The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1870-12-10
The Lieutenant's Lesson.

Some hive years ago l was lieutenant
i'll marching regiment, and quartered in
a large garrison-town in England. My
duties consisted Of the usual round of
morning and afternoon parades, visiting
the mems dinners and teas and other reg
ular work. In addition to this, we had
occasionally to mount guard, and to pass
twcnty-1our hours i'll Il sort of half-impriS-
onment.
1t is one of the regulations of the service
that when officers or men are on guard they
should always be in state of readiness to
g fall in y on parade at a moments notice
If you feel very sleepy, and desire rest, you
must take it whilst you are buttoned up to
the throat, and strapped down at the heels !;
a lounge in an armchair, or probably a
little horizontal refreshment upon sofa,
are the extent of rest which an officer OH
guard is supposed to indulge in.
Among my brother-subalterns in garri-
son, it was our usual practice to infringe
upon this strict letter of the law and when
the principal part of our duty had been
accomplished, we used to indulge ourselves
by divesting our limbs of this armor, and
seeking refreshment between the sheets of
4 little campbell that was placed in the
inner guard-room.
1t was part of the duties of an officer on
guard to visit all the sentrics during the
hight, the time for visiting them being
usually an hour or SO after the field officer
had visited the guard,-the ticld-officer
being colonel or major who was on duty
for the day, and who came once by day and
once by night to visit the guards, and to
see that all was as it should be. There was
no exact limit to the number of times that
this tield-officer might visit the guards, but
I,n
almost a custom, for him to come once by
day and once by night, so that after the
last visit the subaltern usually waited an
hour or so, walked round the limits of his
post, visited all his sentres, and then turned
into bed.
1t was on bitter cold morning in Jan
uary that my turn for guard came on.
marched my men to their post, relieved the
cd guard, and then, having gone through
.lie regular duty and dincd, endeavorcd to
pass the time until the field-officer had Wis
tied me. The previous evening had been
at a ball in the town, and in consequence
was very tired and sleepy, and locked with
considerable longing to the period when l
could refresh myself by unrobing and
enjoying a good snooze.
Atlength heard the welcome challenge:
"Who comes there ?" which was answered
by the response, Grounds - "What
rounds?" "Guard rounds - and "Guard
turn ont - was a signal which willingly
obeyed, for | knew that i'll about one hour
afterwards should be in the arms of the
god of sleep.
Slipping on my cloak and cap, and grasp
ing my sword, placed myself in front of
the guard, and received the tield-officer,
who briefly asked me if all was correct,
directed me to dismiss my guard, and rode
off without saying " Good night. "a pro-
ceeding that thought rather formal. Civ
ing directions to the sergeant to call me in
an hour, for the purpose of visiting the
sentries, | threw myself into my arm chair,
and tried to read 4 novel. The time passed
very quickly, as had nap or two, and
the sergeant soon appeared with lantern
TO conduct me round the sentries.
1t was terrible night, the wind blowing
hard, whilst the snow and sleet were driv-
ing along before it. The thermometer was
several degrees below freezing, and felt
that deserved much from my country for
performing so conscientiously my arduous
duties. The sentries were very much
scattered, and | had to walk nearly two
miles to visit them all. l accomplished my
task, however, and returned to the guard
room, where l treated myself to stiff glass
of grog, and throwing off my regimentals,
jumped into bed, feeling that | really
deserved the luxury.
In a few minutes | was fast asleep, not
even dreaming of any of my fair partners
of the ball, but sound asleep. Suddenly
became conscious of great noise, which
sounded like a drum being beaten. At
first | did not realize my position, and
could not remember where | was, but at
last it flashed across me that | was on
guard and that something was the matter
Jumping out of bed, | called to know who
was there.
The sergeant answered in great hurry,
saying, /" Sir, the field officer of the day is
coming, and the guard is turning out"
| rushed to my boots, pulled them on
over my unstockened feet ; thrust nv sword
arm into my large regimental cloak, which
pulled over me !; .jammed my forage-ca
on my head and grasping my sword, looked
to the outward observer as though 60 fit for
parade"
was Just in time to receive the field
officers, who again asked me if my guard
was correct | answered, rather in a tone
Of surprise, and said, eyes, sir, all cor
rect" | could not imagine why my guard
should be visited twice, as such Il proceed
ing was very unusual, and perhaps my tone
seemed to imply that was surprised
| Whether it was that, or whether treach-
crous gust of wind removed the folds of
my cloak, and exhibited the slightest taste
in life of the end of my niSht-shirt, | know
| not but the field officer, instead of riding
off when he received my answer, turned
his horses head in the opposite direction,
and said, "Now, sir, want you to accom-
pany me round the sentries."
Had he told me that he wanted me to
accompany him to the regions below,
should scarce have been more horror-struck,
for already had found the change of tenn
perature between warm bed in warm
room and the outside air ; and to walk two
miles on windy, frosty night, with no
raiment besides boots, night shirt, and
cloak WAS really suffnrinn for nnn,s