Evening star., 1899-03-17
THE SOLDIERS LIFE.
Routine of His Daily Existence In N
Western Fort.


Pomona Correspondence Boston Transcript
soldiers life in the army fort on from
tier in the Indian country is not so easy
and indoient these days as many eastern
people imagine. II is pleasant and some
what exciting experience. and for some
soldiers 1t is very happy life For the last
thirty years military fort in the west. in
the fullest sense Of the word is really no
Tort at all. IL is merely collection OF lov,
strongbuilt and homely buildings houses
arranged in any form most pleasing to the
commanding officers. Some of the struc-
lures at the forts look as II they had been
cropped DOWN on the prairie haphazard. the
purpose being to have one military station
iocated so Tar from another that mutual
communication can be had I'm a DAYS ride
with horse. There is not the least sem
bance OF fortification about the frontier
forts-parapets. buttresses bastion. or cam
non projecting through embrasures-so
common in military poems and stories
Ihe cost OF all the buildings at a typical
army fort out in this region is usualiv NOT
over $4,000. There are some that would
De dear at $1,000 The structures are al
ways arranged so that officers quarters are
separated from the barracks of enlisted
men. and the parade drill ground is in a
rectangle or square between the officers
quarters and the barracks. stables guard
mouse and hospital. The stars and stripes
hoat from huge pole I'm the middle ~ The
parade ground. For skirmish drills of
Whlch there are many I'm modern military
tdcIcs' the prairie outside OF the garrison
UNITS. stretching away in all directions for
hundreds of miles. is chosen. Sometimes
there may be a company of people in a
frontier Tort who please their aesthetic
tastes by cultlVating flower gardens within
the garrison. and few forts have native
vines covering the wooden walls with bIos-
SONS and green foliage, but such features
are not common.
Wherever there are military headquarters
n regimenta1 band is stationed. A regiment
OF cavalry, under the present organization
OF the United States army, consists Of
Twelve companies and a band The officers
are one colonel one lieutenant colonel
three majors, twelve captains fourteen
frst lteutcnants and ten second lieutenants
Inc TWO extra first lieutenants in each or
ganzauon are the regimental adiutant and
the qusrtermaster. The adutant Is a sort
of chief clerk of the concern. He does or
manages all the clerical work receives and
answers all communications. for II would
be considered a breach of etiquette To ad-
dress communication direct to the com
manding officer. Everything should he done
through the adjutant. The quartcrmaster
must be genuine hustler to keep pace
with his business. He has an exceedingly
difficult place to fill acCeptaby for that
officer. a rule, is the most roundly abus-
ed of all in the military service and in nine
cases out Of ten the fault does not lie at
his door. company organization is one
captain, one first lieutenant and one sec
ond lieutenant. Seldom is il that a COM
pany is completely ofiicered. If the cap
tain he present he will command i'm person,
but his ieutcnants are detached for one
thing or another-they are away from post
on special duty at colleges or al West Point
recruiting service. from sickness. vacancy
i'm the company or from hundred other
causes: or. if present at the post. they are
temporarily detached. especially to perform
such duties as post adjutants. post quar-
termasters, post commissaries. Instructors
Of rife practice. ordnance officers. provost
marShals, or they are of In the field sur
veying, escorting paymasters, chasing In
dians and the like. The duties OF all officers
and soldiers are calculated to teach any
tenderfoOt on short notice that the military
servants of Uncle Sam away out here on
the frontier completely and thoroughly earn
every cent they get by the grace of Con-
greSs.
A soldier is enlisted for five years. Why
any man voluntarily comes into the service
it is hard to say. There are various reasons.
and. as rule. the personnel of the enlisted
line is very fair. indeed and they are quite
a credit to themselves. as well as to the
flag they represent. The pay is small the
duty neither hard nor laborious. ana the
discipline strict. In the ranks of the army
today there are as bright talent and as
well-read and educated men can be
found In any other profession trade
on earth. Some Of the finest officers
who today wear the shoulder straps OF
high commissions have risen from the
ranks by their own endeavors and by
steadfastness under hard trials and tribula-
United States at Fort Monroe. Fort Porter
Governors Island and elsewhere in the east
than it il far out here i'm the high north
west, under the shadows of the giant Rock
les.
The soldier gets Sl3 a month paw. an in
crease of 81 for the third year. 81 for the
fourth and 81 for the fifth; also additional
remuneration If promoted corporal. ser
geant or arthcer. Besides this If worked
as carpenter. plasterer or mechanic Of
any kind. he receives what is called extra
duty pay; then must be included board
lodging. clothing. schooling, medical atten-
dance and various other perquisites. Uncle
SANS army catches all sorts of material
for soldiers-men of all nationalities and all
climes- They come as bright as meteors
and - verdant as unripe Cucumbers but
no matter how ignorant or green recruit
may he at the time of joining. he usually
leaves the army well satisfied with his five
years discipline and experience. and also
a fine marksman.
There is one drill practice by n cavalry
troop at several frontier posts which is not
only useful and instructive but also de-
cidedly interesting to witness OUT on the
prairie have been erected numerous posts
the height of an ordinary man from his
feet up TO his shoulders A number Of
large leather balls. the size Of a mans
head. and filled with straw are placed on
the posts before drill commences Now
the troopers are hauled up in line. and each
individual is set TO work cutting off the
various leathern heads from the posts.
When a mans turn comes he draws his
saber. the command is given and away
he goes at a mad dash down upon the
eremy, cutting off TIE first head with a
down stroke, the next one with a back
sweep. and the third is slashed on the
crown or decapNated i'm some way. or
course it is ridiculous TO the recruits
first practice these maneuvers but the
rawboned fellow becomes an expert after a
while and his laugh is turned on others
who succeed him as the butt of ridicule.
The drill also includes firing blank charges
with a revolver at the heads. the sharp
cCncussion of the explosion generally blow
ing the leather heads off. if the aim
chaceS to be a good one.
The bump of fun is an exceedingly large
ore in the average soldier of the line.
Young men in the prime of manhood. of
fine physique and generally perfect In every
way, look on the term of enlistment a
sort Of task, and propose to get as much
amusement and fun out of the five years
possible. Their devices and tricks for
getting out of drill and other duties are of
various descriptions. Whisky is the SOL
dier's weakness. Should post be a thou
sand miles from civilization. and stringent
orders be in force forbidding liqnor on the
reservation. every possible means taken to
prevent its Introduction AMI use, still the