New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1864-01-08
E9KER'S ISLAND ON CfsRHsTMAs
DAN.
How They Get Hccruits-Ilow They Trent
Thcm-Thcre They Send Them.

hcW Ihcy ssst NcCtuifs-EsOW Incy lTrH'
Thcm-syhcre They Send Them.
To tie Editor Of tn. n. Y. Tribune
SIR: The other day, being somewhat in
tcrasted in young who was about to enllst,
visited recruiting office In Broadway. and nerward
Hkers Island, the result of which was WA pnt in
possession of fdcs the record Of If which will be
useful and soinc amusing to your readers.
At about noon Thursday last In company with tho
wonldbe recruit end Lis ficnd. entered Supervisor
Biunis Office. No. 30 broadway. When We had mado
known our eTrand at tie counter Immediately
aeooscl in the most earnest manner by bullet headed
runner who urged Us into side chamber where
young lieutenant doctor aud two clerks wcrc seated at
table in readiness for customers The officials looked
centlcmanly the runner quite the revcne and out OF
place. lie was very oicious putting questions to tic
recruit and his friend. which were CURLY answered
The fellow however seemed to be recognized by ths
officers. ard had apparently some semioicis position
after having vaiuy endcavoied to icduce the incipi.
Join the Lieutenant took the matter In hand put Ito
recruit through short examination. and then turned
him 10 the doctor WHO retired with bs charge Dc
lind white curtain, whence 1 presently heard nc
word " one-onc-one--one' repeated several times IN
tie voice Of my Acquaintance.
In A few moments the medical gentleman reappssred
from behind the curtain and. addressing the clerk said
rather ompAntioay may say with aGlighy yea Stree
ish information OF voice. Make out his papers, ana
the papers made Bullet head took nd outage
81 the opportunity 70 insnuae wholesome counsel INTO
Ito enr Of my frcpts friend 1t was very evident thG'
Mr. Bullctead ses rather too friendly 90 be disnier
esed bu, how lie could be in any concerned In The
matter / was at los, 10 Understand. Tic ml.'er!
WIS not long in being solved. After some hall dorc
printed forms had been filed up. binding the sCnor =
believed to bc licpe and 10y al separately aud col
ectYclv 90 TIC United States tie hiaie ir county,
and he civ the clerk turned Ia my friend and astel
him to alnH biz signature. Here my ffiends frieal
being socitou- about riglts ~ my friend vcnurod
10 nqrro whether there not Little matter Of three
hundred for. .a !. o. S outraged al The bSc
int TINT an,tling could DO tho least irregular In his
potent presence. "A, ,
rlearsntiy b. my ears However both my friends were
readily sat s.cd tina; The word ~ gentleman wearing
shoudeTsrnys mgs. ho ruslworti! and relapsed into
silence while one ~ TIE two became the IroirT! 81
Uncle sam by writing bis name several tmes OF The
printed forms. The Bsirt-lced Low reached forward
ratlcr eagerly and conried eco into tie land ~ Tie
pea soldier .nyiag " There sir are yori 80" I.'
moment ,AougAt must lave sroHgod Bullet bead
pefhnps -fef e. he VAS ~ o1cis-Tsymasf.Ts CLERK.
or possibly the yaymasieT himself hut tho mystery
cleared up; ~. on my i1ends ,rierd nfur.rs
for the fee o. 10 vhich he entitled Tor bringing
recruit Buethead became agtnted. and whispered in
lis ear that u very doubtful whether he could Get
anything Il tho kind intimsing that t would Involve
both parties IN great dosl u difficulty toprrss the mat
ter. and ale SONY % say tho Lieutenant supported
Bglcthcad 10 bis position 10y assuring my fI.cnd that
.@' s sSn boaSsy . Savea
matter. and Bulcih,ai Po,ke,ed the sla TO which he
had no more it than to nan In tic moon OF cOlrte
know tia, TIE Lieutenant received mo psrt Of IL lie
Ear too gcutemanly looking nan for hat. but what
motive could gentleman nnd an officer 10 the United
states service have Ia aiding aud Abeiting fus tsy
IN committing fnuGf
pTaotced upon rccrus--ics, and murders, too-thai
solved 70 visit my young friend at Likers hsrd On
tie following day and sec how he Jared 80. armii
myself with pass proceeded b.iimes to the wharf at
Cattle Garden where found had barely time 20 catch
tie boa, at O'Clock having been nsipformed 10 10
the hour Of starting b. clerk IN Tie frcsos harshhs
Office vLo tod that the boat len st * oe.oot For
iunntey, however vas ,ely ea,l, a. boat "a,
rather late. so just msnaged 70 M n
was not l.tt.o surprised on reaching the deck 70
fnd INV iload there with crowd o. other fUfornlpok
ms recruits each or all appearing ne II they were lnst
r,ooTring from some hideoBs debauob. and here
learned how the authorities treat TIC gallant fellows
10 enlist In army. LEARNED that from tho time had
les ny friend 1t on tia previous day al within On
hour Ol hat time he ard his oonpanions had been locked
up in bare room. with netting but the hard boards 10
sleep Oh, nothing To cover them no food and Tor We
greater part II the tine fro. and that Oh tie r,iy
coolest ipht " this Winter.
But che more luIury-a host Of sharks ard runners
were Jet loose upon em Who on prctensc " procuring
tho faashod wreiches something 10 eat AID irir V
hocced them from night III morning. Some lost 1--WE
somo lott ten. and somc lost twett, dorrs and when
tho cod. gray morning eaino they were hurried ON
board The bnt without breakfast aid Jaw them stand
ing IN the bitter wYt on Rikers Island ill O'Clock
IN, without food Truly. glorious Christmas and
Christmas eve iof ueh s"o were gong ou' 70 nsn'
battles OF their country One splcndia spcoui,h o.
rev sa0q saii9I "a thP,uh y, tne Wy VIC "a"
pceL .hnsieo anne uhocI "s 'VI'"e z a''''. a. y
eoItA1n oA.9 IN bivau ssy Wy s'I'in %y"' WIZ.
nsius 70 S.Asl'sYo'sy 40 etvvIj e.' ~
~" 40, 'ou NC nos 80 10 oe' ~, w, :. 80,
lh bounty " tno saIu %IYor s.u Low NC nay n.a..
gore Grey during the hgLt ~ s.eu' .n' '"VI t,,'
him 500 proinising tho 'hrd Lunhfra piseeh"', DC
side assuring lin that DO Should bc ao"cd ~ g. memo
and Lis wife before he len tle city W couss he
kept neither PROMISE ard teIc ioand NO poor fellow
In groat d.Ie,s AZ the Idea OF the misery he WHO was
suffering on account OF his unexplained absence us
driroes was aggravated by tie kno.ledso that rhe t