The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-09-10
GOINGTOLEAVE THE CITY
The Recruiting Office Of the Army to
be Closed With the Month.
CAPT. GAREETTY REGRETS TO GO
Interesting Interview With tho Veteran
Oniccr and . News" Reporter -
what Has Been Done, and Where the
Captain IL Going.

Those who have noticed the erect form
of Can't. Garretty as he made his daily
trips up and down the streets in this
city will soon miss him from the crowd.
and will look in vain for his smiling face.
Several weeks ago it was rumored
throughout the city that the United
States Army recruiting Office was to be
transferred to other quarters, and the
rumor was eventually found to be cor
rect. Capt. Frank ID. Garrety, in
charge Of the recruiting station. was
seen by q NEWS reporter late yesterday
afternoon and talked freely and un-
restrainedly about the proposed change.
"We will abandon our quarters in this
citv the last day IN this month" said the
cantain. land / have been ordered West
20 Bay City, Michigan. My two years
detail will be up October "a OF this year,
and on February 4. 1898, l shall be re-
When asked rs to whether or not the
proposed change was agreeable to him ana
his men, the captain answered In the
negative. During the time have been
in the city / have made many pleasant
acouaintances as have my men also, ana
of course we have more or less feeling
about striking out among total strangers
where we will have. to form new asso-
Capt. Garrctty's detail of two years
service expires October "a, aud on that
date he will be released from his charge,
no matter at what point be may be-. The
forming of n new Office Is attended with
q great deal of work and tho gallant cap
tain is feeling rather blue as the date Tor
the change approaches.
The reasons given for this transfer Is
the slowness with which the recruits
como In. The territory has been we'll
drained and during the past TWO years
but few have been enlisted. During the
months of June and August, no recruits
were enlisted and the official blotter was
as blank as some OF the faces seen on the
street Wednesday night after the big
fight. In July, four were enlisted and
the recruiting officers made things lively
for q while. Up to date no applicants
have appered anxious to cast fortunes In
with the United States Army, and after
due deliberation, Supt. of the Recruiting
Service Col. Otis, stationed at New York,
deemed It ad dvisable to make the transfer.
As fast as the men are enlisted they are
drilled by q sergeant and get well set
MP" before being sent away and after q
short lapse of time are sent of in lots OF
two or three. In charge of a commissioned
officer to David's Island, New York,
where they are assigned a company and
are thoroughly drilled. after which they
are detailed to active work In the field.
At the present time there is big, strap
ping speciman of manhood at the Office,
who enlisted in July, and who is anx-
ionsly awaiting the arrival of a new man.
lie will be compe 4 to wait until an
other enlistment before he can be trans
ferrcd, and, during the interval, can draw
no pay. Day after day he can be seen
standing guard Mt the doorway OF the
Office, looking in vain for the coming or, re-
cruit. From January i. to Sept 10. 1881,
there was a total enlistment Of fifty-five
men. For the same period this year there
were but twenty-four.
Capt. Frank ID. Garretty is 63 years of
age. On Feb. 4, lS93 he will l'e "a and
will be retired from active service He
has seen thirty-one years Of active service
and during this time has been connected
with some hard battles. He entered the
service In September, 1861. enlisting at
Louisville, Kentucky, and after the war
WIS detailed to the recruiting service
opening stations at Chicago, Milwau-
kce. st. Paul, David's Island and in this
city. During the war he was wounded
but once, although he was always to b.
seen in tie thickest of the fight. On
Oct. 8, '62. during the battle at Perry
willie, Kentucky, the captain, then 81
lieutenant, was wounded in the thigh by
musket ball, and was compelled TO
leave the field. He recovered later and
Immediately entered active service again.
At the close OF the war he was detailed
for the Custer campaign, and with he
other members OF the command, under
went nine months of the most severe
hardships ever encountered during any
campaign. At times the thermometer
stood 80 degrees below zero and many
perished from the extreme cold. During
this campaign the captain contracted
bad case OF rheumatism which has not
left him even at this late date. He was
also an active member OF the Stanley ex-
pedition In '72 aud served three months
Held duty, guarding the surveyors as tkey
laid out the route or the Northern Pacific
Railroad.
several years ago recruiting Office was
established In this city, but after a few
years existence IL was abandoned in 1887.
In 1883 the Office was re-established.
<The captain expressed his sincere re-
foets az leaving this city, and stated that
during his stay here he ha always met
with the most courteous treatment by the
people. He ha Lforiaed-aa attachment
Tor PROVIDENCE, whici he would never
forget, ana signiiied his intent OF OF max
ing periodical visits here when retired.