The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-08-22
Where and How the Army Draws Its
Source of Life.
THE UNITED STATES RECRUITING SYSTEM
From the Chrysalis to the Full Blown Sol
dier-Centres Of Supply-Governor's
Iaaand-Working Of the Machinery
Americans Growing Fond Of Martial
Glory-The Foreigners Falling
Away-DesertiOns from the
Army and the Cause.

1nere IL very little OF romance In the life OF SOL
der connected with the Unt-d states army. 1t Is
Adult and cherries prospect at the best ana can
only commend itself as way OF living TO those
poor devils who seek escape from some necessity
or tyranny that society imposes. There Is pictur-
esqueness abont European armies altogether want
ing In ours. Even that rigid frigId ronbound nsIi-
tuition the British army, has glamour about 1t for
the common soldier which lures away 10 glory
many others besides the ignorant paupers OF the
lower classes. The tramps from town TO town
and the changes from one delightful garri-
son town to another or from temperate
to tropical cline. from Canterbury to Calcutta,
with all the interesting variety that lies between
have fascination even for the private soldier.
1.-THE Girl Lett Behind Mer is soldiers song ana
one that thrills every British regiment whenever
splayed as the air that marks the departure OF the
men from one station to another. But the music,
lively and inspiriting as 1t H. would TALL with very
different effect upon the OF our boys as they
take change Of air and residence from Fort Aber.
erombie to Stka, or DICE versa.
There are few armies among civilized nations so
utterly unattractve In this regard a. ours. Even
when the United States soldier can avail himself OF
peep ct the streets ana squares OF a big city hc
feels sense OF isolation In the midst Of the civilian
population around him more easily imagined than
described We take no pride In our regular army.
Its oficers are, Of course welcome wherever they
60, more especially If they have plenty Of money;
but the poor soldier is foroin object
ON the Streets One heavy spree dissipa,es
his earnings for month, and common
soldier without money on the streets OF New York
even though ne wear the ever glorious sky ana deep
sea blue, has as little chance OF being invited 10 par
take In the hospitality OF a neighborng beer saloon
as II he were Scandinavian emigrant similarly cir.
cumstanced or course 1t Is very diierent with
PRO Dgiu AZ, AHA,
countries. Schneiders 'JAIme le Mllilaire" COR
rectly interpreted the feeling towards the soldiers
abroad We look upon our arnors as 80
much material to be thrown periodically to the
devourfng behemoth OF Indian lerocty, and wien
not 80 employed TO garrison some far or
God-forsaken forts where Alexander Selhirk
might just as appropriately express himself monarch
VI all he surveyed as on the desert island OF Juan
FERNANDEZ. When the Indians are exsermlnat cd
no doubt some patriotic member OF Congress from
the West VIII move the abolition OF the regular
army. why wo should thus regard our gallant
defenders 10 expainahe on two grounds-Frstly that
standing armies can be dispensed with In republics
horizon OF peace; and, secondly, that in tlnes of
emergency tho deeds Of the regulars have been
glory OF the citizen soldIery.
DEPLETION OF THE ARMY.
THIS erticle presunes to tell the system by which
our army Is recruited. OF what material it Is com
posed. from whence Il Is brought TO where It Is con-
signed. It may be stated In advance that small as
the standing army Is nc present II never since tine
close OF the war; stood more IN need OF recruits.
Avery large number VII 5000 be discharged OH ac-
count Of the expiration Of their term Of SER
vice, which Il three years. To supply
ine deficiency VIII take q Little time and as
and no premium awarded the recruiting parties as
was formerly the case, Uncle sam VIII have to de.
either upon the unquestonlng patriotism or urgent
necessities 0i his mauy nepnews.
AMERICAN RECRUITS INCREASING.
\ SiuVular a nat nj
recent years were 50 MANY natlye born Americans
onerlng themselves as recruits. The explanation
may be found IN the effects producer by OF
the rebellion hat four years OF military strife
taught habits to many thousands which fifty years
we find an unusually large proportion Of young
athletic Americans recorded on the rolls of the
the pioneers OF peaceful industry among the WesterIf
woods ana prairie: some, OF course, are extremely
ana % s Class was an 9n so WHOM the
recognized by the sergeant at the depot greeted
with tie interrogative exclamation OF. surprise,
'is that you back again heresr It appeared lie Lad
only been discharged win $500 in his pocket few
6ays previously, his term OF service being up, but
much for him. He went on a trenen-
dous spree, spent all his money III two nights,
ana then reiuried to mill AIRY lie once more There
are many such cases, and who will say that the
Active benevoence OF philanthropy Is not AZ mucn
needed In behalf or the discharged and bewIdered
soldiers OF the army Is IL is IN the case OF land
logged sailors.
THE RECRUITING DEpors.
The four recruiting deDots OF the United States
army ore Governors Island, Newport Barracks,
Kentucky, Fort Leavenworth and Alcatraz Island,
fsnt and the one With which we "a are more f i'm
mediatey concerned Its jurisdiction con-
ve in s New So,K cty sc two
Two In Philadelphia, two In BROOKLYN, In Boston,
one IN Providence ana one in Buffalo. From all these
stations there were received al the depot on Gov
eInors Island from the 20 70 the 3ls Of July 22e re-
crnts, and from the lat to tie 18th OF August 414 or
coored recruits, who are not to be ignored or for
gotten In this or universal equality, there were
SO for the month Juy and the average receipts OF
,nree per day. There are two colored regiments
somewhere South TO which these supplies are sent.
a daT Rns,o, nan iron New Yops Balti-
Mile on Governors Island they enjoy perfect
social equality with The whites, being treated pre-
lngs by having worse blanket or a harder bed TO
lie upon than the whites. II an iniraction OF The
zion OF the ball and chain, they can indulge the
gratifying reflection that the White ofeuders in the
same degree have an equal weight OF metal tackled
on 10 their ankles. The one distinction which in
tins hot weather shows wisdom and humanity on
,e part OF the autnofltles. IS mat the domestic
hundred yards away, Were they are removed after
passing the doctor.
HOW THE THINa IS DONE.
The system OF recruiting Is carried on in the
following manner:--Each recruiting party ut sta
ton IN this city or elsewhere CONSISTS OF commits
stoned officer sergeant In charge Of the rcndez-
vous, clerk and one two soldiers. All have TO
be attired IN full un form during Office hours One
OF the partythe best looking II Is ~ be presumed
stands at the door ia careless sort OF an attitude,
MS wary eye glancng IN apparent indifference up
ana down the street. customer soon strols along
IN the shape or greenhon from across
the sea or an Impecunous son OF the soil, with his
nauds In his pockets aud nothng IN his pockets but
HIS nantls. The man IN uniform bids HIM good
morning, but not with half. che cordiaiity he was
Wont 10 90, when he rcckoned upon the mead before
MN US worth TWO dollars the moment he passed The
doctor. He sees nothing la mems heads nova
daysIlo him they are individually and collectively
Wortlless 1nis Is u cruel ciange, and all the poor
compensation offered instead Is the privilege OF
living IN the city and spending his spare pennies on
Deer. however, the sport OF fishing ND poor
waits Oh humanity has not altogether lost is charms
Ior tne recruiting Officer, even though The fun be
uliemunefatlve. lie prides himself yet upon beng
QUICK ~ pichlng up "A likely boy and turning him
into u soiuicr Being soldier himself, and maylap
having been the trump in his day OF some other