The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-01-06
A RAW RECRUIT.

city and expressed 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-
quiriDg 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-
ceived violent dislike for the NEW man.
as he was commonly called, and for O
month or more made his life misera bic.
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 'snew man. bore it all patient
ly, but sometimes it was observed that his
face grew pale under the captain s 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 Oh the morning report as a 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 industriously 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 ''rattle them of, - he
said, If any of the officers should come
around and ask for them. Some time late
in the afternoon the officer of the day ap-
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 thatP'' exclaimed the officer of
the day severely.
81 allows no one to monkey around
here, = repeated the sentinel in a much
louder tone. 81 allows'-
whats that? What's that?p repeated
the officer of the day, his voice pitched at
high key.
The sentinel instantly dropped his rife
to the order, and rising on his toes fairly
screamed:
81 allows no one to monkey around here.
I told you so before. I've forgot the rest
of it, butt
"That will dol That will dor' exclaim-
ed the officer of the day sharply. "Can
the corporal of the guard. - a-
81 don't know his name, - replied the
sentinel
Call the corporal Of the guard, - persist
ed 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. 4
The corporal came promptly, and the
sentinel soon after found himself disarm-
! ed, stripped of his equipments and pris-
| oner in the guard tent. On investigation
| it was found, principally through the state
ment of the prisoner himself that the in
| struotions he had attempted to give to the
4 officer of the day had been communicated
| to him as correct by some roguish COM
| rade. He was therefore released from con-
MT r 1orth nd afo6x ith
/ sentinel's post. 1t was nearly midnight
| when the officer of the day again approach
ed him. He very promptly challenged, and
on receiving the reply, "Offioer of the
day" again astonished the captain by a
cordial THANK you; please advance, sir,
/ and be reconciled I"
| This was too much of draft upon both
| the dignity of the captain and the disci-
| pline of the service, and the sentinel found
| himself speedily a prisoner once moro in
! the guard tent. Again, on investigation it
was discovered, principally, as before, on
the prisoner 8 own evidence, that the COM
rades of the ''new man" had been play yin g
tricks on him, and approaching his post
! after dark had announced themselves as
the ''officer of the day. or the com mand-
ing officer" as suited their fancy. He was
therefore again released and once more
placed on post.
just before daylight the officer of the
/ gay maze IH0 ROUNDS OF Un6 S60OIuclS
and on approaching mo. A. found the
"new man" on the post AS be advanced
to give the countersign the sentinel brought
his rife down upon him, and in a very
quiet, decided tone 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 and seiZ-
ing him by the collar threw him violently
to the ground.
81 don't want to shoot you," he said.
''It would make too much noise. But l
want to tell you before I bid you goodby
what a miserable, contemplate piece of
humanity you are. can scarcely resist
the temptation to stick my bayonet into
you You are a heartless, petty tyrant
and deserve hanging. 1 can't kill you,
you know" he went on, because 1t
wouldn't be fair. Some time we can have
it out on more equal conditions My home
is in Georgia., y he said, lust two miles
from MiIledgeville. My name is 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 got another soldier in my place.
Goodby, old man; goodby
He turned about and quickly disappeared
in the darkness. The captain sprang at
once to his feet and called Justify for the
guard A lieutenant and squad of mer
came running 60 the spot, and by direction
of the officer of the day moved forward
rapidly in search of the sentinel. The
commanding officer of the camp was hur-
riedly informed of the occurrence, and {
strong detachment of cavalry was dis
patched to join in the pursuit. The whole
day was spent in the search, but no trace
whatever of the man could be found.
The colonel's black riding mare was
missing from the picket line in the morn
ing. and near where she had stood plair
white card was found fastened to n fencl
post by pin, on the back of which hat
been written in plain, bold hand: Good
by, Yanks. We shall meet again. Chi