Martinsburg gazette and public advertiser. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1826-1833, 1831-06-16
From the .Neao FORK Constellation.
a MILITIA CAPTAIN.

captain Oh DlAltia, III O1S w tiiS w ii'Na
towns was in the habit Of swearing "byJor-
tn" He had like many other militia officers
who command slab" companies, trouble
some set OF fellows 10 deal with
One training day, when the soldiers beha-
we'd, as usual, very disorderly, be DIE" has
sword and furioesly brandishing it in the ar,
| exclaimed -Feler sogers! swear by forty,
If you don't behave better, III put every devil
of you Under rest"
II wish you would gives us little rest, y
said half dozen voices, for we're cen Almost
tired to DEATH
"Order! order Teller sogers," roared the
captain, with another tremendous flourish oil
his sword. The word was no sooner spoken,
than they alicome 10 an order, bringing down
the breaches az their guns with all violence,
each upon his neighbours toes which threw
The ranks into greater disorder than before.
DRESS! dress!n bawIed Che captain.
awe are dressed, most on u.s. replied a
fellow, who was barefoot and had on rim
less hat.
"Now, BY forty" said the captain, ''that's
one tarnal lie; you amt above half dressed. il
| that's what yen meaa--but mean something
ase-~I mean you should dress 10 the mitiita
1 n; sense of the word
I "How's that, captain?" cried half dozen
voices: g.
Flows that you fools you," exclaimed
the captain @by forty, have you been SO long
hnnder my training and don't know tie mean
ing Of dress. form straight incl 1 say
form straight liae!"
| The soldiers made sundryiuefeetuaiei Efforts
to get into right line, and the captain began
to despair Of e,er strengthening them, when
his military genius (that. which ever most dis
ttinguishes great commander in emergen
ciss) suddenly suggested 10 him the novel ex,
pedient of backing his men up against a
neighboring fence, which fortunately happen
ed to he straight
"Tention! teller sosers," said he, in stem
torian voice, advance backWardSl Music,
quick step!'
The soldiers made aquick retrogade move
ment, aud came with their backs plump a
gainst the fence
| "Thers! by forty" said the captain, "now
see ii you can keep straight But he had
scarcely performed this successful nannuvre,
aud was about resuniing the manual exercise
when the clouds began to threaten rain: aud
the soldiers, squirting at the aspect OF The
heavens, commenced deserving their ranks
and moving III all haste towards neighbor
| ing tavern.
Hiatt halt" reared the eaptan-"hals"
| say feler soSers; where the devil are you
going to-"
Were goin to get out of the rain"
"Out of the rain! you towards halt! lsay.
or ri stick The first man can catch."
"lil take care you sha'nt catch me-" shout
ed each one, as be took to his heels, In less
Than minute the wheie company had deser
ted; and the captain, whese motions were
much retarded By bis reginenials, had little
chance Of Sticitng them, for the very suili
clent reason, that he could not overtake them
by forts!p said he, after standing for two
! or three minutes in speeches. astonIshment,
s'If this don't beat all the nailintary move
nlents ever heard of Just as I'd got them
into a straight line by a new naneuvre-to
desert me taus But, there's no use IN keep
ing The field all alone; may as well so TO
the tavern too" So saying, he sheathed his
sword, and followed his soldiers.