National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-10-04

George F. Williams contributes a very
entertaining and splendidly illustrated
article entitled Lights and Shadows of
Army Life" to tho current number of
tho Century. Tho following selections
from it will doubtless provo very inter
esting to old soldiers of both armies who
may not DO fortunate enough to possess q
copy of the magazine:
One ofthe hardest lessons for the Ameri-
can soldier WAS tho necessity for military
discipline and etiquette. 1t seemed odd
to tho youth who carried musket that
he must not be on familiar terms with an
old schoolmate because tho latter wore
gold lace on his shoulder or collar. Many
young man, fresh from college, found
himself subject TO tho arbitrary orders Of
his fathers clerk. and the stern, inflexi-
republican customs it was difficult at first
to teach tho rank and file how necessary
was discipline and unquestioning obedi-
once. When regiments were formed at
the outbreak of the war, officers on both
sides woro selected by ballot, the conso-
quence being that many incompetent
men were given command, and it was not
until tho troops had been in the field for
some months that this condition Of affairs
was changed.
Laughablo incidents Of the lack of re-
spoct shown to officers in those early days
might be related. When Gen. Magruder
was marching down tho Peninsula at tho
head of confederate column he halted
at a farmhouse and ordered dinner. En-
tering the room where it had been served,
no was amazed and indignant ut finding
one of his soldiers seated at the we'll
spread table, dcvouring the Viands in
tended for himself
STRIP Numbered tho general, as he
drew his handsome figure up to its full
height, Sir, do you know whose dinner
you arc oating"
"No, l don't" replied the intruder
carelessly, as he refilled his plate. "And
what's more, don't care, SO long as the
victuals are clean"
Gen. Magruder saw the point and re-
treated i'll good order, leaving the soldier
to enjoy himself to his full content.
A federal colonel, noticing that the
sentinel in front of his tent omitted the
usual salute due to his rank, called him
to account.
''See here, colonel" replied the soldier,
"what good does IL do you to have me
present arms every burned time you
you kinder putting on airs?"
Is was often necessary to speak sharply
to some laggard in the ranks while at drill,
and, on ono occasion, an officer had to pay
special attention TO one of his company
with whom he had been on terms of social
intimacy when there was no thought of
war in the land. Finally, exasperated
by what no deemed to be deliberate at
tempt to mortify him, the soldier shouted
out:
Tom Wyncote, just you wait until we
break ranks, and I'll give you one of
the greatest lickings you over got in your
life"
A few months later Capt. Tom would
have sent his friend to the guard house.
AS it was he laughed with the rest of the
company, and explained that he had in
tended to exercise no special tyranny.
The offender against military etiquette
saw his error, and. being ashamed of
himself, paid stricter attention to duty,
and rose to high rank before the close of
the war. r -
A confederate private in the Louisiana
Guards was sharply reprimanded by his
superior officer, whose social rank he
deemed beneath his own.
Its all very well for you, George
Weatherly, to talk to me that way now"
he exclaimed, wrathfully; you wouldn't
dare to do it if we were in New Orleans
without that lace on your cuff"
The officer was brave enough, but, for
getting his position, he pulled off his
coat, saying: "There Frank Peyton, l
don't wear lace on my shirt sleeves
Come on!"
The two men were just beginning to
spar at each other, when their cooler COM
rades separated them and pointed out the
folly of their proceeding.
The time soon came, however, when
he men who carried the musket were as
1reat sticklers for military etiquette as
their officers, resenting any neglect on
the part of the latter in returning salutes
In some regiments the discipline was so
strict that men on post as sentinels were
on the alert to discover any delinquency
of their superiors. At Federal Hill, Bal
timore, Col. (afterward GEM Warren
gave orders to his zouave guards that only
officers in uniform were to be admitted
into camp. One bright Sunday morning
in August, 1861, Gen. Dix, who COM
manded tho troops, guarding the city,
walked over from Fort McHenry alfred
in an old linen duster, instead Of the
brass-buttoned and volvet-cufied coat
belonging to his rank. Attempting to
pass the line Of sentrios, in company with
an aid, the old general was amused at
finding musket barring his passage,
while the aid, with his glittering shoulder
straps, was permitted to enter.
'Why do you stop me, my man p inquired
the general, quietly.
my orders are only to admit officers in
uniform" was the reply.
But don't you see that this is Gen.
DixW exclaimed the aid angrily.
well, between you and me, major"
said the 2ouave, his Dyes twinkling with
amusement, Il sec very we'll who it is,
but If Gen, Dix wants to got into this
camp no had better 60 back and put on
his uniform"
'You were quite right, sentry" re-
marked the general. I'm 60 back and
get my coat"
An hour afterward the general, in full
uniform, approached tho camp, and,
allowing the guard reserve to be called
out, accepted the salute due his rank and
position, and the incident increased his
admiration for the entire command.
At Yorktown the same zouave regiment
performed guard duty at the headquarters
of the commanding general. Ono day, as
test, Gen Mcclellan, While bareheaded
and without his uniform coat, passed and
Tepassed tho sentinel near his tent, only
TO find that the soldier paid no heed to
his presence. Demanding why tho GUS
tomary salute was not given, no was
informed that sentries in that regiment
did not salute general or any other
officer who happened to be in his shirt
sleeves. The reply delighted Gen. Nc.
Clellan and gained promotion for the
educated soldier.
Camp life afforded many pleasures.
The mails being regular, news from
loved ones ut home delighted
the hearts of the wayworn
and battle.scarred veterans. Company
cooks wero in their glory among their
pans and kettles, the cry Fall in for
soup" sounding merrily in the ears of
men tired of mnnehing dry hard. tack or