halberdier of the Little Rheinschloss](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-halberdier-of-the-little-rheinschloss) The boss of the restaurant, who hires the halberdier and insists on historical authenticity. ### [The Fifth Wheel](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-fifth-wheel) Mysterious benefactor who rescues Thomas from the cold and later reveals himself as Professor Cherubusco. ### [Jeff Peters as a Personal Magnet](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/jeff-peters-as-a-personal-magnet) Mayor Banks, the target of the scheme; feigns illness and is convinced by Jeff's 'personal magnetism' demonstration. ### [A Midsummer Masquerade](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-midsummer-masquerade) Referred to as 'Old Smoke-’em-out Smithers,' the proprietor of Woodchuck Inn who enlists Jeff and Andy to impersonate celebrity guests. ### [The Rose of Dixie](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-rose-of-dixie) Colonel Aquila Telfair, editor of The Rose of Dixie, defends his editorial standards and Southern traditions against Thacker's criticisms. ### [The Hiding of Black Bill](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-hiding-of-black-bill) H. Ogden, the sheep rancher who is secretly the train robber Black Bill. ### [No Story](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/no-story) Not present in this chapter. ### [A Poor Rule](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/a-poor-rule) Not present in this chapter. ### [The Snow Man](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/chapters/the-snow-man) George, the camp cook, who remains level-headed and ultimately takes charge to protect the young woman. ## Links - HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters/the_colonel - Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se - All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/short_fiction_41_se/characters