The Bennington banner. [volume] (Bennington, Vt.) 1858-1894, 1892-02-05
AN ANXIOUS NIGHT.

tIOn to be a soldier, and as l grew up
this desire increased with my. growth.
NY parents were not wealthy enough
TO send me to military college, so de-
ided to enlist and endeavor to obtain a
commission from the ranks. At the
time l enlisted England was on the
verge of struggle with Russia and re-
Guiting was very brisk. l had no diff
Guilty in passing the medical ordeal, and
was allowed to- choose my regiment. l
chose the Ninety-secOnd, the Gordon
Highlanders, thinking that, being a
crack fighting corps, it would be most
likely to be one of the first sent to the
Fl mt.
After joining my regiment and pass
Big three months recruit drill, the cap
klin of my company, finding that l was
better educated than the general run of
Eecruits, and that l took great interest in
hy duties, recommended me for promo
Con, and was made ''lance corporal"
my first step on the ladder of fame.
Was proud of it,and wrote to my parents
such letters Of hope! | almost pictured
myself with the queens commission in
any hand.
But such is not usual with newly-made
son commissioned officers. They don't
eeem to think that they are like young
bears, with all their troubles before
Chem. found later that had great
deal of responsibility to contend with, al
slough my rank as yet did not amount
to much.
Nevertheless, the officers spoke of me
IS promising ''noncom," and up to the
Cine my narrative begins had given
0em no reason to think otherwise. But
on the night of December 3lst, 1873. l
WIS within an ace of being caught trip
Ding, and of being put back for a court
tnartial.
Christmas in English regiments is the
day set apart for feasting and merriment,
out the Scotch celebrate the new year.
Discipline is relaxed to great extent on
Chat day. and soldiers may do things
chen for which at any other time they
Kould be severely punished.
On the morning of December S1st /
gas detailed as corporal of qua of
hree men. 1t was my first guard, and
mistrusted my ability to pull through
this important duty without assistance.
One of the privates of my guard was a
veteran. He had been years in the SER
Eice and had been formerly a color SER
geant, but through intern perate habits
bad gradually been reduced to the INKS.
This man volunteered to give me point
Gs," and come to my assistance in case
Of need accepted his kind offer glad
ty, and resolved to be as indulgent as
possibly could with him and his com
Gades during the twenty-four hours that
He would have to remain on duty.
At about o'clock in the afternoon
everything had gone on without hitch
until then-this man, Mcdonald by name,
Came to me as I was sitting by the guard
soom fire, and handing me bottle, said:
"Have a sup out Of this corporal.
Don't he afraid of it; it's only whiskey.
It'll do you good this cold weather and
Warm you up"
"Why, Mcdonald" ! replied; "you
ought to know better than to bring
iquor into the guard room. You know
Tery well it's against the rules, and that
you are going the right way to get us all
onto trouble"
mot IL bit of it," he answered. cts
New Years Eve, corporal. When you
have been in the regiment as long as l
have, you'll not be 50 squeamish about
such small matters as that I've been
eighteen years in the service, and when
l was 'noncOm' on guard of a New
Years Eve, | never objected to allowing
the men to have wee taste, as long AS
they did not overdO it. OF course eyery-
body knows it ism tallOwcd to the guard.
but bless your soul, corporal, it's winked
Ct on New Years.
did not like to be more severe with
the men than was absolutely nee essary,
Is | thought l might become popular
4mong them, so | asked him if that was
Che only bottle lie hal.
yes" he replied, land it's only three
parts full at that. My chum as fetched
the dinner brought it along from the
mess"
'Well, if that's the case" 1 said, 81
will allow you to have it. l won't take
any myself, but you must put itaway TN.
til to night, after the orderly officer has
been his rounds and all is quiet"
knew | was not justified in giving
this permission, and if it leaked out
stood good chance of getting into serri
Gus trouble, but reasoned with myself
that three parts of bottle of spirits be-
tween three men ON a bitterly cold night
would not be likely to hurt them, and
Chat there was no possibility of its being
found out.
The general routine of guard is>Very
mOnotonous. The privaUes between the
turns of sentry CO." the sentry being
relieved every two hours, are able to get
an hour or two of sleep, but for the
"noncOm" this is out of the question.
He has to post tile sentries in their turn,
attend to the gate, and see to hundred
I