The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-12-13
4 Military Lctter.-IIOw to Procure a
.'POsitiOn.''
La CROSSE. WIS, }
Dec. !. lNGl. \

Dec ). 1861.
To tie Editor Of tire Ct1tdonian:
"7Teye's a soldier" Such is the exclam-
alton. in an under tone. which sreets YOUR
humble correspondents ears. from almost ev-
erv pedestrian he meets away of up here"
where the sight of soldier in blue army ov-
ercoat is a rarity. And following the excla-
nation is a stare of curiosity. II is a fact
Your correspondent has enlisted and finds
himself inside of a soldiers uniform, but in
stead of bs ing sent south where it is warm.
to fight rebels, he finds himself under or
iers" travelling towards the frisil zone in
search Of others whom he NAV induce to don
a soldiers ou:... and enlist in the regular ar
my for three years. Well, it is one thing 70
enlist and another to recruit. wonder If
those about to marry feel as solemn as do
so,ne who are about to enlist: whether "ioir,-
ing hands" in the one case is a time as prey
nant with fate as when fellow puts his fist
to the enlistment pepers? However. when a
fellow is once in he suddenly becomes an1-
IouS to nave his fellows III the same iiX.-
Talking with fellow soldiers shows few OF
the various springs tina; induce a man To
take up arms Tor his country. No. feels
truly patriotic; and, whole >oued. desiring
no office, enlI>tS as private, and. though de-
serving. You VIII lind as general thing ht
remaUtS as private. No. > is smart. and he
knows it, and has no notion of enl>,;ns till
his abilities gain him "a position. Bv and
by some company is to be raised: the re-
cruiting officer, anxious to get good mar
on the start who can influence Others. goes tc
this smart Young man and offers him "a DO
sition" if he will pitch in and get so man,
, men. Young man pitches in, gets his mel
and his "position." No. 3 may be an inhuen
;al lawyer, or some shewd man of business
who will Jc satisfied with nothing less than ;
captaincy, and through influential friend,
manages to obtain the governors ear, an,
induces him to give the applicant commi,
SIGN to raise company. In raising sale
company his wires are all drawn through Is
prants for lieu,enancys and serseantcys: $,
that No. 9 is sure to come out as cap,air. -
No. t NAV be some ambitious Congressman
who bv the failure of his drv speeches to cr,.
ate glory for him. fears that he will ca;n =,
fame in civil life. and makes = strike sor mil
;.arv." His title of IN. G." secures him
hearing and commission as colonel 70 RAJ
a regiment His success and e;ec,;on az
managed in about the same way as that g.,
No. 3. But he stops not here After actin,
short time as colonel he finds that his sma,
tering of military matters creates within hin
desire to have the magic word Seen mr..
fixed to his handsome name and r,bwi,
he aspires to become bri,adier qarerol
Somehow he attains it; somehow other b;
fools succeed in similar manner, and tn
result is a Bull Run or Leesbure massacre
No. ) enlists that he NAV receive the =,
pointment of quartermaster, and the resu
is. if he be successful, his pockets are line
and Uncle Sans boys are poorly fed an
clothed. Such are some of the sprigs tia
60 to fill up our army, and Nos. 3. and
fill up their own companies and regiments h