The Calhoun chronicle. [volume] (Grantsville, W. Va.) 1883-1984, 1898-05-10
LIFE OF ENLISTED MEN
HOW A SOLDIERS DAY IN THE UNITED
STATES ARMY Is FILLED Up,

Daily Routine-Tims For Recreation.
The life of an enlisted man in the
army, says the New York Herald, is
what he himself makes it. For in
stance, a man twenty-one years old,
of sound mind and good health, CON
cludes to enter the army. He pre-
sents himself ut any military post and
files his application for enlistment. He
may be man of ordinary intelligence.
but with little or no education. Per-
haps he can barely read and write, and
in some instances he can do neither.
1t is the desire IN making enlistments
to secure men who can read and write.
However, a high grade of education is
not absolutely essential for new re-
eruit.
When the recruit presents himself
at the military rendezvous he is put
through arigid physical examination.
and IL he comes up to the require
ments of the service he is enlisted for
three years at the rate of S13 a month.
This does not seem like tempting
compensation to strong, ablebodied
men OF average intelligence, but. as
General Corbin said, good citizen
should make good soldier, and sol
dier's life in time of peace is not one
of hardships, as is sometimes i'm
agined.
After being duly enrolled, the re.
eruit Is equipped with plenty of conf
Portable clothing. He is provided
with good warm bed in comfortable
barracks. If lie is au ignorant man
he is taught to read and write at the
post school, and his thirst for addi-
tional knowledge may be quenched at
the post library. If he is inclined to
be convivial his thirst for some of the
good things of this life may be salts
fled at the canteen-the enlisted mans
club.
Any one who has visited an army
post knows what is obtainable ut n
canteen. Beer and light wines are.
dispensed, but no whiskey is allowed
by the regu atoms to be sold. Pre-
cautions are taken to prevent over in
diligence, but should the enlisted man
partake too freely of the good cheer
dispensed at the cauteen he is obliged
to suffer the penalty of several hours
In the guard house, with little extra
duty on the side, in consequence of
his breach of discipline. The soldier
VINO gets intoxicated at a military
post is better treated than tile Average
citizen who, after imbibing too freely;
falls into the clutches of the metro
politan police.
The first duty to which raw re-
cruit Is assigned is that known in the
service as the Setting up drill" He
Is taught to stand erect, how to march,
how to fall in, and, in general way,
he is instructed in infantry tactics.
All this regular exercise tends to his
physical development, SO that while
his mind is being cultivated his phys-
lcal development goes steadily on.
Some idea of the routine of a sol
dier's life may be obtainec from this
daily disposition of his time:
Reveille, winter, $50 n. m; summer, $50
q. m.
Breakfast, winter. Z a. m; summer.
n. m.
Fatigue, Z a. M.
Drill, u. m.
Dress parade, Q a. m.
Guard mounting, go a. m.
Drill, 10 a. IN.
Dinner, IL m.
school-Gunners' school, If in artillery.
p. m.
Retreat, sunset.
Supper, Immediately after retreat.
TATTOO, 9p. IN.
Taps, IL p. III.
OF course, this schedule is only
rough indication of the disposition of
the day, since this necessarily varies.
not only with the arm of the service.
but also with the latitude and the post.
There are also various drills, such as
signalling, instruction in first aid TO
wounded, etc, taken by only a few
men at n time. On the whole. how
ever, it may be said that soldiers
time is pretty well filled until two or
three o'clock in the afternoon, after
which he is his own master until re-
treat.
In fine weather the afternoon is
generally devoted to sports. If the
garrison be near town many of the
men visit it on passes, but pass is
never given TO a soldier unless his
record is good, the stoppage of pass
privileges resting with the captain.
and forming a powerful lever in favor
Of discipline.
II in the artillery branch of the SER
vice the recruits advancement will
proceed IN accordance with the ability
he displays. After learning how TO
handle a musket he is instructed in
the art Of handling field pieces. Then,
by degrees, ho is taught how TO
manipulate mortar batteries. siege
guns, the modern eight ten and
twelve inch rifles and magazines. In
q few months n man Of ordinary in
telligenco is ready for active service at
any Of the great seacoast Notifications
To become skilful artillerists men
are required 20 possess some knowl.
edge 81 arithmetic, must know how to |
read barOmeters and thermometers.
aud must also have some knowledge of |
Tho fore, and effect OF the velocity of |
The wind. This enters into the sight !
ing and firing Of heavy ordnance.
Discipline In the army is not as Sc |
we're az some persons imagine although |
in some rare instances army mattinets |
have been known 60 render miserable |
.he lives 81 some Of the enlisted men |
nnder them The relations between
The officers aud enlisted men are. as n |
ne, Of the most friendly nature.
lrt thletic sports have been widely en- |
o. fged in recent years. go that to- /