Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-05-10
FACTS ABOUT ARMY LIFE.
Advantages and Disadvantages Of Privates and
Commissioned Men.


Americans lack the qualities OF the sol
der" said a veteran OF the civil war
yet there are few things more SUI
ing than the readiness with whlch t.e
American volunteer accepted the cohui
lions of army life. One Of the ilrst ana
also one of the hardest lessons an en-
listed man in n volunteer nr,i, mas 70
learn is that there is an prSA~sacy Oh
shoulder straps which is ..e6,dry to an
his democratic experience and prln-
cjples In the last war, as soon as
Sumpter was fired on, patriotic men got
together in companies and elected their
own commissioned officers without real
izing all that commission means. Thc
men, in many cases, had lived together
on the same social plane, often as mt
mate friends. In choosing their officers
they were Influenced by the same ami
able considerations that determine cleo
lions In civil life. A good fellow or n
shrewd politician could easily obtain the
support OF a majority of the company,
whether he was adapted to the Office or
not. In time the private soldiers
learned there was between them and
the commissioned officer gulf which
no good will on his part could bridge.
He was compelled to assume an air OF
superiority that only the utmost tact
could save from offenslveness He was
not allowed by the army regulations or
traditions to continue the Intimate per-
sonal relations that existed In private
life.
at was sometimes Calling to the en-
listed man that, besides being better
paid. better clothed. fed and housed the
commissioned officer enjoyed many
privileges that We're of great import
ance to men used to the free life OF
republic. Besides his larger pay. the
officer had an allowance of rations be-
yond that Of the private. which he COM
muted when in camp. That Is. he
Apat n lfrtt
rations, and was able to buy provisions
of q superior quality and larger va
riety. The company officers formed y
mess. and an expert cook and general
servant. complete outfit OF dishes,
which were carried in a camp chest,
and so on; the private had his tin plate
tin cup, tin spoon, his coffee being made
in a huge sheet-iron kettle, The Off
GERS had n wall tent that was carried In
wagon; the private dog tent that was
carried by himself.
"As rule. in active service the pri-
vate had the benefit only of what
he could carry, except the few cooking
utensils in charge OF the company cook.
In ordinary times the commissioned
officer would leave camp virtually at
Will. His duties were comparatively
light, while the private. In addition
to sentry duty. had sometimes to serve
with pick, shovel and ax in the con-
structure of Qualifications, the digging
OF the rifle pits, and making of cordu-
roy roads. and the like. The officer
might occasionally obtain leave OF alb
sence to visit his home while fur
Tough was a rare thing for II homeslck
private. In the last extremity the OH
Ger could leave the army by resigna-
ton, but only expiration of his term
of service, incurable wounds, or disease
or death offered release to the soldier.
The latter envied not only the COM
missioned officer but also the negro
servant, who could come and go at
will
1.-The submission of the American
volunteers to 40 hard condition,
army life Is one OF the marvels ana
glories ofAmercan patriotism. The pay
was not enough to be alluring. At first
It was 81 and later II was $40 month.
The government provided the clothing
food, tobacco. etc, but the pay was
small enough where there was family
dependent on the earnings OF the SOL
der. The men did not always send
their money home. When a large part
of Sherman's army was paid off at
Kingston before starting on the march
to Savannah, there were hundreds OF
chuch-a-luck banks at which many OF
the men lost the pay of months.
ut was particularly hard for the in
telligent private who had enlisted from
patriotic motives, as an immense num-
Der did, to endure the frequent blunders
and culpable stupidity Of commissioned
officers, by which the lives of men were
uselessly sacrificed. An unpopular COM
pany officer or any other had no easy
time OF II, as there were many ways In
which the soldiers could tease and tor
ment him. In spite of his many advan-
tages the lot Of the commissioned officer
was not always happy. He had his re-
sponsibllities commensurate g with his
privileges. Perhaps his severest trial
was at that point In n battle where the
men We're forced to lie down under fire
to await n charge or n forward move
ment. This IL the time when a panic
is most liable to occur. The officer can
stand erect and appear Indifferent to
not lie down with the men, hut must
the ping of the bullets The chances of
his escaping injury or death are much
fewer than those OF the mel, AT ALA
toona Pass, where every head that was
raised above the earthworlss was GER
tain to be hit, 1t required the utmost
courage, or the fear OF ridlcule that In
often the substitute FOR courage. for an
officer to stand and encourage the men.
Every officer. from General Corse TO the
regimental officer who finally assumed
command, was shot In the hend.
Before the Civil War there We're the
most absurd ideas about the way in
which battles are foughe, From old
Illustrations the popular notion was
that soldiers fought In solid columns.
ike tne neaNN cavalry OF the RuS-
SLAMS at Sebastopol that the men in
front fired and knealt to reload, and
those In the rear fired over their heads.
The single thin line OF battle formed by
the American soldiers was inconcciv-
able to the unlnitated. 1t seemed, In
deed. n frail thread that could be easily
broken. And so 1t could. but the
break was not serious and could he
easily restored, Besides. before the DAYS
of smokeess powder, the men engaged
in battle saw but little of the enemy
AFTER the first few volleys. They simply
fired into cloud of smoke, generally
aiming too high to do any execution,
An examination of the trees after the
battle showed that most of the shots
We're too high. In spite OF the constant
warnings OF the officers.
THE equipment of the private soldier
Mt the beginning OF the war was well
when he was on long march and had
musket, he carried q knapsack on his
of underwear and blouse and In a
an overcoat; a hoversaok capable OF
holding ten days rations of hard tack
and bacon, a canteen holding u quart
of water, u belt with bayonet, and
a cartridge box holding forty rounds.
q tin cup and sometimes forage cap
The cartridge was OF heavy paper, the
end of which had to be bitten OH in
loading. the bullet being rammed down
with the ramrod. Occasional Infantry
regiments armed themselves with the
newly invented Henri slNtepp-sbnntar