Rutland weekly herald. [volume] (Rutland, Vt.) 1859-1877, 1873-11-13
from Charing Cross Monthly Magazine
why 4 Exchanged.

Some five wears ago was subaltern
In marching regiment, and quartereu
in large garrison town ia England.
NV duties consisted of the usual round
Of morning and afternoon parades, visit
ing the mems dinners and teas, and other
regular work. In addition to this we
had. occasionally, to mount guard, and
to pass twenty-four hours in a sort OF
half-imprisonment.
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 ''fall in" on parade at a
moments notice. If you feel very
sleepy and desire rest, you must take 1t
whilst you are buttoned up to the throat
and strapped down at the heels a
lounge in an arm chair, or probably a
little sleep for refreshment upon a
sofa, is the extent of rest which an ofii-
Ger on guard is supposed to indulge in.
Among my brother subaIterns In gar
rison it was our usual practice to In
fringe upon this strict letter of the law
and when the principal part OF our duty
had been accomplished we used to in
dulge ourselves by divesting our limbs of
their armor, and seeking refreshment
NDN
that was placed in the inner guard-room.
1t was part of the duties of an officer
on guard TO visit all the sentries during
the night, the time for visiting them be-
ing usually an hour or so after the field
officer had visited the guard; the field
officer being colonel or major who
was on duty for the day, and who came
once by day and once by night to see the
guards and to see that all was as it
should be. There was no exact limit to
the number of times that the field officer
might visit the guards, but it was the
usual thing, and had become almost a
custom for him to come once by day and
once by night, so that after the last
visit the subalterns usually waited an
hour or so, walked round the limits of
his post, visited all his sentries, and then
turned into bed.
1t was a bitter cold morning in Janu-
airy that my turn for guard came on. |
marched my men to the post, relieved
the old guard, and then, having gone
through the regular duty and dined, en-
deavored to pass the time until the held
officer had visited me. The previous
evening | had been at ball in town,
and in consequence was very tired and
sleepy, and looked with considerable
longing to the period when | could re-
fresh myself by unrobing and enjoying
a good snooZe.
At length | heard the welcome chal-
lepge, '.Who comes there ?" which was
answered by the resoDse, "Grand rounds"
and ''Guard turn out !" was a signal
which | willingly obeyed, for | knew
that in an hour afterwards | should be
in the arms of the god of sleep.
Slipping on my cloak and cap, and
grasping my sword, / placed myself in
front of the guard and received the field
officer, who briefly asked me if every
thing was correct, directing me to dis
miss my guard, and rode off without say
ing Goodnight" a proceeding that l
thought very formal
Giving directions to the sergeant to
call me in an hour, for the purpose of
visiting the sentries, tire W myself into
my arm chair and tried to read novel.
The time passed very quickly, as l had
nap or two, and the sergeant soon APP
peared with lantern to conduct me
round the sentries.
1t was terrible night, the wind blow
ing hard, whilst the snow and sleet were
driving along before it. The thermom-
eter was several degrees below freezing,
and / felt that deserved much from my
country for performing so conscientious
" my arduous duties. The senteries
here were very much scattered, and |
had to walk nearly two miles to visit
them all. Accomplished my task, how
ever, and returned to the guard-room,
where treated myself to stiff glass of
grog, and throwing off my regimentals
jumped into bed, feeling that | really
deserved the luxury.
In 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 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 hur-
ry, 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 unstockinged feet; thrust my
sword-arm into my large regimental
cloak, which pulled over me; damned
ON my forage cap on my head, and,
ward observer as though eft for
parade"
/ was just in time to receive field OFF,
Ger, who again asked me if my guard
was correct. / answered rather in a
tone of surprise, and said; Eyes, sir,
all correct"
/ could not imagine why my guard
should be visited twice, as such a pro-
ceeding was unusual, and perhaps my
tone seemed to imply that | was sur
prised. Whether it was that, or wheth-
er treacherous gust of wind removed
the folds of my cloak and exhibited thu
sighted taste in life of the end of the
nightshirt, know not; but the field of
ficer, instead of riding off when he re-
ceived my answer; turned his horses
head in the opposite direction and said:
Snow, sir, want you to accompany
me around the sentries."
Had he told me that he wanted me to |
accompany him to the region below | |
should scarcely have been more horror |
struck, for already / had found the |
change of temperature 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 |
suffering for ones country and no mis-
take.
dared not show the slightest hesita-
ton, however, for fear the state of my
attire might be suspected, though
would have given weeks pay to have
escaped for only five minutes. A nom
commissioned officer was ready with
lantern, and we started on our tour of
inspection.
The field officer asked several cues
tions connected with the position and
duties of the sentries, to which / gave
answers as well as the chattering of my
teeth would permit me. The most ner-