The National tribune., 1901-02-14
ROUGH RIDING.
Continues from fir.t pare.l

March, or till the ice should break up and
the river become clear enough for the re-
suming of navigation.
We found this post under rne command
Of our Lieutenant-C Colonel, Joseph S. John
ston afterwards Gen. Joseph L. John
ston, Of the rebel army, 1st Cav, end
garrisoned by Light Battery b, 4th Art,
and a detachment of infantry recruits for
the general service"
Here we all had to undergo another crit
ical, stark-naked examination by the Post
Surgeon ana were yaccinated. Batches of
recruits began to arrive every few days,
from various parts of the country, sent in
by the different recruiting officers of the
1st Cav.-one from each company of the
regiment having been sent out. We were
divided into temporary companies and a
set of temporary nOn-commisSiOned officers
called Lance" Sergeants and Lance"
CorpOrals- appointed over us, old soldiers
being given the preference for those posi-
tions.
After the doctors inspection was con-
cluded we were marched back to our quar-
ters, where an outfit of clothing was issued
to each man, and we were told by the
First Sergeant that We would be required
to dispose of our citizen clothing-we
would not be allowed to wear or have in
our possession a single article of clothing
that was not furnished by the Government.
We accordingly donned the military and
sold our citizen duds to dealers in second
hand clothing, who are always convenient
TO military post.
The clothing issued to us was coarse,
but comfortable and durable, consisting of
(for cavalry light-blue wooden pants, dark
blue jackets, trimmed with bright-yellow
braid; fatigue caps of dark-blue cloth, good
comfortable scwed boots; underclothing.
consisting of woolen socks, cotton-flannel
drawers and woolen undershirts. In addi
ton to these good cape overcOat of light
blue cloth (Same material as pantS); two
pairs of gray blankets, with the letters
q. 5. in black worked in the middle of
each, and bed sack to every two men, to
be filled with straw or hay, completed the
clothing outfit of recruit.
Our pants and jackets We're generally
much too large, and made us look like raw
recruits. decidedly. But noticed that the
men of Light Battery B, 4th Art, who
were quartered near us, all wore neat-fit-
ting uniforms, and on inquiry was told
that In each company man is selected to
do duty as tailor, altering the mems cloth
ing and fitting them neatly, and that when
we join our companies at Fort Leaven-
worth, We can get our company tailor TO fit
us out like the old soldiers, and that We
will fare better in all respects after joining
our companies.
A company OF cavalry consists of one
Captain, two Lieutenants First and Sec
ond). four Sergeants, four COrporals, two
buglers, one farrier and blacksmith, and
81 priyates. Rations are issued to US for
10 days at time. The cooking is done by
privates detailed for that duty for 10 days
at a time-each man being supposed to |
take his turn at cooking and at all other |
kinds Of duty.
Our quarters at Jefferson Barracks are |
long, low stone buildings, one story and |
basement: main rooms for squadrooms-I
that 10, dormintory and general living |
rooms combined-basements used as |
kitchens and dining-rooms. The squad |
rooms are commodious, with a row of two |
which we slept, each mans name being |
written on a slip Of paper and pasted on
he side of his bunk. Bed-fellows or part |
lers are called ''bunkies."
The quarters front on three sides of the |
parade ground, the fourth side being open |
towards the river; in this space is parked |
he battery of Co. B, 4th Art.
Our routine Of duty here consists of, |
irst, reveille roll call at daylight, at which |
We fall into ranks in front of our quarters |
and answer to our names as the First Ser
seant calls the roll. We are then dis
missed and retro to our quarters till |
breakfast call'' is sounded, when we rush |
20 the messroom, and each is served by the
cook and his assistants with bread and |
i. N. comes guard mount" in which We
recruits, having no arms yet, do not par
icipate. From 8 to 10 drill in "the school |
If the trooper dismounted," in which we
ire taught to execute all manner of manu-
Iers i'll tactics pertaining to squad drill
without arms. AT u o'clock dinner call,
md we 60 to our frugal repast of bread,
'oiled beef and soup Of beans or rice. At
p. N. we have another hours drill. At
undown retreat" roll call. Then supper
# bread and coffee, and at $50 tattoo"
oil call, after which we are allowed ID |
minutes to undress and get to bed; then
taps" are sounded and all lights have to
De extinguished, and every man is re-
Iuired to keep quiet and go to sleep-no
aiking or other noise is allowed in the
quarters after taps" the non-coms. in
ach squadroom being required to see that
hese regulations are obeyed. This routine
s varied bot little from Monday to Satur-
lay.
Our mess "kits"-thst ID, utensils for
cooking and eating-that Uncle Sam fur
,ishes us are extremely limited in guam
ity and variety. and primative in style,
Of camp kettles, mess pans and
rying pans of sheet-iron, and Dutch ovens
II skiiiets Of cast-iron, and coffee mill
hat is all. In garrison our rations of -four
ire turned into the post bakery, and we
IRE given 10 ounces OF bread daily per man
III cACuShBS loE 10 Ouucch Ol uOuT ttQat
,eing the ration OF tiour). Our cooking is
lone in large open hreplaces, wide enough
o take full-length stick of cord wood. A
tout iron bar, called q crane" ie hinged
nto one side Of the wall Of the fireplace
md is swung ia or out to hang kettles on
ver the fire. Baking In the Dutch ovens
II skillsts was done on the hearth by plac-
ng the vessel over q shovel OF hot Goals
md covering the lid with the same.
We had soms plain pine tables TO eat
,f, and benches to sit on. Government
lid not furnish any plates or cups (even
in), or knives and forks. Each soldier had
20 provide these us best he could, or 20
generally using sheath or bowie
Knife, carried on the belt, to eat with. We
llso supplied cur own tin plates and cups
1t Jefferson Barracks, but on joining our
at Fort Leavenworth, we found
hat these and many other conveniences
we're provided out of the company fund.-"
ilso vegetables, eggs, butter and few
'ther luxuries, when they were to be had,
which was not often. The COMPANY
'und" 10 usually accumulated by the sale
II such rations as are not consumed BY
he men, and is in the custody of the Cap
ain, being disbursed at his discretion from
lime to- time, when there are any extras to
1e had and money in the fund to buy them.
But we got no such benefits at Jefferson
Barracks. There we were confined to the
bare issues of Government allowances, and |
they were Gcant enough. Our tin plates |
and cups We left in charge of the cooks.
after eating, TO be washed and piled on the
tables ready for use next meal. Each man
puts his private mark, name or initials on
ZACH article Of his clothing, bedding, equip