The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1881-07-23
FROM TEXAS.

II. V. MoRTHIMER-SIR,-T ADVOCATE
has arrived. Thanks. now send you
another letter, which may prove of less in
terest than my previous one, but leave it
to your judgment. Possibly may go on an
exploring expedition shortly, and if so, l
shall note down for your benefit whatever
may deem of interest. Now l will tell
you how we celebrate the
FOURTH AT A FRONTIER MILITARY PosT.
Before sunrise the garrison was aroused
the regimental band of the sth Cavalry, the
field music, the 22nd Infantry colors, and
the standard Of the Sth Cavalry, with their
proper guards, " fell in " at the Adjutant's
Office and marched around the post, play
ing the national airs at the same time a
salute of thirteen guns was fired under the
direction of the post ordnance sergeant. The
garrison " fell in" in front of their respec-
tive company barracks, and, as the colors
passed, gave three rousiDg cheers. The
band was then dismissed, the colors and
standard returned to their respective regi-
mental headquarters, and the field music
sounded reville and "stables." After stable
call the cavalry marched to stables TO groom
for about half hour, while the infantry
retired to their quarters to await the call to
breakfast. Breakfast eaten, the men anus
ed themselves with old-fashioned tricks,
games, ETC., to improve their appetites for
i L l.. Luf
Fourth Of July dinner is to the army what
a Thanksgiving dinner was TO our New Eng
land ancestors of so years ago. At twelve
o'clock a salute of Ss guns was fired. The
afternoon was passed by a large portion Of
the garrison in sleep, while many beguiled
the hours with some spicy novel from the
post library. Stable call was sounded at
three instead of four o'clock, to enable the
men to take supper before the sports began.
At four o'clock the crowd began to gather
soldiers and civilians, white and colored,
American and Mexican, all formed one
eager mass OF spectators. Shortly after four
o'clock the sport was inaugurated by g.
legged race, which was followed by $50
yard race. There were about Is runners,
and the contest was close. The sack race
afforded many hearty laugh, as did also
the wheelbarrow race and the pig chase
Throwing the shot and the running leap
were witnessed with much interest but the
greatest excitement ragged when the "tug-
Of war" came of. The trial was between
20 chosen iniantrymen and 20 picked cav
alrymen. When the word was given, the
rope was stretched till it cracked gradually
the cavalry, for the first few minutes
gained ground. The crowd, which had
been cleared away, now pressed close upon
the contestants, and with cheers and excla-
nations encouraged them, the officer of the
day, with drawn sabre, and the members OF
the committee of arrangements rushing a.
round frantically ordering and pressing the
crowd back. After pull which seemed to
last half an hour, but which probably did
not continue more than fiYo or six minutes,
the cavalry faltered the infantry were
getting the advantage they gained slowly
but surely, and when the marker neared
the stake, they made ono grand effort and
won. Great was the exultation. Officers
and men whooped and halloed caps were
flying through the air; infantry officer;
shook hands with one another exchanging
congratulations, and with cavalry officers in
sympathy for their defeat.
The long race-three times around the
parade ground, almost mile and quarter
-engrossed nearly as much interest, though
the excitement was less. Twenty-eight
names were entered, and all started. The
} first round was made by all in good style
the second round proved more severe, ant
many dropped out. About ten started or
! the third round the excitement was great
and when the champion came in the ap
, plause which greeted him could be hear,
: over all the reservation.
The day S sports were done, and the regu
I lar routine of army life was once more TAX
en- up. Hum-drum, "hsy-foot, straw foot,
so goes the soldier, on the frontier, in tim
. Of peace. A LEHIGHToN Boy.