The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1896-12-23
tant Of the Fourth Artillery, Lieutenant

tant Of the Fourth Artillery, Lieutenant
T. s. Strong. The reporter was on
quest for information, gained at first
hand though actual observation, as to
how soldiers soldiered. He saw and
I heard the whole grind, from first call
in the morning to Sights out" at
night. It was revelation in human
alertness. discipline, order and organ
ization.
First call for reveille is sounded
during autumn and winter months
just when the Eastern sky begins to
fame with orange. II is signal to
the men sleeping in the long rows of
comfortable hunks in the second-story
barrack rooms of the "double decker"
quarters that they have got to get up.
Assembly goes within five minutes
after first call, and the men of each
battery fall in in front of their re-
spectiye quarters and answer to their
name as called by the first serg cant
who, at the conclusion of the roll
call, reports to the officer of the day,
who olanks along the lines, "Battery
E present or accounted for" or "Pri-
Yates So .and-So absent from reveille, !"
as the case may be. If it is the latter
case there is an immediate investiga-
tion as to what has prevented the ab-
sentees from standing reveille-an
investigation which very frequently
lands the laggards in the "Clink.
While the men are yet standing in
line the bang Of the morning sunrise
gun comes laundering over the pa
rade ground. the stars and stripes,
under the manipulation of one of che
corporals OF the guard, futtered from
the top OF the flagstaff, and the mill
tary day is begun.
The men barely have time to get
their heads under the cold water spig-
gots in the wash rooms, and TO dry
themselves with crash towels before
the fitting will-o'- '-the.wisp of trum-
peter of the guard blares out the mess
coll. 1t should be explained that at
Washington. barracks there are bat
/ terry messes-thas is, the batteries
] have each o separate dining room and
kitchen, presided over by permanent
cook chosen from each outfit. The
cook OF each battery, together with
the two men detailed each day to
assist him-they are known as
: ss...sskitchen police"--is awakened every
morning about an hour before the
reveille by one Of the members of the
guard, in order to give him plenty of
time to prepare the battery's break
fast. s In
31 In the battery messes the men are
fed with good. substantial food, served
5onSwhite pine tables and without any
frills. The most common breakfast
dish OF the army, next to beans is q
notunappetizing compound, like Irish
stew, briefly called ''slum" by the SOL
diers. The men drink two or three
big bowls OF good coffee without milk,
and eat several slabs of unbuttered
bread, noistened by the "slum" gravy,
and they get through the meal with
phenomenal quickness. They do not
OOlb IuSlI DEeahi6sts Aion P1StctSECSs
but because the cook, if they appear
to linger o tflde over the meal, glares
in from the kitchen and tells them that
tsthere's going to be dinner in this
shack to-day, as usual" Thus ad-
jured, they do not waste much time n
showing the cook their backs.
Anyhow, there are duties to be per-
formed Immediately after breakfast.
The mattresses on the hunks and the
blankets must be rolled up and the
quarters arranged for he inspection
of the battery commander, who, in
the detection of dirt. or slovenliness,
has eyes OF the strength of a hawks.
Besides, fatigue call is sounded by the