The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-06-17

terious persons being the adjutant and
other cadets without sashes and plumes
take corresponding position at the other
end OF the line four PAGES from the left OF
company ID. These are the sergeant-maJor
As the companies are marching across
the green a splendid figure in blue. white
and yellow raiment, with giistening
sword at his side. energies from one or the
mansions along the roadway and takes
position on the field, where he stands like
statue with folded arms. That is the
ceive parade
The battalion stands at rest while the
band playing a lively air marches forward
and back along the whole line, led by
gorgeous drum major with muf Of bear
fur on his head. Next to the officer in
charge he is the most magnificent Inquire
In sight, and the late General Nichols.
formerly Governor of Louisiana, tells
story OF his own experience which Illus
trates the impression. Nichols says that
he arrived at West Point, the greenest
plebe that ever came upon the grounds,
just at the time of dress parade one beau
tiful June evening in 1851 He had never
seen and he had never expected to see so
splendid spectacle, and as the band
marched up and down before the battalion
he was certain that the drum major was
General Winfield Scott
LOWERING THE FLAG.
When the band returns to its position the
drum corps sounds retreat" and ''old
glory" comes futtering down from its lofty
place above the foliage. while the band
plays "The Star-spangled Banner and
every spectator stands uncovered in respect
TO the national ensign. Before the Span
ish war this was an ordinary perfunctory
ceremony The spectators and the people
at the post who usually come out to enjoy
the parade paid no more attention TO the
national air than to any other piece the
band played, but the thrill of patriotism
aroused by the first hostile demonstration
found expression I'm this way, not only here
but over the entire country, you must
know, 1t became the practice Tor everybody
to rise and lift their hats and stand with
barred heads until the last notes Of The
Star-spangled Banner dies away, and We
should hope that this practice may always
continue
On Sunday evenings, while the proceed
ings L have described are going on, the
band usually plays sacred airs, except
when marching time is needed Tor the
troops.
Just as the flag touches the ground the
evening gun is fired, and then the adJutant
marches from his position at the left or the
battalion TO the center, faces about, salutes
the officer in charge and reports the
parade formed"
Take your post, sir" responds the Of
ficer in charge, and the adjutant steps be-
hind that important parsonage, who shouts:
'Tenshun, battalion! Sent, humps!
There is an instantaneous flash or polish
ed steel along the entire line as the musk
cts of $50 young soldiers come to position.
"Caree hump!" shouts the officer. and an
other instantaneous movement is seen in
the battalion. Der hump he goes again,
and so on through the entire manual OF
arms, which is executed with precision
that could not be improved; whereupon the
officer in charge directs the adjutant to
receive the reports. The latter steps quick
ly toward the battalion, and when he
reaches a point half way between stops,
draws his trusty blade, braces his sword
TO his shoulder, grinds his heels together
and says:
First sergeants. frontancenter, much!'
Four men come to the front in a dignified
manner, and one after the other announce
the strength of each company. In A all are
present: in B three are absent, and so on.
and when each has spoken comes the COM
mand:
First sergeants to post, much,'
The adjutant then faces about, salutes
the officer in charge and reports five pri-
Yates absent The officer in charge directs
him to publish orders and he begins in a
loud firm tone to read, first the orders
from the headquarters of the army, then
those from the headquarters of the post,
these are finished he reads the details for
the next day, announcing the names of the
officer of the day, the officer of the guard,
ETC., which is followed by short, sharp
"Of'cers tercenter muchr' Whereupon
the captains and lieutenants of the four
companies return their swords to their
scabbards, form line in front of the bat
talon and march forward sixteen abreast
until they reach the presence of the officer
in charge. As they salute him, he says:
Company officers take your positions,'
They step behind him and face about.
while the first sergeants take command of
the companies close ranks. shoulder arms
and march off the parade ground at
quick trot, while the band plays double
time. Elbow touches elbow, and the toes of
the rear rank touch the heels of the front
rank. but the alignment is as firm and per-
feet as if each group of eighty young sol
diers were firmly clamped together. The
entire battalion moves like a beautiful ma
chine, so perfect has unceasing practice
made them. There is no infantry battalion
in all the world, according to the experts,
so thoroughly drilled and so precise in exc
cution as the cadets at the Military Acad-
envy; and the appearance of long kne of
soldierly young men in white trousers,
gray coats. the gold insignia upon their
hats and the glistening steel of their
muskets, is as picturesque and inspiring as
one can see anywhere The German cav
airy are said to be the best drilled of all
mounted troops. and some of the regiments
are as perfect in tactics and evolutions as
in the manual of arms, but for years the
West Point battalion of cadets has been
without rivals among infantry battalions
i