The evening tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 189?-190?, 1896-12-19
A RAW RECRUIT.

dividual made his appearance one day early
IN 1868 at recruiting Office In an eastern
city and expressed a desire to 'go for
soldier"
He was accepted and sent at once to join
his regiment, and within a week after his
enlistment was at work In uniform learn
Ing to be a soldier. He was slow In ac-
quiring knowledge of his duties and was
constantly doing absurd things He got
into the generals tent one day by mistake,
and on repeated occasions got lost In the
other regiments Of the division. His cap
tain was somewhat irritable at best and
much inclined to be exacting. He con-
ceiyed a violent dislik ke for the "new man"
an he was commonly called, and for
month or more made bis life miserable
Nothing that the recruit could do pleased
him. He did not stand square in the
ranks, nor sit erect at his meals, nor do
anything, In fact, as the captain wanted it
done. The "new man" bore 1t all patient
", but sometimes ID was observed that his
face grew pale under the captains reproof
and that his eyes burned like Goals of fire.
He got through somehow at last with
his preliminary training and was taken up
finally on the morning report as private
and on the next day marched on guard
Unfortunately his captain marched on the
same morning as officer Of the day. The
"new man" was placed on an outpost of
the camp guard and at once began walking
his beat iniustriously In the hot sun.
repeating quietly to himself as he went
back and forth the special instructions
that had been given him in order that he
might be ready to "rGttle them of, I" he
said, IL any of the officers should come
= a. lata
In the afternoon the officer of the day APP
preached him, and after acknowledging
his salute directed him to repeat his in
structions.
81 allows no one to monkey around
here" said the "new man"
whats thati' exclaimed the officer OF
the day severely.
~ allows no one to monkey around
here, repeated the sentinel in a much
louder tone II allows"-
whats thatP What's thats" repeated
the officer of the day, his voice pitched at
high key.
The sentinel instantly dropped his rifle
TO the order, and rising on his toes fairly
screamed:
"Iallows no one to monkey around here.
I told you so before. I've forgot the rest
of 1t, but
"That will dol That will dov' exclaim-
Cd the officer Of the day sharply Call
the corporal of tho guard"
"I don't know his name," replied the
sentinel
Call the corporal Of the guard, persist
cd the officer of the day, and after some
further emphatic instructions from the
captain cry went up for the corporal of
the guard, post No. A."
The corporal came promptly, and the
sentinel soon after found himself disarm-
cd, stripped of his equipments and pris'
oner In the guard tent. On Investigation
1t was found, principally through the state
ment of the prisoner himself, that the in
structions he had attempted to give to the
officer of the day had been communicated
to him as correct by some roguish COM
rade He was therefore released from con-
flnement at length and again trusted with
a sentinels post. 1t was nearly midnight
when the officer of the day again approach
ed him. He very promptly challenged. and
on receiving the reply, "O1icer of the
day." again astonished the captain by
cordial "Tbank you; please advance, sir,
and be reconciled."
This was too much Of draft upon both
the dignity of tho captain and the disci-
pline of the service, and the sentinel found
himself speedily prisoner once more in
the guard tent. Again, on Investigation 1t
was discovered, principally, as before, on
the prisoners own evidence, tnat the COM
Sades Of the "new man" had been playing
tricks on him, and approaching his post
after dark had announced themselves rs
the 'ofi,cer Of tho daJ or the command
ing officer" as suited their fancy. He was
therefore a.aain released and once mora
placed on post
just before " ylight the officer OF the
day lnoae " rounds" Of the sentine!s,
ana CD approaching "No. A" found the
reD.y man" on the post. As he advanced
eso give the countersign the sentinel brought
his rife down upon him, and In very
quiet, decided tono Of voice directed him
to hold up his hands or he would Kill him
where he stood. The captain turned about
instantly and started to run. He had
scarcely taken dozen steps, however, be-
fore the sentinel overlook him ard seiz-
ing him by tie collar threw him violently
to tho ground.
81 don't want tn shoot you" he said.
at would make too much noise. But /
| want to tell you before l bid you goodby
| what a miserable contemplate piece of
| humanity you are / can scarcely resist
the temptation to stick my bayonet into
| you. You arc o heartless, petty tyrant
| and deserve hanging. / can't kill you,
you know" he went on, because It
wouldn't be fair Some time we can have
IL out on more equal conditions My homo
Is in Georgia." he said, 'just two miles
from Milledgeville. My name Ii Dawson,
and any one In town can tell you where !
live. have paid you visit in the inter-
est Of the Confederate cause, and you will
have to get another soldier in my place
Goodby, old man; goodby"
He turned about and quickly disappeared
In the darkness. The captain sprsng at
once to his feet and called Justify for the
guard A lieutenant and squad of men
came running to the spot, and by direction
of the officer of the day moved forward
rapidly In search of tho sentinel. The
commanding officer Of the camp was hur-
rledly informed of the occurrence, and .
strong detachment of cavalry was dis
| eel hosy tn ioiv tn tho pvrsuit Tho xvholo