Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1889-10-21
SENTRY cor


dicular
The outer circle ditch Is thirty feet Deep
the bottom t-ing paved with hagstnnes The
I inner ditch Is forty feet deep and is similar
iy paved. | need scarcely say that fall
! from the edge would be almost certainly
fatal The regular approach to the fortress
! u by a wide road Of gradual ascent, con
trived as TO be rsked by Ere from one or
other Of the hastions or oatworks throughout
its course It crosses the bitches over draw
bridges, protected by special works OF great
strength.
In time Of war these draw bridges would be
Kept raissi, and would only be lowered tenn
porarly on urgent occasions. When raised
the fortress would be Inaccessible from with
out. unless scaling ladders used to cross
the bitches In time II peace however, the
drawbridges are rarely raised, strong guard.
nevertheless, being invariably posted over
I them
For the convenience Of the officers and GER
tain OF the residents Of the citadel, there
short cut which might he used This was a
| footpath up the steep side Of the cliff, through
strongly guarded postern gate The path
lesi in zigzag fashion up To the counterscarps
| Of the dItch.s, which were crossed by light
plank bridges 80 designed as to be removable
with great In few minutes Nome but
officers quarterei in the CITADEL and few
persons with special permits signed by the
officer commanding the garrison were allowed
to make Of this short cut. the soldiers and
others who had occasion 10 visit the citadel
being restricted to the main approach.
At the time Of which 1 write | had been
newly promoted to the rank of captain, AMI
Xerxes himself was not prouder of his vast
army than Of my gallant little company.
was lucky to the promotion and my zeal
mad not be'n damped by long years OF
subaltern life Gs 10 prevent my throwing my
| self heart and soul into the work of superln-
tendence
| was ambitious to have my company rec
| ognized as the smaftest in the regiment, and
was convinced OF the hopele.ssness of success
| unless could inspire my men with the same
| pride in the COMPANY that had myself In
| order to succeed, | felt sure that should en-
| deayor to become acquainted with the char
| acter and disposition Of every member Of the
| company. 10 gain their respect by strict at
| tention to duty. and To earn their affection
| by constant sympathy. and by affording such
helpin their amusements or their troubles a
captain frequently has 1t in his power to give
| Since my appointment | had tried to work on
this system, and though. of course, had
occasional disappointments, on the whole
had no reason To complain
! For an infantry captain ! was tolerably
well oH, and being very fond Of outdoor
sports encouraged cricket and other games
by presents OF hats, balls and other materials
and spent much Il my time in cricket matches
among the 1t was not long before
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 'avorltisin, the bad effects
| Of which had often seen but it mpos
slble not to feel strong interest in this
Young fellow Clean and soldierlike in APP
;~arance, smart at drill, well set up and
steady a rock. he was model of what a
young soldier should be- A deadly bowler,
he Of the mainstays of our com
pany crcketing team. and 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 | think men have to find out their
friends and their enemies made me aware
that, while | liked him. he, on his side. was
warmly attached to me
One day batch II recruits arrived at
headquarters The adjutant. being away on
leave, had got me to do his duties for him.
and ! was busy all the afternoon drafting
the new arrivals into companies, and arrang-
lng for their rations and bedding
About half an hour before mess was sit
ting in my room in the citadel barracks,
rather tired, when | heard knock at the
door and my color sergeant appeared
Private Cameron wishes to know if he
could speak Ia you, sire said he, s'iluting
Certainly replied Tell him to come
in"
Cameron entered. saluted. aud stood SILENT
looking Ill Mt
We'll, Cameron, what is itw inquired
Please, sir | wished to speak about some
thing private"
Well. what is iti" asked again
Cameron hestated. and looked at the color
sergeant. who looked straight to his front
knew it WAS not regular for an officer to
coufer with private soldiers without anon
commissioned officer being present. but knew
Cameron might be trusted thoroughly l
directed the color sergeant to wait in the pas
sage, and, closing the door, ASKED Cameron
to tell mo his story The had seemed in great
distress. and hesitated "A great deal before be
spoke,
ITS my brother, sir He's just come in
with the batch OF recruits"
With some difficulty he told me his tale
Private Cameron and younger brother
were the only children Of an old widow liv
ing III the north Of Scotland The old woman
could 10 little to support herself, and
mainly dependent the lailo- Of one son,
and such little 1elp as Private Cameron
could send her from the savings OF his pay.
II seemed that some family quarrel had
taken place between the widow and her
youngest son. and that the latter. in a mo
meut of pique, had enlisted, but bad, when
too late relented He had been drafted to
the same regiment as his elder brother. whom
he had acquainted with these facts on bis az
rival in barracks that day.
Private Cameron told me, with deep emo
ton. that nothing could save his mother
from the workhouse ian idea which seemed
to fill him with shame and horror unless hs
brother could be bought out Of the service
and sent back home
As his brother had not been three months
enlisted, this could be affected by payment
OF ten pounds: but such q sum was far BE-
yond the means OF either brother. Cameron,
in despair bad come to me for help, hardly
daring. as he told me, to hope that could
give it. He said he had been encouraged to
seek my assistance by my constant kindness
10 him.
al would pay you back sir, swear it to
you said the poor lad. earnestly. You
can stop my pay every week. sir. want
next to nothing don't drink any and I
can easily get all need to smoke and the
like o that | viii pay you back, sir, indeed
willl-
Well. TO cut my story short. after some re-
Election. and not little misgiving - to
whether in respect OF discipline was doing
right, agreed to let him have the money.
could well afford it, | liked the man, and had
been touched by his story not a little
"YoI should begin TO save up your pay IN
the savings bank. Cameron said L. - BE-
thanked ule earnestly.
| had not the least intention OF repaying
myself from his hard earned savings. and
quite looked upon the loan as a gift, but
judged it better not to say 10 expressly. lest
the easy manner Of obtaining the money
might do harm. while thought it good op
portunity OF encours ging frugal habits.
Camerons gratitude was deep, and | could
not help feeling that his expressis Of it was
sincere and heartfelt
As he leaving the room be turned
looked me full in the face, and said: God
bless you, sir. for your kindness to mel l
shall not forget iti | win repay you, lr. %
help NE. God!"
Was struck by the singular earnessne3 Il
the man. and when he left the room aid 10
hars r1xa v,frht