Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-06-30

down the tents, pack the officers bag
gage and then the wagons are moved
to the captains tent and his baggage
and that of the lieutenants is baded
up. This plan very often compes the
men to carry their overcoats, blankets
and two or three days rations, which,
in addition to the ammunition and
muskets, make quite load for lays
walk of thirty miles. 1t sometimes
happens that some of the boys become
refractory, and then the common cure,
that of tying them to the hind enc of u
wagon, is resorted to. AS the Off
GERS are mounted on horse, of
course they know just how far man
can walk and carry forty pounds. COM
ing into camp after long march the
first thing done is to pitch tents. split
wood, carry water, start fires, ,ook,
and groom horses for the Offices. L
have seen men tied up to trees, bu'ked,
gagged, and left standing in the hot
sun until insensibility relieved their
sufferings. On one occasion | aw a
soldier bucked and gagged, tied
to tree, and cold water pured
on his head until he had fits,
when the punishment was dscon-
tinued long enough for him to ngain
consciousness, and then began new.
/ admit that the man was drunl, but
so was the officer who orderd the
punishment.
When building Fort Assinabohe the
whole force except the guard ant those
engaged In making gardens, oltting
wood, officers, etc, were used aslaoor-
ers and carpenters, and for such work as
they were accustomed to before going
into the army, they being informed
that such duty would he paid for at the
rate of thirty five cents day or me-
chanics and twenty cents for l,borers,
il addition to their pay as Soldiers,
and in accordance with army regula-
tions. The citizen employees worked
ten hours day. The soldiers worked
thirteen hours, and very Otter went
out on parade for the amusement of
the officers wives after workinehours.
1t took more than two years t. finish
the post, and we have never received
one cent of eqtra duty pay. Thus eight
companies We're swindled out q their
earnings for two summers eXtr duty.
The government issued rations to the
citizens who worked at the pot, Civ
ing to them nearly double what the
soldiers had, so that it seemed 10 if il
was thought that citizen could not
live on soldiers rations. The, built
a substantial building for the ciizens,
while we lived in tents and sept on
the ground, often getting up a. night
to dig bitches to turn the water out OF
our tents.
On one occasion the writer. while
stationed at a post in Montana, de.
sired to go hunting, and asked or per.
mission from the first sergeant. That
worthy referred him to the company
commander, who sent him to tie pos,
} commander. On entering tn, room
the post commanders desk WIS lust
to the right of the door and thai of the
post adjutant at the further end of the
room. The post adjutant wished tt
know my business. L told himI had
permission Ospeak TO the commanding
officer. Turning to the commanding
officer, who was within three feet O.
me, he told him what l said The
commanding officer asked him what
wanted. / said permission to 20 hunt
Ing. The adjutant repeated my word,
to the commanding officer, whs asked
where wanted to go hunting The
adjutant asked me and ther
repeated my answer to the 9th
er. he, after number Of
questions, all asked through The adj
jutant, granted the permission / re
: paired to u small lake, distant abou
! four miles from the post, t. shoo
ducks, and was meeting with hir sue
cess after being out only LITTLE NOR,
than an hour. when two Offices cam,
up, and one of them ordered ne bach
TO camp, with the information tina
only officers were allowed ID shoe
ducks on that lake. did not stay t,
i, argue the question, but replired a
once 10 camp, and never again asked
for permission to hunt.
Is II any wonder that our army il
1 composed almost entirely OF foreigners
our regiment at one time did not hay,
: one nrst sergeant out of the ten VIII,
could speak English 80 as to be under
I stood, and two could not write thei
own names. Americans will not pu
r up with life In the army. Thos,
4 soldiers who re-enlist are either semi
7 invaIids, confirmed drunkards or mel
l used to abuse in the land of thei
e birth. During four years an,
ten months thirty-seven mel
( deserted from nv com
pany, most Of them being driven on
: by the brutality Of the officers. Fou
/, men, fine soldierly fellows, who di,
noI drink, and who during eighteen
months Ia the service were never il
the gnard-house or on the sick report
ana who never missed an hours dut,
Of any kind, deserted under the follow
: ing circumstances; The lieutenant o
: tnecompany sent for them to black hi
stove, shake his carpet and d
me genera honse-cleaning that soldier
nave to do for officers every spring an.
lail. They went to the captain ant
asked him II they would have to do ii
ne told them II was their duty to d,
What an officer told them To, and tina
" ala not do for enlisted men TO rails