The Lambertville record. [volume] (Lambertville, N.J.) 1872-1968, 1891-01-07
SAW GREAT CHANGES.
VETERAN JAMES WHALEN TELLS OF
HIS THIRTY YEARS, ARMY LIFE.

Fought In Two wars-Has Been "a Pri.
vate During His Whole Caresr--Carried
Musket Mt First and Repeating Rife
Later--Influence of Wives In Camp.
IF had my life to live over again
would enlist in the regular army at a
much earlier age than that when / en-
rolled myself with it in 1912" The
speaker was James Whalep, one of the
oldest inmates of the Soldiers home, in
Washington. Though 78 years of age he
appears no more than CO. His figure is
as erect, his step as firm and elastic and
his whole bearing as graceful and ener-
getic as that Of a man in the full vigor
of youth, while his head is completely
covered with thick growth of hair, but
slightly tinged with gray.
Though he has known little Of school
instruction or the study of books he pos
sesses that natural intelligence and rare
power of observation which learn from
everything seen or heard, and which
soon make their possessor profound
scholar in that greatest of all learning,
a knowledge of men and things He
also possesses the natural genius Of an
orator and writer, and when he once be-
gins to talk upon some subject which
arouses his interest and enthusiasm he
rattles away with a fuency and elo-
quence that seem incredible in one so
comparatively unlettered.
II was 80 years of age when enlist
ed" he continued. THAT was in 1942,
and | was go when / retired, in 1879,
after thirty years of faithful service,
during which passed through the two
most important wars, with the exception
Of the revolution against Great Britain,
in which the United States ever engaged
the war with Mexico and the late civil
war. / think the Mexican war of great.
er importance than that of 1919, be-
cause it added to our country an i'm
mense territory of almost priceless value
CHANGES IN GUNS.
Though am more than eight years
beyond the three score and ten allotted
as the life of man / constantly thinl
and speak of myself as a boy, and it il
only when / consider the wonderful
changes that have taken place in oul
country and its military service since
first shouldered one of Uncle Sans
guns that realize my age. The only
arms we had then were heavy, clumsy
old muskets that contained only one ball
at time, and had to be loaded from the
muzzle after being once discharged.
ave did not even have cartridges.
With an old fashioned ramrod we first
rammed down some powder. Then we
placed bullet in the palm of our hand,
covered it with powder, poured powder
and ball into the gun, raInmed them
down, rammed down small wad OF pa
per, placed cap ON what was called the
nipple of our gun-sonething that no
modern gunmaker or user knows any
thing about--and then we were ready to
shoot.
How different from the needle guns,
Chassepot rifles, the Winchester and
Remington arms of the present dayi A
little brass cannon carrying twelve
pound ball was the largest gun we had
and was considered something terrific.
Now Uncle Sans cannons are sixteen
inch guns, carrying ball weighing 500
pounds, which requires $50 pounds Of
powder to fire it, and which will perfor-
ate steel plate sixteen inches thick at
distance of twelve miles.
"It was but short time after my en-
listment before became convinced that
man in the army has far easier, pleas
anter life and much better chance to
prosper and do well, il he behaves him
self, than in any mental position-such
as that Of laborer or servant. fer sx-