Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1862-05-27
Murtester DaiIp Spp.
Adventure of the rsecruiting service.

muses., and recounting tales of flood and field
o. B. had related a laughable story about
''The holy ground
Of poteen and potatoes.'
W threw us into Mysteries with LARRY
McHale," when, with one accord, the boys
appealed to X for something sentimental.
Il was a handsome young fellow about
twenty -four, and as fond of the girls as a duck
Is OF water. His easy nonchalant manner,
combined with spice Of deviltry, fine voice,
natural talent for music, and ''good pair of
legs, made him a general favorite with the
gentler sex; and if he took a little advantage
of this fact it is eXcusable on the ground that
all is fair in love and war;" If modesty was
one Of his inherent characteristics, its deyel-
opment had been sadly neglected; so, without
further inducement, he related the following,
which, as near as l can recall, l give in his
own language =
''1ou see, boys, before | was transferred to
this prison-house, l was in charge of as awk-
ward a set Of recruits as ever shouldered
muskets or wore uniforms. They had rushed
with willing hearts and sturdy arms from
workshop and field to the defense Of constitu-
tional liberty, knowing about as much Of mill
tary tactics as an elephant about rope-walk-
ing. Morning, noon, and night manGuvered
those fellows until drill became perfect
bore. Just as they had attained a respectable
proficiency, and | was ready to enjoy the sat
istaction which accompanies all good works,
the following was placed in my hands =
HEADQUARTERS ARMY OF THE PoToMAC.
Lieut.. R will prepare for particular ser
vice, and report for instructions at headauar-
tiers. By order of
BRIG GEN. Mcdowell, commanding.
\. A. SMITH, Military Secretary.
The routine of camp life had quite taken
the romance out Of soldering, and l hailed
with 6pliUht any rhaOun fror1 It's 6ull mana
tony. SO, after hearty breakfast, l donned
my best clothes, mounted my pet pony, and
rode up to the headquarters, where | was in
formed that strict attention to my duties in
camp for several months having much graft
fed my colonel, by his request | was tempo
rarily relieved from active service, and order
ed to northern New York, there to superin-
tend the enlistment and forwarding of re-
cruits to the seat Of war.
Bowling my thanks with as much calmness
as l could command, l backed out of the
presence Of my superior officers remounted
my horse, rode off to tell the mess Of my good
luck, packed up my traps, and left in the first
train for L., a pleasant town on the Hud-
son, and not a thousand miles from Troy.
My Instructions amounted to little less than
Through, the superintendent consisting in
riding about to several recruiting offices to
OUeJ300h the business.
vi utCeSSltN. lile entrance OF Il udSL1nS
Dragon, all booted and Spurred, somewhat
disturbed the repose Of l., and more than
one pair of bright eyes glistened through the
bowed shutters, as | rode up to the Phoenix
(so-caed, | suppose, because it arose from
its ashcs,) gave my horse to the groom, and
entered my name-lieutenan r., Uni
ted States army, in faring characters on the
register
1t required but Il short time for a scion of
Uncle Sam, fresh from the seat of war, to
make himself acquainted; and the second
afternoon found me in company with Charley
-, Ga fne-looking fellow, who isn't, but
ought 10 be, soldier in presence of three
as pretty and as agreeable young ladies as
one would need to pass an evening with.
There is Il fatality in my existence; it never
rains but it pours. The desire to have fir
tation was supreme-but how to choose, from
three equally attractive and agreeable, was
difficult However, what indecisiOn failed to
bring about chance accomplished; and in
less than three days Emma q drop the Miss,
mere conyentional,) and | were skirmishing
with our light artillery of glances, occasional
ly varied on my part by throwing in a few
volleys of tender speeches, all supported by
reserve force of signs, whose import was UNI
mistakeabe In the meantime, Mary was by
no means neglected; and as she lived in an
other part of the town. the two flares du coeu1
seldom conficted; while Jennie, who mani
Tested mothery interest in all Of us, looked
particularly to the welfare of Emma, her
cousin and visitor.
Pic-nics, drives, sails, and surprise par
ties, assisted old father Time to travel with
unusual rapidly, and began to realize that
my holiday was drawing to a close. The fire.
quent, indeed almost constant, association
with Emma had enlisted in my heart some
thing more than q transitory interest, al
though | was hardly willing to concede, even
to myself that | was fairly caught in the net
woven for her. That she did not dislike me,
! was convinced; but nothing had ever es-
capped her which gave me much ground for
hope; while, on the other hand, Mary was
attentive and engaging as a miss Of sixteen,
and evidently in nOwise displeased by my
show of devotion. To be the victim Of unre-
Quilted affection a little more than my
instructions called for, and my recruiting adj
venture seemed likely, so far as a sweetheart
was concerned, to be failure But | recalled
the faint heart never won fair lady" adage,
and determined at least to make the attempt
Feai, eidj and | didn't feel disposed to
abandon that field without the cici.
As Il preliminary, projected serenade !;
and, in company with Charley, proceeded
one magnificent night, armed with a guitar
and camp stool, to the scene of action The
prelude had hardly died away, when the shut
tiers were opened, and two heads-lrhite cnD-
ped, like the waves-became indistinctlv visi-
BILE through the crevice. Certain of the
presence Of my fair one, | cleared nv voice
for sentimental melody which was to send
conviction of my sincerity to her heart.
Striking an attitude-full opera-I blazed
away, and was in the midst of something
about deeD-Sedted affection, when the camp
stool broke, and over | went into the gutter,
elevating my heels toward the window in an
ungallant and spasmodic farewell. The
screams of laughter that followed would have
walked the dead. Night caps proruded from
neighboring windows; so | scrambled up, and
with the dilapidated remains Of the guitar in
my hand, beat hasty retreat, rather crest
fallen, back to my hotel. 'Allah is good,
the girls kept the affair to themselves, and in
few days all went on swimmingly as before.
My leave expired on Sunday, and twas al
ready the Thursday previous when called on
Emma for the purpose Of laying plain state
ment of facts before her What | said or
what did, are not matters. of historical inter-
est. Suffice it to say, left her several de-
grees happier than when we met, and with her
fathers address in my card case.
What to do in the other case became mat
ter Of amusing Importance. If straws tell
which way the wind blows, Mary's actions in
dictated something more than ordinary friend
ship. So consulted with Emma as to the
course for me to pursue, and Jennie was call
ed to advise in the premises. The council OF
war decided that nothing was left to me but a