Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1889-06-15
SENTRY cor

In order that the circumstances Of the ad-
venture I am about to describe may be
understood l must explain, at the risk Of be-
ing tedious, that the citadel Of the fortress in
which my regiment lay is defended by two
circles of dry bitches, each about fifty feet
wide The side walls of these bitches, tech
nicaly known as escarps and counterscarps,
are, as was usual in Notifications Of that
date, riveted with masonry, and are perpen-
dicular.
The outer circle ditch is thirty feet deep,
the bottom being paved with fagstones. The
inner ditch is forty feet deep, and is similar
ly paved, SO l need scarcely say that fall
from the edge would be almost certainly
fatal The regular approach to the fortress
is by wide road Of gradual ascent, so con-
trived as to be ral1ed by fire from one or
other Of the bastions or outworks throughout
its course 1t crosses the bitches over draw
bridges, protected by special works Of great
strength.
In time of war these drawbridges would be
kept raised, and would only be lowered tenn
porarily on urgent occasions When raised
the fortress would be inaccessible from with
out, unless scaling ladders were used to cross
the bitches. In time of peace, however, the
drawbridges are rarely raised, a strong guard,
being invariably posted over
them.
For the convenience Of the officers and GER
tain Of the residents Of the citadel, there was
q short cut which might be used. This was a
footpath up the steep side of hecliff, through
a strongly guarded postern gate. The path
led in zigzag fashion up to the counterscarps
of the bitches, which were crossed by light
plank bridges, so designed as to be removable
with great ease in few minutes None but
officers quartered in the citadel, and a few
persons with special permits signed by the
officer commanding the garrison were allowed
to make use of this short cut, the soldiers and
others who had occasion TO visit the citadel
being restricted 10 the main approach.
At the time of which | write | had been
newly promoted TO the rank of captain, and
Xerxes himself was not prouder of his vast
army than of my gallant little company.
was lucky as to the promotion, and my zeal
had not been SO damped by long years Of
subaltern life as to prevent my throwing my
self heart and soul into the work Of superin-
tendence
was ambitious to have my company rec
ognized as the sinartest In the regiment, and
was convinced of the hopelessness OF success
unless l could inspire my men with the same
pride in the company that l had myself. In
order to succeed, felt sure that | should en-
deavor to become acquainted with the char
acter and disposition of every member of the
company; to gain their respect by strict at
tention to duty; and to earn their affection
by constant sympathy, and by afording such
help in their annuseinents or their troubles as a
captain frequently has it in his power to give.
Since my appointment had tried to work on
on this system, and though, of course, l had
occasional disappointmentS on the whole ]
had no reason TO complain.
For an infantry captain 1 was tolerably
well off, and being very fond of outdoor
sports, I encouraged cricket and other games
by presents of bats, balls and other materials
and spent much Of my time in cricket matches
among the men It was not long before I
began to acquire considerable insight into the
character of the men and learned to distin-
guish my black sheep, actual and possible.
Among the younger men of the company
was lad Of the name of Adair Cameron. ]
had horror of favoritisrn, the bad effects
of which l had often seen, but it was inpos
sible not to feel a strong interest in this
young fellow Clean and soldierlike in ap-
Iearance, smart at drill, well set up and
steady as a rock, he was a model of what a
young soldier should be. A deadly bowler,
be was one of the mainstays of our COM
panys cricketfng team, and as matches were
frequent | saw much of him and nothing to
find fault with.
Though carefully avoided taking undue
notice of Cameron, the natural instinct
which l think men have to find out their
friends and their enemies made me aware
that while l liked him, he, on his side, was
warmly attached to me-
One day batch Of recruits arrived al
headquarters. The adjUtant, being away on
leave, had got me to do bis duties for him,
and / was busy all the afternoon drafting
the new arrivals into companies, and arrang-
ing for their rations and bedding.
About half an hour before mess was sit
ting in my room in the citadel barracks.
rather tired, when l heard knock at the
door, and my color sergeant appeared
Private Cameron wishes TO know If he
could speak to you, sirF' said he, saluting.
Certainly" replied. Tell him to come
IN"
Cameron entered, saluted, and stood silent,
looking Ill at ease.
We'll, Cameron, what is itF" inquired
PLEASE, sir, wished 10 speak about some
thing private"
Wei, what is itF' l asked again.
Cameron hesitatad, and looked at the color
sergeant, who looked straight to his front.
knew IL was not regular for an officer to
confer with private soldiers without non
commissioned officer being present, but I knew
Cameron might be trusted thoroughly
directed the color sergeant 70 wait in the pas
sage, and, closing the door, I asked Cameron
to tell me his story The lad seemed IN great
distress, and hesitated a great deal before be
spoke
ats my brother, sirI Hes Just come in
with the batch of recruits.n
With some difficulty he told me bis tale,
which was TO the following effect:
Private Cameron and younger brother
were the only children Of an old widow Inv.
ing II the north OF Scotland The old woman
could do little to support herself, and Wa
mainly dependent On the labor Of one son.
a1S such little help IS Private Cameron
could send ber from the savings Of bis pay.
IT seemed that some family quarrel had
tats7 I1lace between tire widow and her
youngest son. sod that tbs latter, in q mo-
mcnt OF pique, hsd enlisted, but bad. when
too late. relented- BE had been drafted 70
the same regiment as his elder brother. whom
be had acQuasn ted With these faccs on his ar
rival IN hqyysoss thst day.