, 1863-08-21
How Con1criptx arc Received By the
Old &oldferA II the Army OF tho Eoto.
Enc-I1fch Practical Jokes,


i letter from the army of the Potomac giYes
Tie following highly amnsipg description Of
tie manner IN which the advance specimens
CT orr National defenders whom the draft aal
lack tf the three h7ndted dolll1s to subsu.
tute, added to their un5onbted patriotism,
have itductd 10 enler the seryic crfeaeceived:
The old soldiers ece1n to consider the neH
cone's Legitimate prey, End tie way they en-
tighten the conEcripts upon tue matter Of the
appearance, size, and domestic habits OF the
Rar elephant, is yaEt1y more exciting than
egTteab}e to the victims, and considerably
more enter .olog to the old THAI to the reW
soldiers. The conscripta Of course come into
their 1cw EeE7ice very much Us our new MI
Htia regiments used to 50 to the fleld--pro-
rfded with immaculate clothing aud new oot-
fits complete, to 17hich they hare added the
pin cuEhtons, needle cases, and innumerable
etceteras, which their anxious Wives and sis
tcra and sWcethea1ts had bcsto@ed with 1o7-
iDg hnnds upon them.
They do, indeed, look nice In thelr QcH tog-
EcrY when compared NTH the seedy looking
yeteroIs all around sud ahout them, and are
tho objects Of urdoub.ed jca!ouslY on tho
part their new, iound comrades. Bat come
how they do rot long retain their now clothes,
md blankets, and Aayezsacls, and h17elocke,
knd dtar homo 1rementoes; Tor after tho first
tTo or three dsys' marching and drilling,
hungry because they cannot crunch the "haTd
tac1z,'' and thirsty because their Etomachs
mud.s1eetened element hero called water,
they toundly sleep nWay not only the dark
hours Of Eight, bat long into the n,.rn!ng
after their exr rerieuced tent mates have arisen.
Tten they find to their sorow that they are
minus the beautiful blue uniforms Of which
previous, whose places laye bean supplied
with tattered garments bearing the nnin-
peaebuble marks Of many tedious march,
and indubitab.e proofs that eoap Is scarce ID
the army. Complaint woaid be useless, bat
the exlletiycs used By the conEcripts when
membrance Of their youthful Sabbath School
rrecepts las passed away with their losses
and tley takc their zeTenge In highly uEchris-
tim comments upon the mortality and homes
II ef the Army Of the Potomac.
But this exchanging Of clothing is only one
n ent from the new comers. After the duties
of the morning nre oTez m enterpristng OBJ
teryer might 1iEcoyer n crowd Of veterans es-
corting party Of recruits to some secluded
place nea1 camp where 'inspcction'' Is to
tske place. Now 1t must not be supposed
ferred to In the army regulations, bat ism sort
Ct rude ritual improgised for the occasion.
The parry, as they pass ont Of camp, are gen
orally Under the charge Of q non commisalon.
cd officer, selected for his humor and liability
to create the most profound impression upon
1QOSt Mu0 Alt W w 10ePtctSu. AEl1F1uSA At
a Joint In come field near where perhaps are
eisconced tie connisslo&d officers Of the
regiment, within the thick foliage Of the hazel
or blackberry, the candidates are ordered to
dirett themselves Of their clothing and to
form into line. II the dag be one Of those In
tense}y hot ones, such as have affected us Tor
. few days past, the denuded patriots are not
Kept tacirg the sun over half m hour at 4
time, when they are allowed to t.a5,ut face
and 80 through the manual Of arms until
cooked upon each side alike.
-, Wien the culinary process is completed, tho
inspected are allowed to don their habIli-
ments, when they are told that such mus bs
gone through with In order to harden them
10 tie service. II 4 rain comes up during the
day Eome high private who does not miud
getting vet, paIades the green soldiers for
squad drill until the shower Is orer, to the no
snau annoyance Of all concerned. Of c2urse
none Of the officers know anything Of the foc-
ular indignities practieed by their subordin-
ates, OF Of course none Of them would ALLOW
t.sich things to be carried on y but notics
they never as yet have been able to ascertain
who, Hany, oftheir commanders are thegull-
ty parties. Another thing notice Is the TACT
tia. after tho new comers 1earn the *'sell''
they are the first to avail themselves Of the
opportunity to inspect tho next batch that ar
Eyes. 'tEIery man has his turn and every
deg AiE day" Is the motto with a1l alike.