Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1890-02-06

As general thing it falls to the lot of
most cavalry officers, sooner or later, to
be detailed for tour of duty on the re-
cruiting service. The orders are al
ways to report to the superintendent of
the mounted recruiting rendezvous,
wherever that may be located. Former
ly the depot for cavalry recruits was at
Carlisle barracks, near the old town of
Carlisle, Pa; but shortly after the war
for various reasons chiefly for the sake
of economy in the matter of transporta-
tion-the depot was changed to Jefferson
barracks, Mo-, where it still remains,
To this point all recruits who enlist for
the mounted service at the various sta
tions throughout the country are period
ically sent to receive their first lessons
in the school of the soldier, and remain
until they are required to fill the de-
p1eted ranks of some one of the ten regi-
ments of cavalry scattered along our
Western frontier.
The duties of this station are gener-
ally considered to be of pleasant and
agreeable nature; and as an officers de-
tail is for two years, from among those
longest with their companies, it is eager
ly looked forward to as long season of
rest and relaxation from perhaps many
years of arduous frontier service.
In the distribution of recruits to the
various regiments, these garrison officers
come in for duty not relished in the
least by the best of them, the chief OBJ
lection being that the men as general
thing having been in the service but
short time are in a measure undiSci-
plined and impatient under restraint,
and while en- route to some distant post
often become very insubordinate, caus-
ing the officer IN charge no end of
trouble and annoyance, sometimes fore
ing him to resort to extreme measures
to maintain his authority. Many an Of
ficer while conducting detachment of
recruits to a PARKWAY station has had
experiences calculated TO test the mate
rial OF which he was made to the utmost
limit. I'm many instances single-hand-
ed, miles away from any support, he has
been called upon to queH open mutiny
with nothing to back him save his own
indomitable pluck and army six-shooter.
A description of the trip taken by the
writer as second in command of a de-
tachment of 600 recruits bound for San
Antonio, Tex, will more clearly illus
trate the disagreeable features attend
ing such duty.
We left Carlisle barracks IN the early
part of December. '65, with about as
worthless body of men, taken as a
whole, as was ever enlisted in the United
States army. Most of them had served
before, either in the Confederate or
Union army, but Notwithstanding this
fact had but little regard for discipline
or respect for the officers over them. 1
think most had enlisted to get trans
s~,%4 70 n. Il,
ever they came to place chat struck
theft fancy, or afforded fair field for
them to exercise their peculiar talents.
am quite sure that not more than one
third served out their time.
Upon reaching New York the detach
ment was quartered at Fort Wood, Bed
Ioe's island, then commanded by General
Merchant, of the artillery, where it was
to await transportation by sea to New
Orleans. During the few days neces-
sary delay at this point the recruits had
but little opportunity for iu1ulging in
any pranks. They did, however.
although under strict guard. succeed in
breaking into the commissary one dark
and stormy night, and devouring at one
sitting ten days rations. for which gas
tronomic feat the whole detachment was
placed under such strict guard as to de-
prive them of what little, liberty the
island afforded.
When at last we found ourselves at
sea on board the old Empire City and
voyage of ten or twelve days before US
with this mob (they could scarcely be
called soldiers) of 500 to govern, and,
too, without guard of any kind to en-
force obedience, the Situa ton was not
exactly pleasant to contemplate. A
guard had been applied for, but for some
reason refused.
For the first few days out sea-sickness
held many of these embryo Dragons in
It's merci1ess grip, and their contribu-
tons to old Father Neptune were most
generous. So far the utmost quiet and
good order prevailed, and had begun to
congratulate myself that the situation
was not SO bad as supposed.
But alas. as the winds went down and
the sea became smooth, in proportion
ate degree did the spirits of these
doughty mariners rise, and a mania for
mischief rapidly developed.
First the captain of the ship came
with the complaint that some cases of
spirits had disappeared; and from the
hilarious state the recruits were in he
judged them guilty of the theft. Then
came the cook with a tale to unfold
how during . few moments absence
from the cook-house long pole o. boat
hook had been thrust through the sky
light and huge joint of beef. destined
for the cabin, had been hooked out, he
returning in time only to view it rapidly
going aloft- A search failed to discover
the slightest trace of the toothsome
joint Among so many, probably every
morsel had been eaten before the cook
could report his loss.
What with the loss of so many articles
of food and his inability to procure
fresh supply, the wretched captain was
at his wits end to know how to properly
provide for his cabin passengers. Hap
PLY at this. stage of affairs the ship
reached the port of Key West. where
the depleted larder could be replenished.
During the twenty-four hours we lay
at Key West about two hundred recruits
escaped from the ship, and the citizens
of the town were in the greatest con-
sternaticn, not understanding just what
had been turned loose on their quiet