Arizona republican., 1898-06-21
DRUMMING OUT OF CAMP.
Why It is One of the Severest of Army
 PuniShmentS.


 Camp Alger," said man who seemed to be young for veteran of the civil war; Why, four eventful years of my life were spent with the Seventh Illi- nois, which I entered as a drummer boy But my Seventh Illinois passed out of existence soon after it marched down Pennsylvania avenue in the grand review just third of a century ago. Its ragged flag, bearing the names of the leading battles of the west, was rolled up and put away among the treasures of the state. By right it should have been the First Illi- nois, but as there had been six regi- ments in the Mexican war, the num- bers began with seven.
 What makes my recOllectionS of the old Seventh more vivid is the sugges- tion as to the punishment of the Penn sy1vania deserter, Private Kirk, who left the camp without leave of absence to visit his girl at home. It is thought by many that when he is arrested and tried he will be sentenced to be drum med out of camp. Several officers have intimated that this, instead of the death penalty, is likely to be his un happy fate. 1t happened that one of my first experiences as drummer was to aid inthe drumming out of man who had twice fallen asleep on sentry duty The punishment is much more severe than persons will think, unless they have witnessed such an event. I have seen men bucked and gagged, tied up by the thumbs and the like for showing disrespect for shoulder straps or for some other breach of discipline but cruel as they seem these inflictions are really mild by comparison.
 ''We were then in the three months service and stationed at Mound City, about six miles above Cairo on the Ohio river. No enemy had disturbed us and it was not thought there was any danger of an attack, but sleeping on sentry duty is everywhere and al ways regarded as a grave offence. The first offence of the young man was passed over with a seprimand and Q warning, because the regimental sur geon expressed a doubt as to his men tai responsibility. He had always been rather queer. The second time the Of ficer of the day made great stir about it and the good discipline of the regi- ment required that something should be done, regardless of the doubt as to the mental condition Of the offender. After long deliberation it was resolved to carry out the sentence, which was that he be drummed out of camp.
 '.The young man took it very seri- ously and added to the dramatic effect if he did not save part of the proceed ings from being serious, by the bearing of man about to be hanged. His head was shaved; and he was dressed iii shabby suit of civilian clothes. He lost all self restraint before he was brought out of the guard house and his moaning could be heard all over the camp. The regiment was brought out as if for dress parade, and then formed in two lines facing each other. There was Q space of about twenty feet be- tween the two lines. Down this space came the poor wretch, bareheaded, and hardly able to walk. His face was white and his eyes wild. On either side of him was soldier with his gun and immediately at his heels the fifers and drummers playing the "Rogue's march," Back of these came an officer with drawn sword. As the party start ed, the regiment came to a charge of bayonets, in such an oblique direction that every bayonet pointed at the con- demned man. As he passed, the guns were moved so as to continue to point at him. When they reached the limit Of the camp, the officer solemnly charg- ed him never to enter the lines Of the army, and he was allowed to go his sol 1tary, melancholy way. The utter de- pression of the man made the event impressive and lesson in military dis cipline. The doubt whether he was wholly to blame turned the sympathy of the regiment to him.
 Anybody who has read, as most people have, the story Of the Man Without d Country will understand why this punishment is severe It cuts a man of from his kind, marks him as unfit to associate with his fellows. drives hin from lis natural society, 1 and declares him to be particularly and hopelessly obnoxious. Few men can be so hardened as to bear it lightly. ! The Victiln of ordinary punishments, i even Of the humiliating buck-andgag, 1 is still one of his kind and is able to restore himself in the genral esteem For the drummed-out man there is no restoration He is not fit to be impris- oned, worthless material to be cast | away once and forever.
 There was comparatively little of this kind of punishment in the civil | war. Indeed, there was little punish ment of any kind, except confinement l in the guard house, after the first few ] months. Either the soldiers learned | obedience or else the officers found that | punishments of the brutal kind were | not profitable. As lesson in the case of deserter at this time drumming | out of camp would be about as effect i've as shooting to all who could wit | ness the proceedings.
 This was certainly the most disa- greeable duty l had to perform in all | my four years service. There is a | popular idea that the drummer boy is | often called on to lead an assault But ] in time of battle he is attached to the 1 hospital corps. Sometimes in a pause 1, in an engagement that has tried the |