Charlotte messenger. [volume] (Charlotte, Mecklenburg Co., N.C.) 1882-18??, 1888-06-09


jutant, presented to the officer of the
day and marched off to the guard house,
where the old guard is drawn up in line
to receive it. Salutes are exchanged,
the two sergeants are seen for moment
in earnest conversation as they exchange
the orders for the day, and the tired fell
lows who have been on duty for the last
twenty four hours go to their quarters
to seek their well-mcrited repose.
Now the soldiers are coming back
from the target range, and the officers
gather in the administrative building to
receive the orders of the commanding
officer, and to be catechised by him in
tactics and the science of wer.
Outside the details for fatigue are
forming. Dump carts, drawn by long
cared. pensive- locking mules, appear
and the work OF polishing the post is
commenced. Here gang of prisoners
under the charge Of an armed sentry are
raking up the leaves and dirt that have
accumulated during the past twenty
four hours. There party is at work
digging new drain or repairing the
pipe line through which the garrison
drains its water supply. On the porches
of the quarters are gathered the men off
duty, lounging about with coats un-
buttoned and caps on back of heads.
An officer passes, and in trice coats are
buttoned. caps readiusted bodies erect
and heels together, while hands are ex-
tended in respectful salutes.
Soon after dinner little squads of men
are seen strolling eastward, a group rap
idly forming about some object on the
prairie, and upon our joining them we
lind that new Calling gun is about to
be tried. On the outskirts of the crowd
loiter dozen Indians. curious to see the.
to them, new engine of war. The tar
get is little knoll, distant some 500
yards At the command of the officer in
charge the crank is turned, when streams
of fire squirt from the steel muzzles, and
a column of dust rising from the little
knoll attests the accuracy of their aim.
The Indians, surprised for once out of
their appearance OF stoical indifference,
draw quickly back, applying name to
the machine which, being translated
from their harsh language, is
found to be ''the devil who shoots"
Again the bugle sounds. Ladies and
children assemble on the porches to wit
ness the browning military ceremony Of
the day. Half a dozen dirty, gaudily
painted Indians hang expectantly upon
the pickets of the boundary fence, and
as many more mounted on their ponies
await the parade. The companies are
forming in front of their barracks, and
the officers in full dress, belted and
with plumes flying. hasten to join them.
The adiutant and sergeant-maior, ac-
companied by the markers with little
fluttering silken guidons, establish the
line, aud the companies, amid much
blowing of trumpets and many loud COM
mands. form upon it.
Now little squad approaches from
the guard house, and two guards under
a sergeant conduct ashamefaced prisoner
to point in front of the centre of the
line. The adjutant steps briskly for
ward, and unfolding paper, reads the
orders, among which is one announcing
the proceedings of court martial aud
sentencing the prisoner to a term of hard
labor in the guard house and fine. He
is then led away, and just as the last
edge of the crimson sun is disappearing
behind the western hills. and almost be-
fore the sweet sounds of tretreat" have
died away, the waving lines of bunting
come floating gently down the flagstaff,
and, still unsaluted, are folded away in
the guard room until on the morrow
they will herald the dawn of another
busy day. The companies are marched
back to their barracks and dismissed,
and the military day is ended. At $50
tattoo is sounded, the first scrgeants call
the roll, and report that all is present.
Taps" come early in garrison, in
order that no loss of sleep may cause I'M
steady nerves in the men who are to try
their skill at the targets the following
day.