Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1899-07-24
The Red Muster-ROlls.

Private John Schuyler was a mem
her of Troop NJ, til United States
cavalry. He was an old soldier VINO
had worn the blue uniform of the regu-
lar army for over twenty-eight years
The sleeves of his dress-coat, as ne
wore it on Sunday morning inspections
showed six service and three campaign
strfDes. He had served in every branch
of the line-infantry, cavalry, and az
tillerv-and his sleeves, from forearm
TO elbow. showed an artistic and plctur-
esoue display of blue, yellow and reu'
Above the elbow where the
obnvrons of On-cOmmlSSlOned
officers are worn, no badge Oh
rank appeared. Schuyler had never
been promoted; at least he would never
admit that he had been, although 1t
was said by some, without any appar-
emf authority for the truth of the story,
that he had been a corporal for snort
time in the infantry. He had always
been a mounted soldier, with the eX-
.ception of three years as an lnfanCry-
man. which always remained to MIN as
a kind of nightmare.
mo more 'dough-b boys for me, ne
often said; GIVE carried Long Tom
all T ever will. No more tramping all
day. with blistered feet, overtheplalns,
carving forty rounds of ball, my blan-
kets. haversack, canteen, and part OF a
shelter tent. Oh, no! I'm mounted
man. and good duty man, if do say
it myself. AS long as [ can get three
or four nights in bed and a. horse to
ride. I am going to stick to the cav
airy" And stick to the cavalry ne dld'
waiting until his thirty years OF SER
vice should be up, and he could join the
QoattIe-scarred veterans at the Soldiers
Home.
SCHUYLER was a born cavalryman. He
was over six feet in height, and as
straight as an arrow, with closely
cropped gray hair on a splendldly
shaped head; an aquiline nose; arlsto-
cratic features, and everything about
him showed the gentleman, by nature
and breeding. Drink had brought MIN
into the army, and drink kept him
there q, private, while his felloW-sol-
diers. not half as we'll equipped mental
Nv or physically, had attained non-com-
missioned rank and some OF them their
commissions. AS a private ne nad
fought valiantly all through the CIVIL
war. and had been wounded Twice
When the war was finished he served
three years in the infantry, but always
tho Orn9t mis-
take of his military life. He made a
sn1endid soldier-perfectly fearless, as
brave as a lion, and in a charge was
usually the first one to reach the en-
.amv. But while valiant in repell1ng
one enemy, another always made MIN
surrender. He was always in some
sort of trouble through his one weak
ness. and was in the guard-house about
half the time.
His first enlistment came from an
impulse at the end of long debauch,
though he was yet a young man.
81 want to enlist in the regular
army"
though it would be a foine thing for
ye," said the sergeant. Can We
roide?"
eve been a rider of horses all my
life" said John; why do you ask?"
Were wanting some recruits for the
Guild First Dhragoons. Did We ever
hear Of emp asked the sergeant.
John was obliged to confess that he
never had.
"Shure such ignorance I niver heard
If. we've heard of the Mexican war,
suppose?"
yes, of course" he replied.
"Weu, I didn't think We had, or ye
yould know about the first dhragOons.
hats the regiment belong to, and
here's no finer in the sarvice. I wint
through the Mexican war with me
hrOOp, and many a brave lad was tum-
led out of his saddle by Greaser bull
It's. Do We see this?" and the sergeant
ointed to a long, white scar, extend
}g halfway across his forehead.
Van of their lancers gave me that,
1t a sabre cut him down shortly af-