The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1898-06-23
FROM [ \ CAMP THOMAS.
The American Soldier as Seen by an
English Correspondent Now
at Camp Thomas.
The Fourteenth Regiment is Soon To
Be Equipped With the New
Canvas Uniform.

:otony OF the routine was broken some
what Saturday night by a little excite
ment at the guard house; Company
N FURNISHED the officers Of the. guard
and therefore Princeton was mixed in
the affair. The regimental canteen
comes under the supervision sentinel
No. y, and when the second relief came
otfSthe sentinel relieved engaged in an
argument with one of the officers.
His manner raised the suspicion that
'he$had absorbed too much Of the am
Der fluid, and he was arrested, charged
with being intoxicated while on duty.
There was fun around the guard house
for a short time, the prisoner being
an old ex-regular and we'll posted on
the articles of war. An extra guard
was necessary and volunteers were
called for and it was not until Co. Ms
men appeared on the scene that the
prisoner decided to be good. 1t was
evident that the appearance of bay
onet on a Springfield, held by Ev.
Southland, had a very quieting indu-
ence on the prisoner. He came from
Duluth and is said to have record
Perhaps nothing has been written
which so truly describes the American
soldier as the following, from the pen
OF an English correspondent now with
our army: si'Afoot they go with great
swinging strides, mounted they sit in
their saddles as if they had been born
there. Physically, they are as fine
soldiers as one could wish to see
every man a picture of health and
strength. Each man-and to the
European eye it seems so strange as
to be almost ludicrous-each man
seems actually to retain something of
his own individuality. Every man
seems to retain, as we'll as his indi-
viduality, his own intelligence. That,
to the European view, seems almost
horrible. How, you wonder, can an
officer exercise complete command
over an aggregation of separate indi-
vidualities?
Il, Is,q uestioned my Lieutenant upon
this point, "Why, my boy" said he.
s'that's just Intelligence. The
American soldier has more intelligence
than any soldier in the world, just be.
cause he is expected to have more
He can't point his toes like Boston
gosling, because he don't have to. He
don't have to learn any parlor tricks
like that, nor to dress himself up in
parlor clothes, because he don't have
any Kings and Emperors to come AND
amuse themselves looking at him
But he's expected to be intelligent be-
cause he needs Intelligence in his bust
ness, and he's taught to be daisy shot
and a daisy horseman, and if you'll
give me an intrenched position and {
regiment of our boys I'll hold out for {
showdown against any infantry force
you can bring against me-. Yes, Stree
with 20 of the boys, the Major Over
there, held off more than 500 Indians
up in the White Valley for three day.
and that was after he'd been cor
relied, and had had every horse in thu
troop shot down. Why did they do it
Because every boy used his intelli
gence as we'll as his rifle. y 49,
In the vitality important evolution o
saluting an officer, the American sol
der, as I have seen a dozen times {
day with my very eyes, is very fa7
from perfect. Some times in the stree
when an officer passes him the hugh
slouch-hatted fellow will take no no
tice at all. Some times he will bring
his hand up to his head slowly, AM
wave what is more like a friendly re
cognition than military salute.
| No; they are not at all ornamental
these American soldiers, neither off
GERS nor men. But as an example o
la fine, frank, straight, honest, kindly
lovable gentleman, strong, and brave
and upright, the American officer com
mands my enthusiastic respect; and a
to the men-well, if you looked tn
lower regions over for a collection o
hard-muscled giants with the eterna
bonfire glittering in their eyes, yol
could not better these"
!. This regiment is soon to be equipped
with the canvas uniform and then tn
boys will all look like horse chamber
maids. The uniform is brown, will
no trimmings except on the officers
coats and their insignia Of rank is Of ;
very simple character. While the in
dividual soldier looks like a guy il
). this dress, those who. have seen regi
!. ments say the effect is all right in tn
] large bodies. The uniforms are sal
J, to be cool and will shed both dust an
dampness SO the boys will be glad t
get their new overalls.
i All our regimental and battalio