The National tribune., 1890-05-15
TRACY TREMMEL..
Continued from 1st page.l

minutes to dress and get into line for roll-call
The boy that is not in ranks when his name is
called is given n balf-day's police duty
that is, work at cleaning up the dirt and litter
of the camp. Then comes breakfast and every
one must sit down at the moment the Orderly
Sergeant gives the command. The 20 minutes
allowed for this are all that is necessary TO de-
vour the portion of coffee, beef potatoes and
bread set before us, and leave some time for
grumbling at tho Commissary who provides
the food and for abusing the cook who prepares
it. Then we pitch in TO clean up our company
quarters, roll up our blankets, black up our
shoes, and get ready for the inspection which
the Colonel and his Adj djutant make Of each COM
pany. Then there is another roll call; we have
six altogether during the day. The Colonel
seems very nervous lest some of us get lost,
strayed or stolen, and the drills begin. 1t is
squad drill" company drill" mon COM
mssoned officers drill" commissioned offi-
GERS drill" battalion drill" every blessed
minute of the long, hot day. except the inter
missions for dinner and supper, and for the
eternal roll calls. By way of variety we have
dress parade in the evening and after sup
per another inspection by the Colonel and a
final roll call before are allowed to go to bed
for tho night Think of ID or Is hours every
day of drills. roll-calls. and inspections i de-
clare, my waking hours are so full Of orders to
fall in" 'front.'" right face" by the left
wheel" "left wheel" "'tention to roll-call."
and SO on, that when got pass to 90 out into
the woods the other day, it seemed strange that
the trees did not shout them at me. j dreamt
last night that some wicked genii, like those in
tho Arabian Nights. bad changed me into a sort
of aut0matoU, that kept perpetually facing
right. left, and ahout, for tho amusement OF
grim old Calph, who locked astOnishingly like
Col. Satterlec, and who stood ready to hew me
10 pieces with his cimcter the moment did
not whirl aronnd at the word of command.
Capt Wardrll and Lieut.. Vogesong staid
with us several days and attended two or three
drills of the commissioned officers, but they
were taken sick and now in Washington
under tho care of the Surgeon. Lieut.. Ezra
Grimsted is in command of the company.
Ian Green had an embarrassing experience
on dress parade last evening. He has never
ceased to feel mortified over the wretched mis-
fit of his clothing. and had hired Charlie Sny-
der. tailor belonging 10 the company, to make
his blouse and pantalOons over for him. AS
Ian bad but tho one pair of pantaloons he got
excused from drill yesterday afternoon, so that
he could stay in the barracks while Charlie
was making the alterations 10 bring the gar
mcnt into truer relations to I.an's slender bat
symmetrical limbs. Charlie ript the pantaloons
apart, while Ian lay in his bunk and read late
copy Of the ChriStidn AdUocate. Then Charlie
thought he would go out into the cook-hou to
get n light for his pipe. Tom Carter is the cook
now, aud he was out of humOr, as he usually is.
lie accused Charlie Of spilling ashes out Of his
pipe into the pot where the pota toes were boiling.
When Charlie denied it no hit him over the
head with big iron spoon, and Charlie retorted
with the stick used 10 poke the fire. The
noise of the row brought up the Officer Of the
Guard, who marched them both off to the guard
house This left Lan's pantaloons in a sad
predicament. 1t was nearly time for dress
parade, and every man must appear on dress
parade, unless sick.
"Tell em you re sick" suggested job. al
can certify that you're not feelin' WELL"
No Ian was too conscientious to lie.
"Ill tell you what to do" | suggested. "Pin
the pieces together, and wear them. We won't
have To move around much, and they'll stay
pinned until we get back to quarters. Besides,
You can stand in he rear rank"
This seemed 10 be the only thing TO do. and
we gathered up pins enough among us to fasten
the pieces together so that they looked al!
right at little distance, and Ian fell in in the
rear rank rs we started for the parade ground.
job Cartwright was in front Of him. and stood
on Jobs left. All went very well till the Col
oncl seemed upon the point Of telling the Ad
iutHHt To dismiss the parade. whcn lac bcthought
himself, and said:
Gentlemen was not at all satisfied with the
way we executed that movement of companies
wheeling into column on battalion drill this
afternoon. L.ot rs try it over once more" And
he gave tho command, TO be executed at the
doub!e-qgics. the column TO pass in review.
As we started / heard an exclamation from
Ian. aud looking toward him saw the pieces
OF pautIoaus beginning To flap around wildly.
The next moment they fell of in heap To
be kicked aud trampled in the dust by the
feet OF tho men rushing after us. At that
moment we wheeled to the left. and began TO
pass in review before the Colonel. Lan's dis
habiiie caught his eye instantly. and lac thun-
dered:
Hiatt"
never saw n man look so terrible rs he did
as he advanced TO Ian. He seemed to be re-
slraning himself by Il strong effort from draw
ing his sword and striking the culprit with it.
He was at loss for words TO express his rage,
and said to Ezra Grimsted with astonishing
calmness:
You shall answer, sir for bringing a man
on parade in this condition. Hand your
sword TO tire Adiu.aut, sir. and go to your
quarters in close arrest Sergeant take com
mand OF tho company. Have these two men
take this scoundrel TO the guardhouso. I'll
make an example of him"
Job aud marched of with poor Ian to "the
tyTants bnstilc," as job usually designated the
guardhouse.
What a time we had strengthening the matter
out! We finally interested Capt. Cargill, who
is warm friend of Ezra's. and on intimate
terms with the Adjutant. To explain the affair
to that gentlemen, and get him TO use his good
offices with his chief. lie did so with such
success that Lieut. Grimsted's sword was re-
turned to him before tattoo and Ian WAS re-
leased from tho "bastile."
] DO wonder when VIC are ever going to see
any fighting? / am afraid that this man will
keep us here dillydallying over ftcings and
whoeings. and taking the position of SOL
der" until the war is over. Other regiments
are going 10 the front, but he holds us here.
wonder II ho really has any desire to put down
the rebellion?
Good night, dearest mother.
Yours, lovingly, but sleepily, TRACY.