The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1856-09-17
from the Winnshoro REGISTER


Mn. EDlroR: Having very recently
been surrounded by the glorious pomp
and circumstance Of war; few rcilec.
items upon the present Militia system OF
South Carolina, may not be counted in.
appropriate.
Much has been said in defence of the
system of military, so long supported by
the 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 Regimen, in Mexico. The most
devoted admirers, and strongest defend
crs Of our militia system, are those whose
good fortune it is 10 wear cooked hats and
long brass spurs, and to sit on horseback
III the shade, watching with the critics
eye the evolutions performed by the rank
and file, under broiIrg sun. This IS
significant, !or certain it is, if the system
be abolished these Geek hated gentry
would be thrown out of comfortable posi-
tiuns.
The system is at best n splendid farce,
a magnificent humbug, and gross Impo-
siiion and II heavy tax upon the people.
1t is nothing more nor nothing less. Men
are forced to leave their farms and ride
twenty or thirty miles to do duty in
Winnsboro two days, and pay their tav,
ern bills, to satisfy the whim Of some long
spurred, chapeaued gentleman, who dc
slres to "show off," The general {"
muster comes, and the line, alter some
difficulty, is formed, and the regiment
turned over to the officer comm ,nding-
He takes command, and the exercise in
the manual OF arms is commenced
Shoulder ar ms" is the words, and
ShouIderug it is. You see guns on the
right shoulder, and guns on the left shoul-
der; guns with the cocks turned out, and
guns with the cocks turned in, with their
muzz!es pointing towards every imagina-
Jle point of tho compass. Some have
ramrods and some have walking canes.-
Present a rms" comes next, and three
fourths OF the "sodgers hold their pieces
in such n position as to cause one 10 ina.
gne they were looking for some one to
present them to; others hold their arms
at an angle of A degrees across their
breasts, and some appear as though they
were preparing 10 take aim at the
ball on the market steeple, while others
clap the barrels of their bird guns along
side their noses, and allow the butts TO
stick out about foot from the place
| who're they deposit beans and bacon
Support ar ms" is the next command
Ten 10 Que il some OF them don't "charee
bayonels." while others will thint their
arms should support them, ins, o I'd ofthey
supporting their arms, and ease them
down to an "order."
"Order r-m 8" comes Mt last. Well.
to "order arms" from support is
not exactly in accordance with Macomb
te rap, like rain drops, one at a time,
and very often the butt OF fourteen
pound musket will fall upon the little toe
of the man on the right, and cause him TO
wish his left hand neighbor was an mhab.
liant OF a certain country, where the cli-
mate is said 10 be exceedingly warm.
Now comes, "shoulder arms" and the
marching aud wheeling begins. Those
who have corns and tender heels suite,
some about that time. Some put .hei
left foot down at the fam of the drum
some their right and some between ih,
ilams. Some step twenty 'eigh. inches
some thirty.eight, and Others not NOR
than eighteen inches, and when they
wheel, you would inhsgine the right anC
left guides Of the companies were about &c
iun into each other, while the company
has formed itself into files four and five
deep, and The General tells them he !,
highly gFalified With their performance
asyer saw better drilled soldiers ia his life
musket aud cartridge box the life preserv
.ers Of our country, espehally when han
is5aiav ~ 81,