The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23


by the "distinguished marksmen" OF
the infantry.
The heavy artilleryman has to mas
ter more different kinds of drill than
the soldiers of any other arm of the
service. Besides the drill on the big
guns he must be quite as proficient in
infantry tactics as the ''doughboy.
He carries the same rifle and is re-
quired to learn the same evolutions as
the in infantryman, in order to prepare
himself for field and riot service at
any time. There is any amount OF
battery and battalion drill in infantry
movements at the barracks. Then there
are certain days set aside for drilling
in the hated "mechanical maneuvers,
which consists in the mounting and
d1smounting the heavy old guns by
means of hydraulic jacks, "gins, gar
rison slings and other appliances.
The light battery at the barracks,
like light batteries everywhere, with
their 'tNapoleon" brass pieces OF ord.
nance, hauled by horses, has a dis
tinct drill of it's own, not unlike that
of the cavalry, and nearly all of the
post calls for tho light battery are
different from those to which the
heavy batteries respond. 1t wouldre-
quire q separate chapter to treat ofthe
superbiy organized light artillery of
the United States army-indubitably
the best in the world.
Recall from drill is blared out in
time to give the men chance to clean
up for dinner. Dinner mess call is
sounded at noon. After dinner the
zone soldier, one bunk" idea predom-
mates. Except the men comprising
the afternoon fatigue parties, and the
few detailed from each battery to bird
the red crosses upon their arms and
take part in the hospital corps drill,
under the direction of one Of the army
surgeons or hospital steward, all
hands are permitted to indulge after
dinner ip general loaf. The PANIC.
lists, the violinlsts, the guitarists and
the mandolinists get out their instru.
ments. Many of them play we'll.
Nearly all of the soldiers sing we'll.
Sweetly, pathetically, humorously
and martially the majority of them
take part in this midday musicale. In
every outfit there are always two or
three jig dancers of eminence. These
are dragged to the center of the quar-
ters to contribute their little act to
the entertainment. The fun of this
kind is a good deal more hilarious
than ordinarily, few days after pay
day, when the canteen becomes for
time o veritable mint. About week
after pay day the quarters began to
take on gloomy atmosphere, and
there is a general complaint Of
''heads." -
A good many of the soldiers devote
O large portion of their afternoons to
letter writing. American soldiers are
inveterate letter writer's, and they are
exceedingly fond Of receiving letters.
In the afternoons, also, the ''barrack
lawyer" gets in his fine work. He
knows more about the regulations
than the major general commanding
the army, and, in his estimation, the
army is going headlong to the dogs.
He gathers knot of recruits around
his bunk and expiates vociferously
upon the rapid degeneration OF the
service. r-t
The dolce far niente period draws to
close about 4 O'Clock in the after.
noon, when the men Of the batteries
begin to prepare for dress parade.
The men have to jump into their full
dress clothes for this evening parade
and look their best. The inspiration
of the bands music as they march in
review gives an additional squareness
to their shoulders and dragoonish
swing to their movements. American
soldiers are good to look upon. They
must be perfect men physically to get
into the service at all, and as recruits
they are given much athletic training.
During the autumn and winter, first
call for retreat is sounded during the
progress of dress parade, and assembly
for retreat goes at the conclusion OF
the march in review. Then the men
answer to their names for the last
time of the military day, the echoes
of the evening gun reverberate
through the post, the colors, while
the band solemnly plays "The Star
Spangled Banner, eare struck, and the
men of each battery are marched to
their quarters and dismissed, to re-
sumo their everyday uniforms for
supper. .. :.....
There ls nothing in the way OF duty
to be performed by the soldiers after
supper. If their names are not OH the
"black list" such Of them as wish to
visit the city may discard their uni.
forms, don mufti, or civilian dress,
| and qo-haYing handed in their names