The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1897-06-09
SOLDIERS BUDGET.
GRANTS First Command.

county to assemble for general train
ing in "the manual of arms,' as it was
often called. And the order was pref
ty generally obeyed.
1t was q chance for the Jockey to
trade horses; an opportunity for the
women to gossip, day of rest for the
hired hands; meeting Ilace for low
ers; fair and Fourth of July with
gingerbread and cider for the boys.
To the soldiery it was jolly farce.
On the morning of Aug. 20, 1874, the
worm-eaten drums and the moldy flies
awoke and uttered such martial noise as
they could, and from every nook and
corner of the wooded land, on foot and
on horseback, the sturdy farmers and
villagers Of Brown county took merry
way toward Russellville, where, on a
broad, smooth field, the training was
appointed to be held. Each man
brought such military accoutrements as
he had, and various and exceeding sor-
ry were the uniforms which came from
the garnet pegs and out of chests Oh
this great day.
Guns of all eras, rifles of all lengths,
shot guns, carbines, fint.lcck muskets,
Spanish blunderbusses; anything with
lock, stock and barrel was considered
worth bringing. Those who had no
guns waggisbly caught up and carried
worn out broOms or stout cornstalks,
and so it was that they we're called "the
cornstalk brigade"
The officers, pompous as turkey cocks
in their continental uniforms, as
colonies and generals struggled with
fortitude to keep the exercise keyed to
their martial dignity, which was hard
task, indeed.
However, the Mexican war was brew
ing in 1874, excitement was running
high, and an unusually large turnout of
able bodied citizens filed the lanes and
the borders of the training field with
crowd of people, rather more martial
minded than of wont.
The lanes in every direction were
fenced in with horses, and trading
went on in score of places at once.
Thirty souls went through the crowd
selling gingerbread and cider to the
young beaux, and big copper cents
changed hands wherever they went.
Cider and gingerbread were the treat
ing delicacies of that day. And in the
midst of all the ffes squeaked and
walled and the drum uttered its rafting
roar.
There was another matter of great
interest which many, both old and
young, were discussing. Ulysses Grant,
the tanners son, was just returned
from West Point as brevet second lieu
tenant, and this was so important,
he had been asked to drill the regiment.
IF M
the tanners son when he was BASH
full and reticent schoolboy, and they
wondered how he would succeed with
the drill.
Some of them had caught glimpse
of him in his neatly fitting, dark blue
uniform and his white trousers and
gloves, and it was freely stated that he
was presumptuous to say the least.
AT last the hour came for the march
ing to begin. The soldiery moved into
the broad, smooth lot. The officers
woofed and grumbled their unintelligi-
BILE orders; the men marched in conf
cal disarray in position, the ways all
carrying their brooms or cornstalks and
grinning behind the officers backs.
They seemed sorry regiment.
Then the people all began to look for
the cadet. He kept position in one
corner of the field, modestly waiting till
the general should call him and turn
over the command to him. He sat on
his horse quite calm and graceful.
The signal came, the slended, beard
less young fellow galloped across the
field, reigned up and saluted in splen-
did style, for it was we'll known that no
one could excel him in Workmanship.
The men peered curiously and some
what disdainfully at the pale, slender
youth in his long blue coat and big
epaulettes. He wore cap, and around
his slim waist was red sash. He
looked to be only boy, but he as
tonished the men and won the admira.
ton of the boys and girls by his fine
Workmanship and by his complete mas
terry of the men.
ATTENTION BATTALION"
This first order made every man
straighten up. 1t was the voice OF q
trained soldier. The old officers barked
out their commands, but Cadet Grants
voice. high-keyed, but clear and calm
cut across the parade ground with the
precision of bugle.
1t was his hrSt command OUTSIDE the
academy, and he felt very human
pride in indicating himself in the faces
of those who had sneered at him when
he went away four years before.
For more than an hour he put the
men through the simpler evolutions
and the manual Of arms. The farce
became a serious and we'll ordered drill.
The men themselves felt the martial
character of the young drillmaster, and
lent their best minds to the prompt exc
cution of his orders.
The spectators voted it the best mus.
ter in years, and when it was all over
the old citizens and officers came to
Cadet Grant to say:
"You done nobly. 1t was a com,
plete success"
Being human, he rejoiced in his uni
form and in the splendor of command
Being young he found pleasure also In
the shy glances of admiring girls. AL
together it was red letter day for the
young soldier.
The fame of it reached the "Grave
club" a self-appointed COMMITTEE or
the universe" which met before the
court house door, and that night thu
fame of the tanners boy came to these