The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1898-04-14

To this inspiritiDg melody the men
have set characteristic words:
We san't get 'em up, we can't get 'em up
we can't get EN- up in the morning.
We can't get 'Cm up, we can't get 'em up,
we can't get 'Cm up at all.
The corporal's worse than the private,
The sergsant's worse than the corporal,
The Heutennnt's worse than the sergeant,
But the captain s worse than ALL
Like bees from a hive, the men
swarm from the barracks. With coats
buttoned to the chin they hasten to
take their places in ranks before the
bugles sound Assembly" When the
first sergeant calls Attention, " every
man must be in his position, properly
clad and ready to answer "here" when
his name is called
When the rapid roll call is over, the
first sergeant reports, "A company
present or accounted for, " and this re-
port is transmitted by the company's
officer TO the adjutant. The opening
ceremony Of the day is done. The adju-
tant's return to his quarters is in silence,
the officers having hastily retired to
bed, but the privates are up for all day.
answering the next and more popular
buglo call, Breakfast, when they
again fall in " as before and are march
ed to the mess hall for the first meal
Breakfast over, the hive begins to
hum, Every man has his work
First, there is the policing" of the
barracks, floors are swept and mopped,
shelves busted, beds made up, lamps
cleaned and filled and everything put
in soldierly shape for the captain, who
soon comes to make his diurnal inspec-
tion. AL men help in this work except
ing those detailed for guard duty, who
spend their time in brushing up arms,
belts and clothing, and those detailed
for "fatigue, who after making their
own beds and busting their extra shoes,
put on their canvas clothing and pre-
pare for the work Of cleaning and re-
pairing the parades and roads, and such
outside work as is necessary to keep the
post in order, AS required by the com.
manding officer.
At this time also comes "siolE call, "
when o noncommissioned officer con-
ducts all the sick to the hospital. There
the surgeon, after examination, deter
mines and records what duty, if any,
can be performed by the ailing ones
during the ensuing "a hours. The sur.
geon S report is made to the captain Of
the mans company; the captain re.
port is compiled and sent to the adju-
tant, where all are consolidated for the
commandant, who then knows the exact
condition Of the command for the day.
The next bugle call announces guard
mounting. This is the first formal func.
tion Of the day and begins the most i'm
portant duty Of the trained soldier. The
strength Of the guard is determined by
the commanding officer, each company
first sergeant being notified by the ad.
jutant as to the number Of men to be
furnished by his company.
This means good deal Of preparation
by the men, for woe DO unto them if
they appear in torn or soiled clothing
or with dust sOiled or rust specked rifles.
The men are first minutely inspected
by the first sergeants. Afterward, when
formed on the parade, there is a second
inspect on by the adjutant, who then
presents the guard TO the officer of the
day. This ceremony complete, the SER
geant Of the guard assumes charge, the
new guard takes the place Of the old,
and the mounting is accomplished.
Guard duty varies greatly with tho
composition Of the garrison and the 10.
cation of the post Our western "forts''
are, more properly speaking, canton
ments and are usually disappointing TO
vIsItors. Inere Is no semblance of fOrti.
hcation. On the contrary, they resemble
well regulated villages, rather than the
we'll kept Notifications OF the seaboard
posts
In the coast stations the sentinels pace
their beats in solemn silence, interrupt
ed only by the approach of officers or
others entitled 20 recognition, which Is
given in the most formal manner. But
Mt our western posts, with the exception
OF sentinel No, !, in front of the guard
house. guard duties are practically the
same as those of police officers in any
community.
During the day most of the men of
ths guard remain in the Ruardhouse.