Litchfield enquirer., 1839-07-25

officersd, and marched in companies without arms
 to this place of rendezvous They were as yet igno
 rant of their destination, and not al first subjected any very severe military discipline, To be among
 them, was glorious fun for the small fry. Many SC.
 were lscture from the schooteacher and from parents
 besides the application of the rod did we receive for
 lingering at tho barracks to seS the soldiers. One
 among them all, was always to attract our prn
 cipal attention. He was real wag, and never fai- ed to excite meriment by his unrivaed drOlery. As the soldiers had not yet drawn their arms and uniform
 he took delight in appearing as ridiculous as possible
 He wore an old revolutionary cockedup hat, long tailed red coat trimmed with yellow, and pair of black twowsers apparently large enough to have en- compassed the legs of Daniel Lambert, the English eiant His object seemed so have been, to throw rid icule upon tho Brescass, tmeanng British, as be called them. The joke took finely among the new recruits. and his accompanying waegery did more to keep them m good spirits than the most brilliant vic tory would have done. He was fer for the recruit ing officer. and the tunes he usually played, were in perfect keeping with his true character They were "Yankee Doodle" i" Molly put the Kettle on" Ro- Sing Saior,' "Go to the Devil and shake yourself" " Peggy and Molly. " Paddy Carey, i" andan endless variety of similar airs. His namo was Holmes. He had most unconsconable eer in his eye, and mock gravity. as he cracked his jokes, that would have well bef,ted Welch parson, Holmes used to take
 singular delight in playing tckson the boys. Some times he would attract squad around him. and sri- king up brisk tune" Come, my lads, said he, "now let's see how well you can dance. The one that dances best shall have present thatll make his eyes stick out. z Old Zip Coon'' was not then on the carpet However. the young chaps set their feet in motion to the tune of Paddy the Piper" Every now and then. Holmes would pretend to discover some mis-s,ep "That's not right, my lark. ]" he ex- claimed let your uncle show you how it's done.' Accordingly he raised up first foot, then tho oth- CT, and bringing them down like pair of drumsticks. he watched his opportunity and planted his cowhides Justify upon the boy'ssoes. The sqnaing of his pu- pil and the shr notes of the fife, which he blew with redoubled vigor, formed strange concordaof sweet sounds.' Holmes then wiped his ffo, and returned it with an air of indifference the pocket in the left side Of his coat at the same time rolling his qnid of tobacco from one cheek to the other. Now, said he, for the prize." Then turning to the one with sore toes, who steod snufling and crying in the rear, he said in tone of mock sympathy" What's the mat ter with you, my poor little fellow r You trod on my toes, darn you blnbber the promising ycungster "Ah! I'm very sory," said Holmes. Twas ala mistake and wonder that l couldn't manage the old brogans little more carefully But it's next to impossible to mark time, fife, and set pattern for dancing, without missing the figure little. Cheer up, my brave little fellow; for if thefna are Breech- es'' should shoot your toesoE you would make poor soldier tocry for it. As it is. you have certainly won the prze Then turning around, he silly took ont of his pocket . handful of tobacco and . hob-nail- There" says he, putting them into the boy hand !" now go right home to your nanny, and tell her to wet the tobacco and bind it your toes and be sure to go to the blacksmith and get shod and when you come here to dance again, III play you Hcbor Nob" and the Rogue's March: will that suit you IT We scampered off in tangent, and kept pretty clear of the ffer for .. least fortnight. While on duty, he was quite different person.
 When the regiment was full the muskets arrived, and were arranged in row along the picket-fence, on the west side of SouthSireet The soldiers were marched up to receive them, They defled into sn- gle file, and each man took his weapon, new and glistening like looking glass. They then formed in to platoons, and marched back to the place of rem dezvous. A sterner discipline was now instituted They were subjected to severe drilling, duty guard. and encampment. The major was man of stern dignity, and an iron constitutions and fla soldier to be punished for neglect of duty, he had the faculty of announcing it in such way as to hurt no mans feelings It with tho utmost regTet,' he day observed, taking off his cap, .that have to an- nounce the sentence of - -, 4.h company, &c by the Court Martial, for dsobedence of orders that he Dc confined in the guardhouse for twentyour hours with the usual allowance of bread and water and it is hoped that this will prove tO him salutary warning in future, for tho faithful performance of his duty awaken in him spirit of selfrespecf. and pa tEolic anxiety to retrieve his reputation and that dsa@eeable task may never again dsvolve upon me, of wounding the feelings of one of my teowsolders so long as they continue with me in the service. But the preservation of military discipline renders it ab soluely indispensable, that the sentence be carried in to effect" This was the way by which tfe major secured the lasting attachment of every man in the regiment He was not tyrannica but decided on ev. cry point respecting military duty He hadthe namc of being strict moral man, and his profession, though that of soldier, was well conducted and nobly sus tained. r44.! 5.f. laiss.8 aHaI
 At length, the plan of operations was communion ted to the commanding officer of the regiment Their destination was for Canada, to reinforce Gen. Har rison. One Sunday morning. in Summer, the day be- ing remarkably hot, they formed and commenced their march. They were uniformed in white Russia sheeting ftocks and pantaloons, soldiers caps and white feathers, and being all young and abIe-bOdied men. made martial and splendid appearance. As religious services had commenced at the meeting house, they marched with muified drum. and halted near the church Never shall forget the look of the
 minister on this trying occasion. nor te prayer which he offered up for their preservation and the protection of the God of Battles. It was deep and fervsnt elo- A.na sl.l were peculiarly solemn. and thrilling and heartsis- ring. Never did tho Rev. ME. Beecher seem to feel e sensbly the weight of obligation resting upon him,