The Abbeville banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1847-1869, 1856-10-02
THE MALITIA SYSTEM.

the signature of GA Sufferer" writes as
follows:
Mn. EDIron: Having very recently been
surrounded by the "glorious pomp and cir.
cumstance of war;" n few reflections upon
the present Militia system of South Caro-
lima may not be counted inappropriate.
! Much has been said in defence of the
system Of military, SO long supported 10y
tho Legislature Of this State, and incidents
have been cited as proof of the good it has
done, the most prominent Of which, is, the
action and gallant bearing of the Palmetto
Regiment in Mexico. The most devoted
admirers, and strongest defenders of our
militia system, arc those whose good for
tunes it is to wear cooked hats and long
brass spurs, ana to sit on horscLack in the
shade, watching with critics eye the
cvolutions performed by the rank and file,
under broiljng sun. This is significant,
for, certain it is, if tho system be abolished
these cock hatrl gentry would be thrown
out of comfortable positions.
The system is at best splendid farce, a
magnificent humbug, and IL gross imposi-
ton. and heavy tax upon the people. It
Ia nothing more nor nothing less. Men
are forced to leave their farms and ride
twenty and thirty mile. to do duty in
Winnskoro two days, and pay their tavern
bills, 10 satisfy the wlim of some long
spu're1, chapcaucd gentleman, who desires
to "slow OFF, The "gcncraI" muster day
comes, and the line, after some difficulty, is
formed, and the regiment turned over to
the officer commanding. ITc takes COM
mand, and the exercise in the manual Of
arms is commenced. Shoulder Arm. S" is
the words, and Shouidcring il is. You see
guns on the right shoulder, and guns on
the left shoulder; guns with the cocks
turned out, am'l guns with the cocks uned
III, with their muzzlcs pointing towards
every imaginable point Of tic compass
Some have ra,nrods and some have walk
ing Games. "l'rcscnt arms" comcs next,
and tlIrcc-fourils Of the "solgcrs" hold
their pieces i'll such position rs TO cause
one to imagine they were looking for some
one TO present them to; others hold their
arms at an angl Of As degrees across their
breasts, and some appear as though they were
preparing to stake aim" at the ball on the
market stceplc, while others clap the barrels
OF their bird guns alongside their noses,
and allow the butts to stick out about n
foot from the place wlcra they deposit bcans
! and bacon. "Sunpot Arms" is the next
command. Ten to one ii some Of them
don't " "cl'argc bayonets,'' willie others will
think that their arms should support them,
/ instead Of they supporting their arms. ant!
case them down TO al K" order"
! Order Fms" comes ut last. Well. TO
"ordcr arms from Il "support" is not er-
"ctly in accordance with Macomb or Scott :.
but down comes their, n tc rap, like rain
drops. one at time, and very often the butt
of fourteen pound muskct will fall upon
the little toe of the man on the right, and
cause linn to wish his left hand ncichbor
was an imllabitamt Of certain country.
where the climate is said to he exceedingly
warm.
| Now come, "shoullcr arms" and the
marching and wheeling begins. Those who
have corns and tender heels suffer some.
about that time. Some put their left foot
down at the Ham of the drum. some their
right, and some Jet,oeen the flams. Some
step % inches, some lhirty-eight, and others
not more than eighteen inches. and when
tley wheel, you would imagine the right
and left guidcs of the companies were
about to run into each other, while the
Company has formed itself into files four
and five deep, and the General tell,
them lie is highly gratified will, their per
formance; never saw better drilled soldiers
in his life; musket and cartridge box the
life preservers of our country, especially
when handled by sucl, soldiers as they are
bids them an affeetionate farewell, and the
rank and file retire to their homes fully
satisfied that every word the "Gsneral'
said, was "adKactly" true, and that Ma
polean's Old Guards never saw the day
when they could beat them mastering.
1t is mistaken notion, Mr.. Editor, thai
the hig and enviable position, which tl,t
Palmetto Regiment took in Mexico, wa,
owning in great measure to the fact, tina
they were drilled at home before hand
When the Regiment was mustered into
service, nine tentbs of the officers and mer
knew no more about military tactics, thar
Billy Patterson knew of the man whc
struck him, and it was only the severes
sort Of drilling, that made them what the,
were. Their gallantry was neither lessenet
or increased by their knowledge of miIitar,
| .,,.;os fov Erovary with tLor,, 40. ~, ;,Lo.