The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-22

and great deal of time is spent out at the
targets, for In these days of open order
every soldier must be a good shot. AT all
or these exercises the lieutenants attend to
supervise and instruct, although in the mat
Ter OF instruction 1t frequently happens that
the noncommissioned officers are more ex-
perienced.
When winter shuts in all the Northern
posts out here in Colorado the drills are
usually held indoors. AT present a great
deal of interest In athletics has been
aroused In different garrisons. and the ofii-
GERS nave encouraged this interest and ar
ranged both INDOOR and outdoor sports in
season. Nearly every regiment has its
baseball nine and many have an excellent
football team as we'll In some of these
organizations the younger officers not only
instruct, but play themselves. In the cav
airy good portion of the winter must be
spent in the riding school, and here the off,
GERS bring to bear the excellent training
they have received az the riding school at
west Point. The horses are trained as well
as their riders. Many of them know the
bugle calls so well that they will obey them
before the trooper has made the movement
During the winter there is a sort of
school held for the younger officers at
Logan, and this is a custom general
one hour or so in the morning. The text
book is the Drill Regulations. United
States Army" and each is carefully gone
over and discussed during the term.
Then there is the lyceum. where the off,
GERS meet and listen to papers on the yari-
are prepared and read by the different
members each week. In this the new lieu
shade, for, fresh from the academy, their
ideas are brighter and their minds more
alive to the needs of the day than those
of the bulky captains and majors who have
passed the greater part of their lives on
the plains and are better acquainted with
the nature of the Indian than with the
strength of armor plate.
One of the regular duties Of the junior
officers that becomes very monotonous aft
er few repetitions is that of going ION"
& M hA
mounted every day, winter and summer.
and. consisting of captain as officer of
the day, two lieutenantS as officers OF the
guard, and a dozen men, remains on duty
twenty-four hours. The men are stationed
as sentinels about the various buildings.
stables, ETC., and are expected to see that
no unauthorized persons enter the premises,
to prevent theft, and guard against fire.
AT night countersign or password is given
them and the officers of the guard make
frequent rounds of the sentnels, question
ing them about their orders and duties and
taking care they understand their RESPONSE
biities. The two officers divide the night
between them, and in the bliZZards of the
winters their work is no easy thing. Some
times they get little amusement from
questioning the sentries
Know your orders sentinel?' was asked
a not overnight Irishman on guard here
some time ago.
''Yis, sor."
nknow the points of the compass?" con-
tirnIed the officer.
"Yis, Sor.''
IF you faced the rising sun. your left
hand would be on the north of you and your
right hand to the south OF you. What would
be behind you?''
ME knapsack, sor," sententously an
swered the soldier
Once in while a strike in neighboring
city Indian difficulty threatens to be
serious, and orders are sent the command
to hold themselves in readiness for active
service. Then acknowledgements in
deed, but deep and delightful-reigns in the
hearts of the youngsters who wear the blue.
Such was the case here in the spring OF 1894
when Governor Waite tried to have little
civil war of his own in the streets of Den
YER and later when the regiment was sent
down to Trinidad to open the railways in
that vicinity during the great railway strike
of that year.
In the summer many of the officers fam
lilies go East. The post gets hot and dusty,
and the men are glad when they set orders
to prepare for a practice march across coun-
try. Equipped as for campaign the troops
march out and tramp hundreds of miles
over the broad Northwest, acting as
army would act in marching through hos
tile country Then is brought INTO practice
the lyceum and school work in the theory
of the art of war.
The danger of Indian outbreaks is now
over, except in the extreme Southwest,
where the nature of the country is such
that lot of Indian renegades may take to
defy the cavalry for weeks. Down there
they don't indulge much in practice
marches, but keep the troops ready at San
Carlos reservation for rapid and concen-
trated action.
1t will be seen that the lot of any army
officer is not very different from that of
any other member of this workaday world
as regards rendering value for his pay. In
one way he is better off than the average
man, for he knows that If he behaves him
self and obeys the laws and customs of the
service he will be provided for to the end
of his life.