The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-01-16
COUNTRY BOYS CANFIGHT
THEY MAKE THE BEST SoLDIE RS
UNCLE SAM HAS.


Lieut.. Terrett About Ready TO Receive
Able-Bodied, Unmarried Young Men
for the Army-The Glass of Men
Sought-A Chance for Colored Men to
Ealist-The Qualifications for a Sol
der.
Lieut.. c. p. Terrett returned 10 Augusta
last night after having spent a couple Of
days in Savannah. He has completed his
arrangements for establishing the ren-
devious post here, and will open up for the
examination Of applicants and reception Of
recruits to the army on bis return to Savan-
nah next week.
A notice appeared in yesterdays MORN
ING News, which stated that able-bodied
unmarried men between the ages Of 81 and
IS years, were wanted for the United States
army.
The advertisement calls for able-bodied
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
a 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 examination re-
Quired Of all candidates for admission to the
army.
ONLY GOOD MEN WANTED.
There is belief among some people
that Uncle Sans army is composed OF the
riff-raf Of the earth. and OF tough charac-
tiers generally. Lieut.. Terrett is freqnenty
accosted with some such a remark as this
by prominent citizens: with our large
floating population you ought to get a
large number of recruits in Savannah.
There are great many sailors here, and a
large class of the rough element"
The lieutenant quietly smiled whenever
often before.
"No,n he would reply, "the floating class
OF population furnishes very few recruits.
A maa 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 2S years of age. They are
strong and healthy, have few bad habits
and are readily trained, and they make the
best soldiers.
WHY COUNTRY BOYS ARE SOUGHT.
"Now, in time Of war, if were going TO
raise q regiment Of soldiers / had rather
have regiment composed of toughs and
fellows from the cities who are used TO sit
ting up all night, drinking whisky
and playing cards. They are
already toughened, and they can stand
night watches and marches and the irregu-
lar army life better than the country boy
who has always kept regular hours. In
about two years, however, they would 20
all to pieces and be utterly worthless. Now,
we take these country boys, who,
notwit standing 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
exposure. In about two years they are
thoroughly toughened to the work and can
stand fatigue like an Indian.
Yes, think shall get a large number
of recruits at Savannah"
THE coLoRED TROOPS
Are you going to enlist negroes, tooln
a MORNING NEWS reporter asked him.
''Oh, yes; we have negro troops to re-
cruit. toon
You can get all you want here, Them
well, enlist very few colored recruits;
about one out of every hundred applicants
i suppose. When a negro comes in and
says he wants TO enlist, / don't trouble to
examine until l find out whether he can
tell where he was born, what his age
Is, whether he has any relatives dependent
on him for support. IL he is married and
whether he can give any references as to
his general good character A man must
be hand free and foot loose to get into the
United States army. Most OF these negroes
have one or more matrimonial complica-
tiUns. 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 doubtless large
number of applicants will await Lieut..
Terrett on his return.