The New York herald., 1878-02-25
NArIoNALIrr oy RxcRuIrs.
Axrr-BELLum RECRUITING.

ANrE-BELLUM RECRUITING
With the exception Of exemption from drill and
freedom from the restraints OF garrison lie the
cruitpg service Of to-day has little 10 recommend II.
There is no extra pay and no promotion. The ola
two-dollar premium for each accepted recruit was
abolished years ago and other perqusite substt-
tuted. This premium used TO supply recruiting par
ties with very respectable fund Of spending money.
Tho general rule that tho sergeant took the pre-
MUM for recruits who the rendezvous Of their
accord, while tho other members OF the party
received II for those they Picked up the streets
other resorts Of tho mpecunoua Al desirable sta
ions, like New York, the sergeant mado from $50
$125 per month In addition to his army pay. rations,
clothing, &C. That paragraph OF the recruiting regu.
lations which required the officer sssee that tho
men under his command wear their military dress in
becoming manner, especially when permitted TO 20
usually wore citzens clothes or mado sort OF
promise by putting gilt buttons on blue flannel
business for the day, dressed themselves up
clothes purchased begged from decentiy clad
chose. The officer himself never worc uniform. and
his party followed hts example whenever they had
the chance.
EXAMINATION OF RECRUITS
The examination OF recruits Is now conducted with
much greater strctness than formerly not more than
0ne-third OF the applicants passing the ordeal Re-
cruitng officers especially charged to every
care person, 10 avoid the enlistment OF minors
bad men rho old regulation governing the accept-
OF recruits was as foIows:-
Any white male person above the Of eighteen
nd Ss es ys Il vs @ hrs;
good ana habits and with competent knowledge
Of the Engish language may be enlisted.
soJar age, character, habits, sobrety and know.
edg6of English 10 concerned this regulation often
evaded Iho sergeant, whose zeal for procuring re-
cruits was NOT any less because there happened
prospective twodoliar premium, took care that able
bodied applicants we're properly schooIed before being
presented 10 the recruiting officer for inspection.
an applicants English were defective there would
be a painstaking rehearsal until ho could readily
questions as, 'How Old your Where wore
You borns How loug have you been IN this
trader DO you driuks Have You ever been
sick? Had any bones broken" 90 As for character
% and habits what could a recru,.ng onicsr ma Sut
country, and who very likely sought to enlist under
assumed nameP
nRiGHr AND wKIanr OF RECRUITS
The regulation already quoted as 70 age, SC, IL still
force, except that standard Of height has been
modified. Recruits for the white cavalry regiments
must not be below dve ieet three inches, nor weigh
moro than l75 pounds In cases where unexcep.
tionable recruit presents himself, whose height or
weight may slightly exceed this standard, discretion
Is allowed the recruiting ofhcer 10 accept him. Ar.
tllsry and infantry recruits must not be below nve
feet four; limit TO weight Recruits for coorcd
regiments not be less than lvo feet two; weight
not prescribed. These regulations do not apply 70
enlist have served honorably and faithfully pre-.
viOus enlistment In the army.
COST OF OBTAINING RECRUITA
Tho average cost oil obtaining recruits Is $40 per
man. This IL tho basis OF all estimates Tor tho re.
COngroSB
$4,000 for the service OF tho current fiscal the
Adjdlant General Will not DO enabled to accept more
than $500 men prior TO the LIST Of July next. OK.
elusive OF old soldiers who re-enist In thor compa.
nics regiments at posts wnero they discharged
anu whose roonl,stment entails no charge upon the
recruiting fund. II should be stated however, as O
fact not generally known, that the amount appro-
praied by Congress for tue recruiting service does
represent titho OF the actual expense OF sob.
stluting raw recruit tor soldier at ono OF our
frontier posts The only charges that can be paid
from the recruiting fund are rent Of rendezvous iusi
nj oflico~ ~wo..oco
together with the cost oil Transporting recruits from
the rendezvous 10 the depot Governors Island ST.
LOUIS barracks or Columbus as the casc may
be. The Cost ot eniisting recruit IN New York,
drilling HIM at Fort Columbus and placing him
III regiment on the Mexican Doruer will not fall
short OF $3.50, as will be readily IL s
sdered how many people nave had hand, directiy or
inuiroctiy IN MS cnIisnien First OF ali therc s
cruitlng party say captain and iour hee men, to
attend 10 the prcliminarios; army surgeon 10
examine him medically Then he Is sworn in and sent
W Govcrnors lsland where hc finds corps OF COM
missoned aud non-commIssoncd officers TO command,
iccd cotnc, physic, dr court martial and otherwise
initiate him into the mysteries OF military life. Also
post chaplain, 10 whom he listen on Sundays,
unless he happens 10 be guard or prefers game OF
eucre on the sly. There Is also colonel and act
Ing assistant adutant general at headquarters In New
YORK, who transact the gtcdged or red-tapc portion
tanned Governors Island Tor Two or tnrsc months
the recruit has to bo transported 10 the Rio Grande
and when be there n Sesn
drilling, &C., have to be repeated Tor six twelve
mouths more before any old soldier Will admit that
tue any ytnng Dut a grcenhorp. lt often
happens, however that the man never reaches his
dcstIuation having ''clearcd out route and Uncle
sam receives no equivalent ior all tho care cost aut
curses expended III teaching an unworthy recruit hh
facinRs ana tue manual Of arms
In addition to all the foregoing there are other oe
ments OF value In determining the cost price OF rs.
cruits-viz, tho pay anu allowances Of the Assistant
Adjutant General IN the War Department who hns
cnargc oil matters connected with tho recruiting ser.
wee pay OF some dozen more clerxs ~ ths
Adjutant Generals Office and the Treasury Depart
CONTINUED ON NINTH PAGEl