The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-07-27

| lazy to hold themselves erect.
In just this particular lies one OF the
| most noticeable differences between the
regular and the volunteer. The back Of
/ the regular has had the curves pretty
well taken our of il. On drill. he stands
| erect. with his head and chin well up. He
| may SLOUGH a little when OF duty, but his
| work at setting up drill leaves its stamp
| upon him evn then Even when on rUty,
! If he meets an officer he comes into posi-
ton and mis- hand goes up with that pre-
] cision of salute which marks the soldier,
and which is SO different from the half
| finished and off-hand wave OF the arm
| which is so common among the ranks or
| the volunteers. But the correct salute IS
| one of the tricks Of the trade. learned by
| months and years OF practice, Until the
| proper movement becomes instructive
! Our volunteer boys are somewhat excus-
able. though there should be more atten-
ton paid 10 an act which is SO pre-emi-
| nently military The sailor ducks and
| hobs. but the soldiers salute IS salute
in which he stands erect. se,f-respectins
| and respectful, TO recognize the presenct
of his superior officer. BY his salute he
recognizes, not the individual, for he IS
/
unknown. but he sautes the military
rank to which he himself may aspire and
| which he may attain.
After this hour or two OF drih. unless
he is detailed for some special work the
soldiers time is his own for four, i've or
six hours. according to the routine of each
! camp. He has nothing to do until the
| middle of the AFTERNOON. Passes are is
sued to a certain number OF the men OF
each command, and those who have them
are free to go where they viii btyond the
limits of the camp, provided they return
by the time specified on the pass. II they
overstep the time, 1t will probably mean
the guard-house for certain number OF
hours or some other form of punishment
Sometimes not more than two. three or
four of these passes are issued TO each
! company on each day.
Counting out the guard. the special de-
tails, and TIT men on day leave, from one
half to two-thirds of the regiment. at
least, is left TO it's own divices and re-
sources during these midday hours. Some
read and some sleep. Some play ball and
some play cards. Somt go to those adj
mirable and invaluable adjuncts TO all
| our camps, the big tents of the Young
Mems Christian Association, and play
dominoes or checkers, or write home let
ters The camp secretary OF the associa-
! ton. Mr. Frank L. Smith. informs me
that 1900 letters a day are written In the
Young Mems Christian Association tents
at Camp Cuba Libre. The writing ma
terias and the paper and envelopes are
furnished gratuitiously by the associa-
ton. and there is hardly time during
! the day bttween the hours Of duty when
these tents are not felled with soldiers
reading, writing or playing the games
which are furnished for their use. The
work of the Young Mems Christian AS
ISOLATION in the camps can hardly be too
| highly commended.
Drill is resumed at from to O'Clock
in the afternoon. according to the orders
! issued in the different brigades, and lasts.
like the morning drill, from one to two
hours. This is sometimes varied by bril-
eade or a division review. l attended a
! division review last Friday afternoon.
/ Nine regiments OF infantry, numbering in
ali some 10000 men, were in line. 1t is a
sight which has been WITNESSED by few
| people of the present generation. The
| position of the troops on their arrival
! on the field and their movements after
ward, would be mort easily described by
diagrams To say that they formed in
column by masses. faced to the front,
! is to be uninteligible to many readers
| Let me say, then. that the term line
refers to the formation from side to side,
while column" refers to the formation
from front to rear In this case the po-
| sition was that of column OF masses.
or, each company being drawn up in
! double lines, they stood company behind
company from front to rear. The three
! regiments of tach of the three brigades
| stood next to each other. with the pre-
! scribed space between, in parallel col
| umns. The entire division stood as If one
| were to draw nine straight lines At the
! head of each regiment stood uhexfiffffn
! head Of each regiment was its colonel,
| with his staff. mounted. nj their proper
| places at the head of each brigade was
| the brigadier general, with his staff. also
| mounted. Across the ftid was the d.
vision commander. General Arnold, with
! his staff Major General Lee, the corps
commander, with his staff and the guests
! of the day, occupied the position OF
| honorable spectators
Within ell were in position and ready for
/ the first movement. General Burt. com
mander Of the First Brigade. attended ny
! his staff. rode across the field. Stopping
| at the proper distance for the prescribed
| 81 rute. and announced that the troops
were ready for the inspection Of their
| comma nding officer. who, accompanied by
! General Burt and The staff Of both. rode
/ along the line, saluted by the officers, the
I +roops. and the regimental bands. as they
! approached each command After max
! ing the circuit of the field they returned
10 their position at the reviewing stand,
and the troops. beginning OH the ngnt'
got into motion for the march past As
! each regiment approached, It's band tel
out Of the ranks and took position oppo-
site the reviewing officers. and continued
i.s music until the regiment had passed
when il fell into position in the rear, and
/ LETT room for its successor. As eacn Dr.
e.de and regiment cane up Us COMMAND
ing officer. win his staff. took MS posi-
,i,-, in me reviewing line until the com
r,.,d had passed. when they saluted and
returned 10 their posts in the marching
line As the fag and the reg-nenia-
,,r,-s go nv the bard saiutes from iis
r.ozi+ion with a fanfare. me heads ~ 81
m me reviewing l.ne ara barrel, and the
se-as Of ali male spectators are supposed
"a BE-. though many re17olned coFe1 %
rar4t,ze of ignorance ~ 'he Dr'Ter thing
- IN. TIE narlh past the staaa cnos i7s
review.
ss-e--oon drIi. or the occasional re-
v5ex beng over supper foso~F ien
W. ~