The Litchfield County post., 1829-01-08


 In which the most exquisite discipline,
 subordinaton, military knowledge, for
 titude, temperance, and patriotic prepa-
 ration, are clearly exemplfied and pa-
 thetically recommended to all who are
 convinced of the usefulness and mischief
 of
 STANDING ARMY.
 Dear Fugey,
 happened, not long since, to be pres ent at the muster of a captains company in remoie part of one of the counties, and as no general description could convey an adequate idea of the achievements of that day, must be permitted to go little into the detail, as well as my recollection will serve me.
 The men had been notified to meet at nine o'clock, armed and equipped as the law directs, that is to say, with gun and cartridge box at least, but, as directed by the law of the United States, " with good frelock, sufficient bay yonet and belt, and a pouch to contain not less. than twenty four sufficient cartridges of powder and ball." Attwelve, about one third, perhaps half the men, had collected, and an inspec- tors return of the number present, and of their arms, would have stood nearly thus {: captain; 1 lieutenant; ensign, none ]; sergeants, 2; corPorals, none; drummers, none : fifers, none privates present, 25; do. absent, 30; guns, l5; gun-locks, 12; ramrods, 10; rifle pouches, 8; bayonels, none belts, none; spare flints, none car tridges, none; horse- whips, walking canes and umbrellas, %. A little before one, the captain, whom I shall distinguish by the name of Clodpole, gave directions for forming the line of parade. In obedience to this order, one of the sergeants, the strength of whose lungs had long supplied 1 the place of drum and fife, placed him. self in front of the house, and began to bawl with great vehemence, "All captain Clodpole's company to parade here Come, GENTLEMEN, parade here !" says he, "and all you that hasn't guns, fall into the lower eend." He might have bawl- ed till this time wit, as little success as the syrens sung to Ulysses, had he not chang ed his post to a neighboring shade. There he was immediately joined by all who were then at leisure the others were at that time engaged, either as pa'ties or spectators, al a game of fives, and could not just then attend. However, in less than half an hour the game was finished, and the captain enabled to form his com pany and proceed in the duties of the day. Look to the right and dress! They were soon, by the help of non- commissioned officers, placed in a straight line, but as every man was anxious to see how the rest stood, those on the wings pressed forward for the purpose till the whole line assumed nearly the form of a crescent.
 Why look at 'em, says the captain: why gentlemen, you are a crooking here at both eends, so that you will get into me by and by; come, gentlemen, dress! dress!
 This was accordingly done, but impel- led by the same motive as before, they soon resumed their former figure, and so they were permitted to remain.
 Now, gentlemen-says the captain-I am going to carry you through the revolu- tiOns of the martial exercise, and want you, gentlemen, if you please, to pay very particular attention to the word of com mand, just exactly as Igive it out to you. I hope you will have little patience, gem tlemen, if you please, and I'll be as short as possible, and if I should be going wrong, will be much obliged to any of you, gen. tlemen, to put me right, for 1 mean all for the best, and hope you will excuse me, if you please. And one thing, gentlemen. must caution you against, in particular and that is this-not to make any mistakes, if you can possibly help it; and the best way to do this will be to do all the motions right at first, and that will also help me to