Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1891-03-16
COUN1RY RoYs CAN rom
They Make the Beat Soldiers Talk with
= Recruiting Oficer.


Recruiting Oficer.
Lieutenant C. p. Terrett returned to
Augusta Saturday night after having
spent couple of days in Savannah.
He has completed arrangements for cs-
tablishing the rendezvous post here, and
will open up for the examination of ap-
plicants and reception of recruits TO the
army on his return to Savannah next
week
A notice appeared. which stated that
able bodied unmarried men between the
ages of 21 and 35 years were wanted for
the United States army.
The advertisement calls for able bod
led men, and no other kind is wanted.
Uncle Sam takes only the best class of
men, physically. for his army. and there
are some moral requirements, too. Buns
and toughs stand no chance whatever
with United States recruiting officer,
and the average saloon loafer might as
well attempt to crawl through the eye of
the biblical needle as to pass the strict ex-
animation required of all candidates for
admission to the ANY.
There is belief among some people
that Uncle Sans army is composed of
the riffraf of the earth, and of tough
characters generally. Lieutenant Ter
rett is frequently accosted with some
such remark as this by prominent
citizens: with our large floating popu-
lation you ought to get large number
Of recruits in Sa annah. There are
great many sailors here, and a large
class of the rough cement.
The lieutenant quietly smiled when
ever this remark was made lie had
heard it so often before.
"No," he would reply, "the floating
class of population furnishes very few
recruits. A man has to be able to give
some local reference as to his character
to get into the United States army.
Our largest class of recruits and the
best class are the country boys from 81
to 20 years of age They are strong and
healthy, have few bad habits, and are
readily trained, and they make the best
soldiers.
Now, in time Of war, If i were going
to raise regime. t of soldiers, had
rather have a regiment composed OF
toughs and fellows from the cities who
are used to sitting up'all night, drinking
whisky, and playing cards. They are
already toughened, and they can stand
night watches and marches and the ir-
regular army life better than the coun-
try boy who has always kept regular
hours. In about two years, however,
they would go all to pieces and be ut
terly worthless Now, we take these
~,
their country life, are very tender at
first, and break them gradually. They
are trained TO the work, and in few
months they become tough and hard
and able TO stand any amount of ex-
posure. In about two years they are
thoroughly toughened to the work, and
can stand fatigue like an Indian.
Yes, ! think shall get large num-
Der of recruits at Savannah.
%Are you going to enlist negroes,
too7"
-Oh, yes; we have negro troops to
recruit, too.
You can get all you want here,
then
well, / enli very few coIorsl re-
cruits, about one out of every 100 ap.
plicants, / suppose. When a negro
comes in and says he wants to enlist /
don't trouble to examine him until /
find out whether he can tell where he
was born, what his age is. whether he
has any relatives dependent on him for
support, if he is married. and whether
he can give any references as to his
general good character. A man must
be hand free and fo It loose to get into
the United States army. Most of these
negroes have one or more matrimonial
complications. Very few can answer
the questions. and consequently very
few Of them are examined
This section has never been canvassed
for recruits for the army, and doubt
less large number of applicants will
await Lieutenant TerFett on his return.
-ISavannah lGa.) News.