Wheeling times and advertiser. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1839-1849, 1843-05-17
MIS- ELLA EOUs.
CAMP FIRE STORY.
EARLY MILITARY DISCIPLINE IN rkxA

something IN this wise:
Some six months after the famous bat |
tie OF San Jacinto, and while the tide of
emigration was rapidly setting towards |
Iexls, numerous were the additions |
made TO the population Of the new Re |
public from Western Tennessee and |
Northern Mississippi. Among the emf. |
4 rants from the former was Col 5. Hc |
had been houOred, while in Tennessee, |
with the commission Of captain in the |
regular militia, an office which, as he |
thought,he had filled with no litlle cred |
IL 10 himself lie was moreover exceed |
ingly proud OF his title. and looked with
not little scorn upon any one who
might chance TO address him without gi-
wing the military prefix TO his name the
longest loudest and broadcast sound.
Arrived IN Texas, where at the time
there was hardly a man below the rank
Of Lieutenant, our hero was OF course
anxious tor military advancement. Al
an election Tor reg mental olhce RS w hich
shortly alter took place in the section
which he was located, Capt S. was ex-
ceedIngiy oficisus, not only with stories
oil his military performances while in
command of a small faction Of the ma
tion'S bulwark in Tennessee, but also
with barr el OF corn whiskey which he
had purchased for electioneering purpo-
'ses, and of which he freely and cordial.
ly invited every voter to partake. A
man who talked so much of his military
talents, and who was so very liberal
with his whiskey wIthal, was bound TO
win IN an election, aud on counting the
woes after 1t was over it was found that
he had been duly elected Colonel OF the
regiment by large maj GRITTY.
Here was long step towards the
high summit Of his AMBITIOUS hopes,and
the head OF Col. S was now elevated
and carried back IN a degree correspond
ing with his advancement. lie really
knew JUST as IiIte Of mi litary science as
monkey does of sacred psalmody; but
neither Julius Caesar nor Napoleon 30.
naParte could have convinced him Of
the Tact by all the argument they could
have mustered. lie had read an abridge
ment of some work upon military tao
tics, had trained his company on sun
dry occasions while in Tennessee, and
was therefore theoretically conversant
with the art and science of war upon
the most approved principles
But le v weeks after his elevation he
called his regiment out for inspection
and review. A motley crowd it was,
armed with smooth bores, rifles, fowling
pieces, musksts and dounIe barrelled
guns-good locks and poor locks, flint
locks and percussion locks lie formed !
his men into lines, platoons and s1ua res,
such as they were; but it is uou btfuI |
whether the manoeuvring of the men
who followed Peter the Hermit in his |
crusade for the recovery Of the Holy
Land was not concluded upon more sci |
enrhc military principles.
There were two or hree officers pres.
ent a. the time, who well understood the
science OF which Col. S. knew so little
men who had seen much service, and
before whom Col. s. was extremely anx
IouS 10 SHOW Off TO the best possible
advantage To do this more effectually,
he finally bethought him better plan
would be to give the officers above men.
TONED specimen Of the manner in
which his men could fire general vol.
ley. lie accordingly, after much 'ree-
ing and having formed them into line
directly in front of a large field Of corn.
In order TO make more sure Of their f.
ring in a body, and all as nearly the
same moment as possible, he next made
them short and pithy address, some.
thing in The following style:
''Fellow SOgers.-The eyes Of Texas.
the eyes Of some Of the braycst officers,
NY eyes are upon you. England ex.
poets every man TO do his duty ex. /
Pect that you will do yours. Fellow
sogers: just Imagine that field Of corn \
there TO be slaughtering, tomahawking.
and blood thirsty Mexico, let loose upon
you in full blast-imagiae yourselves TO
be Texas, drawn up in the proudest ar
ray to give your grim enemy particular
and unequivocal"goss' Upon the result
OF the volley you are about TO shoot de.
ponds the very existence, now and fore. :
ormore, Of your beloved, devastated and
fertile country. fyou shoot together.
so that the report Of your we'll tried
arms may sound even as one genera, de-
cidcd ard all al once kind Of crack, then :
are we safe, and our hearths and Jams n
remain unpolluted-if on don't we are @
Bone-plump used Up-sure. will O
now give the word-make ready, take Il
aim, hre."-Phlz, pop, bang snap, crack q
won't the different implements Of war i'm a
the hands Of Col. 81 men, one at a tino. +
and in no kind Of order. Each solder !
manifested a zeal truly commendabIo IN +
get his gun of at some time, alibougb b
they appeared entirely to have forgotten q
the emphatic Injunction Of their com. :
mander TO ERE as nearly together as
possible. Some who had aint locks that