New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1861-03-04
MANUAL OF ARMS.
CHAPTER III.
ACTIVE SER vTCE.

hlled only with what IS abSoluteiy necessary Qultt
as much as he can carry, and for the delicacies o
life must learn to depend and prey upon the unso
= phsticated, who convert themselves into tempo
rary pack-horses for the benefit of their comrades
!, In campaigning the first quality to be cultivated
is an amiable regard for self The world is divided
:. into two classes-the amiable victims and the
worldly-minded but shrewd Northumberland in
the army which is little world in ITSELF this is
especially the case. Thus, on the first days
march, the veteran steps gaily along, as inches)
his knapsack containing only his flannel shirt,
; piece of yellow soap and spare pair of shoes,
while his stock of provisions consist of a loaf of
bread with perhaps slab of cheese, yet withal
he will probably fare better than that recruit who
tolls along by his side footsore and weary, laden
4 down with the comforts that have been crammed
into that heavy knapsack by an anxious mother
and fearful sisters. At the bvouac he produces
his store, and without regret longing only for re,
pose, sees those fresh laid eggs, that home. cured
! nam, and even the bottle of very particular
| brandy, (put up for medicinal purposes only) dis
/ appear in no time at ALL and any quantity of
motions, while the prudent veteran now reaps the
/ harvest which his foresight has sown Never
refuse to eat or drink, for in active service one
never knows when he may get another chance.
| An old soldier should be able to stow away any
giuem quantity Of victuas or drink Although it is
| unquestionably the duty of each man to remember
| his number in the ranks as well as that of his
musket, ETC., there is number more important,
aud one that the author is specially anxious that
young soldiers should not forget If they have any
regard for their personal comfort, and that is
number one. One more word this subject and
he will then dismiss it, hoping that he has not
spoken in vain In the camp liberality and self.
sacrifice are out of place. Should man. there.
fore, have provided himself with creature comforts
let the secret be locked in his own bosom and the
comforts aforesaid securely strapped in his KNAPP
sack for in the camp the law of ne11 ct tam is
but little known, and soldiers though the son1 of
| honor, will pifer anything in the yictualipr line
| that may cross their path-indeed. thew will
occasionally deign to go few steps out of their
path to get at it. Never giue-always s,coD. TINS
should comrade desire pull at your flask and
You be 10 want of a piece of tobacco make him
give you QUID pro quo.
On march, the command &c arms at will y should
be given, by which order men are permitted to
carry their aims in any manner they NAV deem
most convenient; provided, however that the
muzzes be pointed upward. We have noticed
several corps who, in defiance of this latter rn1c
place their mHskets upon their knapsacks in sucb
a position that should there, through fatigue or
other causes. be any "wayerine" in the rarl,s
each man must inevitably spit his left hand neieh.
Dor on the point OF his bayonet. This youId he
productive of unpleasant consequences: and il
therefore, in our Judgment, deemed reprehensibIe
During " arms at will II it is not necessary that
the officers shall preserve the overpowerinp dig
nifty, magnificent strut, general gorgeousness of
appearance with which they usually see fit to en-
cumber themselves when marching through the
streets, and when they are, of course, the center
towards which SO many bright eyes are directed
on the march where there are no bright ewes or
tender g1ances, they may for the nonce lay aside
their gilded shell and even converse af.bly with
their respective sergeants nay, we have ourselves
seen them take sip (and big one at that) from |
a canteen, the contents of which had previously
moistened the lips of private.
Every well appointed corps should, on active SER
vice, be provided with bugler through whom the
commands are issued to the captains of companies
where the voice would be drowned in the din of
battle or by the distance intervening 1t is neces-
sary that both officers and men should cultivate an
ear for music, as each command is given BY the
bugler playing few bars of some popular and
appropriate air, indicative of the wish of the off.
Ger commanding; thus, after a repulse, should
the order emanating from the commandment. chief
be for the column again to charge, the bugIer
would probably strike up the soul-stirrng air of
sc 1t will never do to give up SO, Mr.. Brown and
the captains would Immediately give the order
6 charge to their respective companies.
1t is therefore highly essential that officers should
have correct ear and good memory for music as
lacking these qualities and having the above men.
toned air played they might possibly imagine that
it was Home Again." or g I wish was in Dixie,
that was being performed, and in accordance there
with give the order right about face, double.
quick march;'' and thus battle might be 10 1t and
The fate of nations sealed merely because an officer
could not turn tune.n Ia view of this the au-
thor would suggest that singing classes be formed
IN every corps, whereby both officers and men
could become familiarized with the popular dittes
Of the day.
There is another performer on wind instrument
that has become necessary on parade as well az
active service. We allude to buger of another
sort, whose duty it is to :" blow the horn, of the
the company through the medium of the public
press Each corps should be provided with such
performer, should they desire to have their inst
merits portrayed in sufficiently glowing colors be-
fore the public. The duties of this fuuetionarv are
simple and lie in nut shell. 1t behooves him merely
10 state in hyperbolcal figures, in those interesting
articles which stare the credulous public full in the
ace any morning after military review, that said
company possesses the most gorgeous fag-that
their uniform is the brightest, their officers the
their sergeants the taest, their drum
ners the shortest, and their niger the blacklist of
any corps that the sun e'er shone upon and that in
act, taken as body, they are the most intellect
lal, best looking and most modest set of men in the
civilized world.
Both of these buglers are of much service to a
'orps, and though the former is practically useful
the field; formanufacturng reputation and laures
It home commend US to the latter
The author intended this chapter as mere intro
uction to the subject, and will refer the reader to
he next number, wherein will be given the special
uties of commissioned and nom commissioned off.
ers centres, etc., on active service as well as a
st Of the articles with which every recruit should
roVide himself previous to starting upon campaign
N.Y. presuming that he has the necessary funds to
archase the skill to close the eye of some con-
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SPRING AND SgMMER.-The warm seasons of the !
fast approaching IT necessary for comforts sake
suitable spparl should be donned requirements
tho seasons In the columns of todays will he found
advertisement Of N Moody of Canal Royal
reefs He has hand and for sale an iin nse stock