The Middlebury register and Addison County journal. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1883-1885, 1883-01-05
UNCLE SANS RECRUITS.
How Men Arc Selected for the Army and
Navy Service--Physcal and Mental Re-
quiremcnts for EnIistm ent.

| LII ulldutlplld JlltTc art TWO TtcTulU-
ing offices for the United States army
one for infantry and artillery and the
other for cavalry. The former is in
charge of Captain Parker, of the Third
Infantry. He is assisted by lance
sergeant and four privates; picked
men, from David's Island, New
York harbor. Men who wish to
enlist in either of these branches APP
ply to the captain, by whom they
are examined as to their fitness
for the service, the physical ex-
animation being made by pri-
vate physician in the absence of an
army surgeon. The requirements are
that the recruit shall be between the
| ages Of twenty-one and thirty-five
years, not less than five feet four inches
high, weight not less than 100 and not
more than 100 pounds, and of good char
acter, the term of service being five
years. The rate of pay Is $13 a month,
with an addition of 81 month for
three years service, 50 a month for
four years's service, and SO month for
| five years service, to all men enlisting
when discharged, after having served
honorably. When enlisted the re-
cruits are forwarded to David's Island,
and from thence drafted to regiments as
they may be needed.
The requirements of the service are
so exacting that but one man out of
every four or five passes. the examin-
alton. He may be physically qualified,
but lacking in intelligence or char
acter, or he may have all the necessary
requisites except first-class health.
Many persons of most excellent char
after and intellectual abilities are re-
jected on account of some slight phys
ical defect. But few colored soldiers
are taken now and they must be of
the best class and able to read and
write.
Captain Parker said that the men
of the army to-day probably stand
higher as to character and physical
condition than those of any other army
in the world. "The day has gone
past when the army was place of
refuge for drunkards and loafers. The
standard is so high now that these
people very rarely succeed in getting
into the ranks. The desertions during
the past few years have been large,
but are of the class who enlisted with
an idea that they could drink rum and
have n jolly good time. They found
that the moral of the men was better
than they had expected and that they
were frowned down, consequently
they ran away. OF course there are
other causes, but this is The main one.
There are many worse positions in
which single man can be than in
the army. His pay is SC much pocket
money if he wishes to SPEND it, for he
is given everything except tobacco and
that is sold to him at wholesale price.
a man may leave all or any portion of
his money with the paymaster and the
government allows interest on it. The
penalty for desertion in time of peace
is dishonOrable discharge, loss of all
pay and allowances and confinement
in the military prison at Leavenworth,
Kansas, for from two to four years.
AT this prison now all the shoes for
the army are made.
The man who wishes to enlist for
the cavalry must not be less than five
feet four inches nor more than five feet
ten inches high and weigh not more
than l65 pounds. The pay is the same
as in the other two branches of the
service. The rendezvous is at jefferson
barracks, st. Louis. The number of
men enlisted averages about the same
as for infantry and artillery.
For the navy there are two recruit
ing stations in this city. At both
places are enlisted-seamen,' S2l. so per
month ordinary seamen, $3.50 per
month landsmen, $3.50 per month
firemen, $31.50per month, and ordinary
firemen, $26.50 per month. AS in the
army so in the navy, extraordinary care
is taken to secure the best available
men. If they have been to sea before,
they are examined as to their capacity,
and if ever been in the navy he must
produce his discharge Men with trades
that can be utilized on shipboard are
always shipped, if otherwise they meet
the requirements. Again, as far as
possible, men are often taken with a
view to their filling the duties of petty |
officers. Iron workers are always use |
full in the navy. The age, weight,
height, thoraX, vision and state of |
health prior to enlistment are carefully |
noted. The enlistment is for three
years. From eighty to ninety per cent.
of the enlistments are foreigners, |
mainly Germans, Swedes, Norwegians |
and English, though all have to know |
enough of the English language to I'M
derstand an order. Over one-half of the |
applicants at the naval rendezvous are |
rejected by the captain and about forty |
per cent. of the remainder are rejected |
by the surgeon.
No advance wages are given now,
though in the spring, when vessels are
being fitted out for service and it be
comes necessary to secure men at once,
two months pay is given, though the
nractica is not one that is generally |