Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-03
GUARD DUTY Is TOUGH.
Those at Home Do Not Know What
1t Entails.

From the Phiad aiph:a Tines.
II want you for sentry duty tonight.
Clean your clothes and equipment and re-
port at the head of the company street FOR
guard mount at O'Clock" is the unwel-
come order given by the first sergeant OF
each company every day at O'Clock TO
sometimes four, sometimes five or SIX men,
Between 2 and ) O'Clock all is hurry and
hustle among the new guard. Percnahce
they have had a severe skirmish drill IN
the morning and all of their equipment and
uniforms are dirty and dusty from repeated
charges and lying down between rusnes at
the supposed enemy in 'front.' NeSeFeheless'
the individual members of the guard set
cheerfully to work and by O'Clock every
man is as bright and clean as new brass
button. -,
Attention, guard! Inspection arms"' are
the short, sharp commands OF tiie nfst SCI
geant at ) O'Clock.
Smith, straighten your carthage Deit.
Attention.! BY right flank: Marcn ana
the new guard move rapidly TO the urn
ground where they are Joined by the de-
tails from the rest of the companies In the
regiment for the inspection, drill and guard
mount. .
Smith finds to his disgust that ne Is
placed upon the second relief, NO. /, Whlcn
faces the road and compels him on account
of its Importance to keep continually on
the move to salute all commissioned om-
GERS passing throughout the day and to go
night and day respectively.
The first relief having relieved the OLD
guard Smith, with the rest or his detacn-
ment Is allowed to go to his company LOT
supper and this over at o'clock, ne Is on
DUTY with special orders to halt all wagons
and horsemen passing in front OF the res1-
ment faster than a walk, and to allow no.
body but commissioned officers to pass mis-
line Throughout the two hours during the
evening he is obliged continually to halt
privates trying to make a short cut across
his line stop the numerous army wagons
loaded with supplies for different regiments
and carriages containing visitors, and COM
pei them to walk, the dust will not blow
into the company'S tents. and to salute the
numerous mounted and unmounted COM
missioned officers continually passing.
At o'clock, when his relief arrives, he
is so tired from the continuous walking
that he falls asleep as soon as he can
spread his blanket outside the guard tent,
to be unceremoniously awakened at IL,
when he has just fallen into a profound
slumber, by the corporal Of the first relief
grasping him by the shoulder and shouting
in his ear, Are you the first relief"
"No second" he drowsily answers, try
ing in vain to fall asleep Immediately. Just
as he Is successful the command Second
relief, fall in!' electrifies him, and. jump
ing up and rolling his blanket, he throws it
over his shoulder and stumbles along with
the rest of the relief. who are only half
awake, over stones and roots. to his post
Fifteen minutes after being left alone he
murmurs, MY how the time creeps along.
1 wish I were relieved. Whats THAR" is
the voluntary exclamation. Halt! Who
is there?" he eXclaims, bringing his gun to
the charge. with the bright steel bayonet
glistening in the moonlight.
For de Lawd's sake, don't shoot. I'll
STOP says the colonels negro servant as
he emerges from the shade of the trees
go back to your tent sternly COM