The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1896-11-06

When tho recruits of the First Maine
cavalry began 10 take on soldier airs
in their camp on the Penobscot. In
1861. some Of them assuming that
troopers should be men full Of strange
oaths." Colonel Douty promulgated an
antiprofanity order. Al first the edict
was received with considerable merri-
ment, and explosives, innocent in them
selves though meant 10 do duty rs oaths. \
were freely used. But in a few days.
inspired by the precepts and examples
Of certain selfrespecting comrades, the \
men took a nobler view Of il and the 4
needless vice, f" as the historian Of the
regiment characterizes il, was effectually
prescribed.
The First Maine served four years
and earned a reputation for valor in the
field second 10 10 other mounted CON-
mand. Ii brought home flag upon
which were inscribed by official author
ity the names Of 36 battles. But the
veterans wero not more proud Of their
martial honors than of their good NOR
ais. for they had won the honors and
the victory 10 crown them. swearing
INC. at all; :" that, too. with regi-
mental temperance pledge held in al
most universal pspect.
The general over a division of 10, 900
men who nipped the profaning evil in
the buy by saying. Il will do the sweat
ing for this entire command" was
more tactful in his methods than the
Maine cavalry colonel. as he needed 10
be. dealing with strange troops. but he
was not jester, neither victim OF
overconfdence in himself. II military
necessity warranted violation Of the law
he would be the judge. Under leader
so clever and farsighted the crisis would
never arise. Only once during long
service ut the front-service rendered IN
two different regiments. different bri-
gades, divisions and army corps-did
hear an officer above the rank Of cap
tain give way TO profanity. That once
was the case Of brigade commander
invoking the curse of Deity upon ras-
cally quartermaster. The quartermaster
resigned on the spot and went home.
thus removing what might have been a
stumbling block from the path Of many
besides the general
I should say that the rascally quar-
termaster and his close concomiiants,
the stubborn army mule and the OBJ
streperous teamster. furnished the chief
provocatives to swearing for soldiers Of
the line and that in the precinct set
apart TO their use-region remote from
battle and virtually outside Of the do
main of army scipline-oaths were
quite as common as they are in the
pages Of the "Red Badge Of Courage
In fact. tine manners a well as the Ian
guage Of the soldiers in that narrative
suggest that the studies for IL were
made from camp followers and the hang
ers on of the supply departments,
manned, as these were, by noncombat-
ants. Into that safe asylum drifts. ac-
cording TO q well known law. the slum
element of an army il the field.
Ny ears still retain echoes of volleys
OF oaths from the lips Of two men Of
that class whom l encountered on the
peninsula in 1862. Both were enlisted
soldiers and wore the blue. One Of the
offenders acted as keeper Of the brigade
commissary stores With him the swear
ing habit was an iufrmity. causing his
associates to overlook it through pity.
The other was a teamster, who had fol-
lowed the sea until long past middle
life. Swearing in his case was a child
ism way Of showing bravado. 1t is need
less TO add that he was a hopeless cow
ard. and FOR that reason had been detail
ed 10 stable duty.
BIZ referring 10 the roster Of the com
pany in which / served in 1923 | now
recall the individuality Of So comrades
and Of that number recognize So who
did not use profane language on any oc-
casion OF the remaining 2S only III
can be indicted as possibly given to pro-
family ut times. and that solely on the
ground Of their general reputation for
lightness Of morals. On the expiration
of our term Of enlistment, in 1868. two
sergeants Of the company recruited a
command for the veteran cavalry serv-
ice. They had the pick Of 500 appli-
cahts recently mustered out from the
two years regiments and chose their
men strictly with regard to their previ-
Gus records as gallant soldiers. When
the men came together in camp, it APP
peared that there was not one among
the 100 veterans so selected who used
profane or vulgar language.
A moments reflection must convince
every intelligent person that violent
language is subversive Of all true disci
pline. and a successful army without
discipline is an impossibility in thi
age. The article If war prescribing
profanity, promulgated, as II was. e
every new command and read ON parad'
annually at least, was n protection TO
the soldier and moral weapon for TN
officer. The soldier could insist upon 1t
observance by his supcriors- On tn
Iofher hand, he weakened his own caus
whenever he violated the law himself
At first blush the article seemed :
many obsolete and ridiculous and wa
generally received as relic Of Purita
days. But the more oncrous and exact
ing a rule the more ii Is studied an
analysed. Men u fixed habits obeye