The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1844-09-16
"Reminiscences OF Campaign In Florida,
In IS31-by Corporal Quid

"Reminiscences OF q Campaign In Florida,
In Is37-by Corporal Quid.
READER-If you have a few moments to spare
from your time-e ngrossing vocations-the al-ab-
sorbing object of your worldly ambition, to recline
in some sequestered retreat, and endeavor to fol-
low me, Gan aspiring YOUTH in your Imagination,
through very hasty account of an enlistment and
a campaign in Florida against the famous Semi
noles, will endeavor to crafty your very lauda,
Bile curiosity.
Imagine youth who had read the adventures Of
Robinson Crusoe, and the history of the Child Of
Corsica, and most other Of those heroes and adyen.
turers, who sported with Kingdoms, and whose
home was the world. say, imagine such an one,
with an ardent temperament of mind, and with the
like love OF adventure, and thirst for glory leaving
his home for the first time, seek his fortune Is
II surprising, that, IN the course of his rambngs
under circumstances like these, end at time too,
when so great and glorious enterprise the ia
nous Seminole war was the absorbing topic OF To-
gslation, the hobby horse of political gossps and the
subject OF greatest interest to mammon-seeklng
spectators, that you find him standing, d IA mill
taire, "head erect eyes fifteen PAGES to the front,
little finger touching the seam Of pantaoons
extended" with all the pomp and circumstance
OF war'-clothed with the brief authority of lance
corpOraPs bunk-mate, at the recruiting office,
" awaiting orders Z" Suffice it to say [ had en-
listed in the United States Army, and consequent
ly was . ordered" with small squad Of my brave
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES" to that famed place Of chi
valry and bean-soup noorety. where the young idea
IN tactics was taught to shoot, known as Bedlow's
Island. the then receiving depot Of recruits for the
Florida service. Where, with the utmost prompt
civilian suit was discarded and had issued to me
instead suit Of virgin white regimentas a most
sudden and unanticipated transformation from
black to white, which at first, must confess, Gre
ofnAu UNuo and oil sxrl>
ISOLATION of mind as white suit was so intimate
ly connected with the term "convict," halter"
&C. But as remonstrance would have been in
vain, consoled myself that was in fashion with
my comrades, and with the fact that We could ex-
ercse mutual sympathy, that great alleyiator OF
human woes. What rendered our white livery SO
peculiarly exceponable, was the fact, that we were
ordered to preserve them without spot or wrinkle.
from contamination or contact with any thing
earthly or dehling, under pain or penalty Of the
guard-house" compelled us to keep cor
poreally in perpendicular at,i,ute, a position SO
peculiarly trying to the understanding. We were
then ordered to "tall in;" and we were marched
single file to the commanders quarters, where the
ceremony OF reading the articles of war was per-
formed with great gravity by the commander. =
After having performed the ceremony, with the ad-
dltion OF few salutary remarks upon that arbtra-
ry code, by way of application, with significant
allusion to the guard house" and "bomb,proof,"
casts his eye along the line, and took most min
ute and scrutinizing survey of each countenance
before him when, suddenly pointing to me, said /:
Young man, step two PAGES to the 'front.'" J.,
obeyed.
"Ynur age-your occupation, your habis!'
Which lnterrogatories answered satisfact orily,
when was abrubtly oidered-
1.-TWO PAGES to the rear" which brought me
again into line, when we were dismissed, and each
retired to his quarters. | to mine, with no little
anxiety OF mind as to the meaning Of the COM
mander's intenoeatories. Had been guilty of any
| I'D I fad
uncOnsciously, any OF those articles of war, to
which l had just listened. with SO much
attention! While thus soliloqHzlng, was raped
on the shoulder, and looking round, recognized no
less parsonage thaa the sergeant major OF the post,
in full uniform, who thus addressed me:
sir, the majors orders are that you report your
self immediately to his quarters
Rcslgning myself TO my imagined late, repaired
to the majors quarters, and met him standing al
the threshold.
"Sir," said he, "you are hereby appointed lance
corporal OF the 9th division 81 recruits which duty
you will perform with becoming dignity, impartial
ity and fidelity
1 touched my cap, 1 la militairs, thanked him
for the distinguished favor bestowed, turned right
grousd, greatly elated by the agreeable surprise in
SO sudden and unexpected promotion my bosom
swelling wihllngenuous pride at so peculiar mark
OF appreciation from the commander, who had been
so sngularly and, as thought, unaccountably pre-
possessed in my favor.
"Being privileged character retired behind
the rarnpars, and naturally fell into pleasing re-
yerle., All the heroes and knights-errant OF the
teudai and chivalrous ages passed in review, in
quick succession before me, in dazzling armor,
with "falchlons bright" on steeds white as the
driven snow, and OF lightning speed Wreaths Of
glory hung In testoons round their diamond-studded
chapeaux, and all nature appeared to have assumed
the aspect OF romance and delight. At that mo-
ment, as an auxiliary to my excessive delight,
the band of the Garrison broke forth, in most har-
monous strains, IN the "Star Spangled Banner"
report Of the "retreat gum" which effectually
aroused me from my reverie to the stern realities
Of a soldiers duties.
repaired to the quarters and answered to the
roll-call. Nothing OF importance occurred from
retrea' till tattso," the last ''eall" Of the soldier
before retiring to his quarters for the night Thus
ended my first days duties as q soldier.
It is superfiIous to detail in full the trfng INCL
dents OF soldiers duties which fell to our lot
while we remained upon the Island, such az de-
facing our white regimentals in unladng vessel
OF coal, the lnterment Of few dead animals which
had Heated TO the Island from the adjacent city,
and such like monotOnous routine Of soldiers
garrison duties.
We had been six days on the Island when an
express" arrived from headquarters with orders
for all the recruits (about 10 in number) then upon
the Island to join the main body Of recruits a, the
school Of discipline at Fort Monroe, Va. We were
accordingly, with the utmost promptness, ord cred
to pack knepsacks," and in two hours from the
time the order was received. we were paraded,
rank and file, armed and equipped, answered the
roll. listened again to the arbitrary and dread
articles of war, and in the soul stirring strains
Of martial music to the tune of "God save
America" brought from right flank TO right
face, and marched on board the vessel chartered
for our transportation to our destined school OF dis
clplinee, the famous Fortress Monroe, Va. And we
spread our canvass to the breeze and sailed majes
tcally round the ramparts under the deafening re-
port of the usual salute of cannon on such occa-
slons., Having strsng northwest breeze, we soon
passed the narrows, and were upon the broad At
lantic.
Nothing of importance transpired on the voyage,
other than the usual unpleasant and sometimes 1u-
dcrous scene OF universal sea-sck of my brave
and did on thatvoyage, the quaint nautical jok OF
the seamen, who amused themselves greatly at our
expense; and we all, by their unanimous decree,
had to- come under the humiliating, and moi
msapp'ied soubriquet Of land-lubbers"
We reached our port Of destination in six days.