Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1867-11-26

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with pleasure. There is a fine field for young
man of your abilities. Railroads, canals and
turnpikes are being constructed in every section
of this vast country Civil engineers and sur
veyors are needed in every direction You may
calculate on my recommendation, sir, if you
should apply for either of these offices. / bid
you farewell sir, and hope you may prosper.
| The Colonel shook me by the hand, and we
| parted /; meeting again but once several years
after. He I believe, is now on the retired
list" and lives in Europe.
CHAPTER v.
Major Worth, better known at this present
writing as General Worth, the hero of Molino
de Ray and bright star of the Mexican war,
was Instructor Of Tactics at the time of my
schooling at Military Academy. He was man
OF prompt and mpulsive action; a good soldier
and, per- consequence, severe dlsclpllnarian.- -
He sometimes inspected the battalion, and,
with quick eye, discovered defects in the mus
ket or some trifing want Of uniformity in the
| equipments Of the cadets. If shirt-colar was
turned down, the laundress got no blame for
being economical with her starch, but the un-
fortunate student had to suffer for her parsi-
mony. A speck on the helmet plate, or fly
| blow ON the otherwise snow white BELTS was an
offence important enough to be reported unsol-
dierlike.
One of the regulations was that the hair
should be cut short; (the order originated from
former practice of the cadets of allowing their
| hair to tall In very unmasculine ringlets over
| their shoulders) and my crest being. Of curly
and elastic nature, [ rather objected to having
it clipped close, for then my head. very much
| resembled brlstle mop, used by housewives
for cleaning the outside Of windows, or fretted
| porcupne. L consequently allowed it an ile-
| gal projection beyond the rim of the cap.
| My crop OF frizzle was in it's full bloom, when
| an inspection was ordered, and arms and ac-
coutrements were polished and cleansed in beau
| tiful style In order to meet the appreciation Of
the inspecting Major. / stood in the ranks as
erect as pine sapng When the Major came
in front Of me, threw up my musket from an
order, and presented it for scrutiny The Ma
jor nodded and returned it to me. He then
surveyed me with hawks eye from foot to
head, aud, at last, his gage rested upon my
mop. He took hold Of the projecting hair, and
| giving it twitch, said to the Adjutant-
Report Cadet -- for inordinately long
hair
You'll oblige me, sir, by letting 90 my
hair replied |, looking daggers,
You can leave the ranks, sir J. was the Ma
jor's stern reply The order was promptly
obeyed and received public reprimand for
unsoldierlike conduct
HtNtl Hdu any uldEkGuaHeCtlO IOr Major
Worth, and this occurrence tended to ALLEVIATE
that little still further I lived on the hope of
one day having my revenge for the insult, as /
imagined it. offered my curly locks, so much
worshipped by my mother. My hope was
shortly afterwards realized, for an event took
place which threw the testy Major in far more
mortifying predcament than | was when Or
dered to leave the ranks
On full parade the students were sometimes
formed into division Of companies, in order
to give the subaltcrn officers chance of acting
as field and staff officers, and improving the
privates in field exercises. The military reader
will understand me, when | place the division
in the form of a column of attack. with the
guides in the centre, and on the march. In or
der to get the companies into line, there is a
very jaw breaking word of command, followed
by complicated movement.
The Major, it was said, had studied this
movement for sometime, and was determined
to try the young officers at it. He had on tight
summer pantaloons, in all probability little
rotten from the frequent use of soap-suds. He
stood on the hanks of the column as it moved
majestically along to the inspiring peals OF mar
tial music. His countenance was flushed with
excitement, for his whole soul was on that pa
rade and that particular manouvre, the Board
of Visitors being spectators. He drew himself
up to his full height-inhated his manly chest
by long breath, and beloved forth the follow
ing command
"Column Of attack form a line of tourne on
the right flank Right companies, right into
line wheel-left companies forward on your
right, form line. march,"
The word of command was beautifully carried
out; the markers were promptly at their posts,
the men fell into line and dressed-but the un-
fortunate Major, in his anxiety to give a pow.
I IL, oQ
the climax Of the command, had squatted and
rent the posterior section of his inexpressibles
He mad to surrender his office to the next IN
command, and make change in the retirement
of his quarters
On the campaign las it was termed) to Bos-
ton, during the Summer Of the year 1920 the
corps was under the command Of Major Worth,
and many comica as we'll as serious events oc-
Cured which tended to enliven the monotony
| Of long and tedious march over rocky hills
and sandy levels. One day the Major took oc-
casion to display his particular partlality tor me
| by ordering me under arrest for carrying the
| musket and knapsack Of smaller and younger
| cadet contrary to express orders. A small act
of humanity, prompted by Tesprit de corps,
was thus rewarded by the stern dlsclpllnarlan
| However, my good luck followed me, and
soon had chance of repaying the commandant
tenfold.
The corps, after fatiguing march, at last
pitched their tents on Boston commons, and
crowds of people visited them day and night
Their prompt manoeuvres gentlemany depOrt-
ment and high military bearing, won them the
admiration of the denizens Of the ''Athens OF
America The officers were feasted by the
corporation, and Yankee hospitality shone out
brightly on that particular occasion, so that
even the rank and file felt Its kindly influence.
On certain day, received beautifully en-
bossed billet from a lady friend inviting ne with
two of my class mates to a party given at her
residence that evening expressly on our ac-
counts. Unfortunately, | was On the guard de-
tail of that day; but, determined to make an
effort to 90, [ called at the marque of the COM
,mandant, and asked permission to find SUBJ
stitute. The Major fatty refused to grant my
request, and told me that the first duty of a
soldier was to obey orders and deny himself
Moreover, as many unruly characters were all
night hanging round the encampment, he en-
Joined it upon ME to be strict, and not allow
any one. no matter who, to pass in or out OF
the camp without the countersign.
Disappointed and mortified, Ireturned to the
guard tent, and, having obtained writing ma
terials, penned an apology to the lady, decli
ming the invitation on account OF my duties
That night Gen. g. gaye magnificent
entertainment to the officers Of the battalion
Major Worth was, OF course, the magnet star Of
the night
It was about o clock in the morning; the
moon was in her full, and trees, waters and