Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-11-06

and sleepy, ana looked Wltn cOnsluer5
able longing to the period when I could
refresh myself by disrobing and enjoy
ing q good snooze.
At length I heard the welcome chal-
lenge. "Who comes there ?" which was
answered by the response, "Grand
rounds" and Guard, turn out % was
signal which 1 willingly obeyed, for l
knew that in an hour afterward I 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
everything was correct, directed me to
dismiss my guard, and rode off without
saying "Good night" proceeding that
/ thought rather formal.
Giving 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 a novel.
The time passed very quickly, as 1 had
a nap or two, and the sergeant soon APP
peared with a lantern to conduct me
round the sentries.
1t was a terrible night, the wind blow
ing hard, while the snow and sleet were
driving along before it. The Their
mometer was several degrees below
freezing, and felt that deserved much
from my country for performing so con-
scientiously my arduous duties. The
sentries were very much scattered, and
/ had to walk nearly two miles to visit
them all. / accomplished my task.
however, and returned to the guard
room, where treated myself to a stiff
glass of grog, and throwing off my regi-
mentals / jumped into bed, feeling that
really deserved the luxury.
In few moments [ was fast asleep, not
even dreaming of any of nay fair part
ners of the ball, but sound sleep. Sud-
denly / became conscious of a great
noise, which sounded like a drum being
beaten.
At first l 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, L
called to know who was there.
The Sergeant answered ina great hur-
ry, saying: '
"Sir, the field officer of the day is
coming, and the guard is turning out. !"
1 rushed to my boots, pulled them on
over my unstockinged feet thrust my
sword-arm into my large regimental
cloak, which / pulled over me jammed
my forage cap on my head, and, grasp
ing my sword, looked to the outward
observer as though eft for parade"
1 was just in time to receive the field
officer, who again asked me if my guard
was correct. / answered, rather i'll
tone of surprise, and said: :" Yes, sir,
all correct"
/ could not imagine why my guard
should be visited twice, as such pro-
ceeding was unusual, and perhaps my
tone seemed to imply that 1 was sur.
prised. Whether it wasthat, or whether
treacherous gust of wind removed the
folds of my cloak and exhibited the
slightest taste In life in the end of the
night-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 accompany
me around 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 temperature between a warm
bed In warm room, and the outside air
and to walk two miles on a windy,
frosty night, with no raiment besides
boots, night-shirt, and cloak, vas 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 l
would have given a 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 ques-
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-
vous work, however, was passing the
gas-lamps, which were placed at inter-
The wind was blowing so fresh that it
was with difficulty l could hold my cloak
around me, and conceal the absence of
my undergarments. Every now and
then an extra gust of wind would come
round a corner, and quite defeat all the
precautions which l had adopted to en-
counter the steady gale. managed to
dodge in the shades as much as possible,
and more than once ran the risk of be-
ing kicked by the field officers horse,
as l skunk behind him when the gas
might have revealed too much.
1t was terribly cold, to be sure, the
wind and snow almost numbing my
limbs. l had kind of faint hope that
the field officer might think that 1 be-
longed to a Highland regiment, and if
he did observe the scantiness of my at
tire, might believe that that kilt would
explain it. / struggled and shivered
on, knowing that all things must have
an end, and that my Grounds must
come to end before long, But 1 feared
that 1 could not again get warm during
the night.
We had nearly completed our tour,
and were within few hundred yards of
the guard-room, when we passed the
field officers quarters. 1 fondly hoped
Il L Al