Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-04-17

Gus effect on the discipline of the garrison. But
patriotic entertainers disregarded the difference
between commissioned and enlisted men. Both
Sas y,eioeo 70 the sociat pressure brought e
likely place to find any particular officer OF
| man. It would have been well perhaps to have
But the government had other views. 1t had
| servants to their duty, and determined to have
| them all sworn in over again.
CoRRALIN9 THE BOYS.
/ For this purpose special dress-parade was
| ordered at Fort Hamilton, at which the United
| States district attorney should attend, and ad-
| minister the oath anew to all the members of
| 1t was difficult to get the men together, and
more difficult to get them into q dress-parade
condition. The hospitality of New York har-
| Dor was beginning to tell on them. The reins
| OF discipline had been relaxed for several days,
and it was difficult to gather the command on
abled much to be done in the way of gathering
IN the conviyiai stragglers, and the aid of the
ock-up was invoked to cool the worst OF them
into presentable condition. Still the parade,
when formed, was not one which q strict disci-
piinarian would have been pleased with. There
patience manifested by individuals ITO be out
and at ii again.
As the hour for parade approached the fort
began 10 I'LL up. The streetcarS, which had
been reaping q rich harvest all the morning,
continued to bring loads of reinforcements
every five minutes, and by eleven o'clock-the
hour appointed for the parade-there was hardly
any standing room left in the fort outside the
small space reserved for the soldiers. At last
the drums beat the assembly, and the parade
was formed; but, as is usual on such occasions
the chief funct1onary was not ON hand. There
arms were ordered, and the battalion brought
TO parade rest" There il perhaps no more try
Ing position for soldier suffering from the
enects OF conviviality than parade rest" It is
almost equivalent TO standing on one leg. Min
utes seem hours to such man in such o situa-
ton, and on this occasion murmurs of impa-
N IA he
old sergeant in particular was very nervous.
He was ready to swear anything to get out of
that, ana as he was not permitted to proceed
with the official oath, he occupied his time In
swearing in whispers at the district attorney.
BUT eommotlon among the spectators an
age, and the limpest soldier In the line braced
up. Presently two gentlemen stepped into the
reserved space, and the commanding officer ad.
vanced to receive them. The new arrivals were
the United States district attorney and the Rev.
henry Ward Beecher. After a short pariey
with the new corners the commanding officer
brought the battalion to attention, and
MR. BEECHER PROCEEDED TO DELIVER AN AID
DRESS.
1t Is unnecessary to say that the address was
interesting and eloquent. Those who were in a
condition to listen to anything heard 1t with
delight, and were sorry when it was over. But
there were some, and among them the impa-
tient old sergeant already referred to, who heard
nothing OF it. The sergeant was there to take
an oath, and he had no idea that any other
business was to be transacted. So soon as MIR.
Beecher began his address he raised his right
hand, and maintained what he called 1.-The ATM
dayit attitude until it was over. The sergeant
Thought 1t was all in the OATH The address and
the oath together probably occupied thirty
minutes. When the speaking ceased the SER
geant dropped his right hand with a sigh, and
remarked, as he resumed what he probably
well, shoot me, II that amt the long est oath
/ ever swore."
1t must not be assumed that the Sumter SOL
diers were very dissipated set. On the con-
trary, they were, IL anything, rather above the
average in the matter OF sobriety, and fairly
well disciplined. It was not altogether their
fault that they fell into excuses in New York
harbor. Hundreds OF enthusiastic patriots
came to visit them daily, and the good-natured
tons, and unwilling to give Offense had not the
nerve to decline their well-meant hospitality.
AS an illustration the following facts are in
point:
MAKING NIGHT OF IT.
One evening, just about dusk, number Of
carriages drove up to the fort, and a delegation
OF gentlemen from Brooklyn desired to have the
pleasure of entertaining the soldiers Of Sumter
at little supper party in the city that night
The gentlemen were eminently respectable,
and said to be members OF the city government.
At any rate their request was granted, and per-
mission was given to "all who desired 10 gof' to
accompany them. Perhaps dozen presentable
men were found In the fort not on duty, and
these were told by the sergeant to get ready at
once "tO dine with the town council of Brook
Ine sergeant was getting tired OF these
ious. he had no more grounds for the asser-
ton that the town council of Brooklyn would
New York would. But the gentlemen came
from BROOKLYN, and some of them were said to
h a msmoe5s tb OF rd the city So
which is the most charitable view Of his
conduct that can be taken. AS already said,
about dozen men passed the sergeants scru.
tiny and We're permitted to go. The good
natured and patriotic gentlemen went off in
lyyUS
their capture. Where they drove TO was never
accurately known, but they must have had q
back about two O'Clock in the morning. and
quietly lodged in the lookup to get ready for
guaro-duty. They never knew where they had
haps believe to this day that they dined with
the government of Brooklyn.
Speaking of locking men up to get them
ready Tor guard-duty sounds somewhat strange,
but IT was absolutely necessary during the first
ten days OF our sOjourn at Fort Hamilton The
sergeant who Kept the roster found himself face
TO face with the fact that II conviviality con-
unaed guard-duty must be suspended; aud as
the latter alternative was not to be thought Of
convivlality had to be stopped at least twenty
four hours in advanceOt roster req uirements The
result was great many prisoners, not confined
ior any serious offense, but merely sequestra.ed
10 cool OH and get ready tor duty In fact, with
some few exceptions, the men were picked up
and held for duty whenever they came inside
the barrack-rOoms. In this connection MANY
Imaginable incidents occurred, the following
Delng among the most amusing:
SINGING TO THE SOLDIERS
1t was rather fogsy morning towards the
close Of our convivial period, and the stream of
visitors was perceptibiy drying up. The re,ns
OF discipline were being drawn tighter eyerv
day, and large proportion OF the command
was IN tae guard-hOuse. Occasionally a soldier
wound De seen Hitting about from casemate to
c3sSIuate uncertain as to where he really be-
ionsed; but stranger would have said the fort
was empty. The sentlneis. however, had re-
Sumed their dign1ty,-thanks, perhaps, to the
sergeant practical method OF keeping the ros-
curiosity by watching Tor hours at a time the
sentinefs mOnotOnous and seemingly meaning
less march, Towards noon q close observer of
the sentinel could have told that somebody of
Importance was approaching. His gun, which
had been carried like log of wood q minute
before, was now gracefully supported in
vertical position, and his rather
weary gait was smartened into the
regulation quickstep. The commander of the
towards the main entrance with some curiosity
as To- the newcomer They expected to see
some oificer OF rank, civil dignitary at least
lnelr surprise may be imagined, therefore
Wnen they saw company OF girls, perhaps q
hundred strong, nle into the fort. the process
sion was headed by two elderly ladies' and the
girls followed their file-leaders without cOm-
mand: They marched once round the parade
ground, Keeping on the pavement. and halted
when they arrived back at the main gate They
were evidently puzzled, and SO were the SOL
oilers. AT last the two file-leaders advanced
towards the commander Of the guard and In.
troouced themselves as the teachers in a GER
tam seminary, and stated that the young
ladies desired TO see and sing to the Sumter