Devils Lake inter-ocean. (Devils Lake, Ramsey Co., Dakota [N.D.]) 1884-1905, 1899-12-08
CHAPTER Nv.

40 |
The review that morning had drawn !
a crowd to the drill grounds that |
baf1ed the efforts of the guards. Car
riages from camps and carriages from
town, carts from the suburbs, eques-
TRANS from the parks and pedestrians
from everywhere had gradually en-
croached within kicking distance of the
heels of the cavalry escorting the gen
eral commanding the department, and
that official noted with unerring eye
that the %populace was coming up on his
tanks, SO to speak, at the moment when
the etiquette Of the service required
that he should be gazing only to his i'm
mediate front and responding to the sa-
lutes of the marching column. Back of
him, ranged in long, single rank, was
drawn up what the newspapers unani-
mously described as q brilliant" staff,
despite the fact that all were in SOM
Der campaign uniform and several had
never been so rated before. In their
rear, in turn, was the line of mounted
orderlies and farther still the silent
rank of the escorting troop. Sentries
had been posted to keep the throng at
proper distance, but double their force
could have accomplished nothing-the
omniscient corporal could not help
them, and after asking one OF two stray
officers what they would do about it, the
%sentries gave way and the crowd
swarmed in. 1t was just as the head Of
the long tramping column came op-
posite the reviewing point, and the
brigade commander and his staff, turn
ing out after saluting, found their al
1otted station or the right of the review
ing party completely taken up by the
mass of eager spectators. A minute or
so was required before the trouble
could be remedied, for just as the Off
GERS and orderlies were e~ndeavoring to
induce the populace to give way a
thing the American always ~resists with
a gay good humor that is peculiarly his
own-a nervous hack driver on the out
skirts backed his bulky trap with unex-
pected force, and penned between it and
the wheels Of a newly-arrived and much
more presentable equipage a fair eques-
trian who shrieked with fright and
chung to her pommel as her excited
AQOOAC 1dSuCu Oul Will LIS IctlS anu
made splinters of the hacks rearmost
Epokes and felloes. Down went the
hack on its axle point. Out sprang a tall
officer from the open carriage, and in a
second, it seemed, transferred the panic
stricken horsewoman from the seismat-
ic saddle to the safety of his own seat,
and the ministrations of the two young
women and the ~gray-haired civilian
who were the latest arrivals. This done,
and after n quick glance at the ladys
helpless escort, a young officer from the
Preside, he sfouldered his way through
the crowd and stood, presently, on its
Inner edge, an un%perturbed and most
interested spectator. Battalion after
battalion, in heavy marching order, in
the dark blue service dress, with cam
Paign hats and leggins, with ranks well
closed and long, well-aligned fronts,
with accurate trace Of the guides and
w~ell-judged distance, the great regi-
ments came striding down the gentle
slope, conscious, every oeicor and man,
of the admiration they commanded.
Armstrong, himself commander Of a
fine regiment of volunteers in another
brigade, looked upon them with a SOL
dier's eye, and looked approvingly.
Then, as the rearnost company passed
the reviewing poirt and gentlemen with
two stars on each shoulder extended
their congratulations to the reviewed
commander with one Armstrong also
made his way among the mounted Off
GERS in his calm, deliberate fashion,
needless of threatening heels and
crowding forehands, until he, too, could
say his word of cordial greeting. He
had to wait a few minutes, for the gen.
eral officers were grouped and talking
earnestly. He heard a few words and
knew we'll enough what was meant
that quantities of stores intended for
the soldiers, even dainties contributed
by the Red Cross society, had been
stolen from time to time and spirited
OF in the dead of night, and doubtless
sold in town for the benefit of a pack
OF unknown scoundrels enlisted for no
better purpose. In his own regiment
his system had been SO strict that no
loss was discoverable, but in certain
others the deficit was great. Com
plants were loud, and the camp com
ander stung possibly by comments
from the city, had urged his officers tc
unusual effort, and had promised pun
ishment to the extent of the law on the
guilty parties whenever or wherever
found.
Even as he was exchanging a word
with the brigadier, Armstrong heard
the exclamation: "By Jove-they'ye
caught another!" for with a grim smile
of qualification the camp commander
had read and turned over to his adj
tant general a brief dispatch just hand.
ed him by a mounted orderly who hac
galloped fast.
"One of your irreproachables, Arm,
strong" said one OF the staff. with