Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1897-01-13

F. 8. Strong, The reporter w.
guest for information, gained at first
hand though actual observation, as to
how soldiers soldiered. He saw and
heard the whole grind, from first call
in the morning to ''lights out" at
night. 1t was o 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
flame with orange. 1t 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 nen of each
battery fall in in front of their re-
spective quarters aud answer to their
name rs called by the first serg cant
who, at the conclusion of the roll
call, reports to the officer of the day,
who clanks along the lines, "Battery
z present or accounted for, or "Pri-
Yates So and-So absent from reveille, F"
as the case may be. If it is the latter
case there is an immediate iuyestiga-
tion as to what has prevented the alb.
sentees from standing reyeille-an
investigation which very frequently
lands the laggards in the "Clink.
While the men are vet 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 the
corporals of the guard, Auttered 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 10 dry
themselves with crash towels before
the fitting will-o'. the .wisp of trum'
peter of the guard blares out the mess
call. 1t should be explained that at
Washington barracks there are bat
terry messes-thas is, the batteries
have each separate dining room and
kitchen, presided over bya permanent
cook chosen from each outfit. The
cook OF each battery, together with
the two men detailed each day to
assist him--tbey are known as
Kitchen police"->is awakened every
morning about an hour before the
reveille bv one of the members of tho
guard, in order to give him plenty of
time to prepare the battery's break
fast.
In the battery messes the men are
fed with good, substantial food, served
on white pine tables and without any
frills. The most common breakfast
dish OF the army, next to beans is q
not unappetizing compound, like Irish
Ltew, 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, moistened by the "slum" gravy,
and they get through the meal with
phenomenal quickness. They do not
bolt their breakfasts from preference,
but because the cook, if they appear
to linger tllhe over the meal, glares
in from the kitchen and tells them that
"there's going to be dinner in this
shack to-day, as usual" Thus ad-
inred, they do not waste much time in
lhowing tho 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 the inspection
of the battery commander, who. in
the detection of dirt or sloyenliness,
aas cs OF the strength OF hawks.
Besides. fatigue call is sounded by the