The National tribune., 1901-02-14


brother 10 Will CrhteIiden, who was cap
tured and shot by the Spaniards in Cuba
six years ago, along with Lopez's tilibus-
ters.
but we are not so happily fixed in ouI
First Sergeant, and as the First Sergeant $
position is one of great Importance i'll Il
company, this is unfortunate. The present
incumbent is sour, tSrannical, biggOted
old soldier, Frenchman, iwho some how
wormed himself into the favor of Capt.
SturgIs and got promoted to the position
recently, when the forfIer First Sergeant
AN otherwise excellent, man for the
place-was reduced 70 the ranks fol
drunkenness, which seems to be the be-
setting sin of many good soldiers.
Our other non-cOms. are fairly good ones,
and 1t is hoped that the Captain will soon
lind that he is mistaken in the new First
Sergeant and will supersede him.
Next morning after our arrival we were
all marched to the hospital, where we had
10 strip and undergo another critical ex-
animation, our Colonel and many of the
regimental officers being present. Some
men were rejected at tins inspection, who
had passed the previous tests all right.
AS soon as this inspection was over we
returned to our quarters, and the First
Sergeant gave orders that each recruit
should draw, and have altered 10 hit him by
the company tailor, Il pair of pants anu
Jacket, III order that we would make a re-
spectacle appearance on parade. In oul
iull UNIFORM the fatigue cap is replaced b!
black felt hat, the brm turned up on the
right side and fastened by a brass eagle,
black feather on left side, and yellow cord
and tasSel. The old members OF the com
pany took great interest i'll posting us IN
all matters of which we were ignorant.
After joining the company our routine OF
daily duty WaS somewhat different from
that at jefferson Barracks. We fall in AT
reveille with long white stable frocks" oil
over our other clothes. As revellle is
sounded by the bugies II cannon is fired to
salute the flag as 1t is hoisted to its place
DIT the top of the garrison flag pole. AfteI
answering to our names the buglers imme
dlately sound stable CALL" and we are
marched OFF to the stable; at the first
stable call after our arrival the First Ser
geant has assigned to each recruit his
horse, saddle, bride, saddlc-blanket, curry
cuinD and brush and stall in the stable. On
reaching the stables we snap our water
bits into the halters and lead into line in
'front.' OF stable; at the command mount,
we jump on our horses barebac acked, ami
ride IN columns of twos" to the steam
boat landing, about a quarter of n miie,
and water cur horses in the Missouri
hlver. On returning to the stables we tic
our horses TO big rope, stretched between
posts III the space between the stables
ana groom them until thoroughly cleaned
Under the supervision of one of the com
pany officers, the Captain and LieutenanLs
taking day about in attending roll calls,
stable calls, etc.
After stable duty is done we are
marched back to our quarters and dis
missed to get ready for breakfast. After
breakfast sick CALI sounds, the sick
lame and lazy" are called out, when ali
ehose who have previously reported to the
rlrSt Sergeant as unable to do duty ana
aavc entered on the sick report, are sent i'll
lharge of nOn-com. to the hospital. to be
and prescribed for by the Post
surgeon. The doctor marks opposite each
mans name on the report whether he is
able to go to duty or to remain on the sick
eport. Those only slightly or temporarily
unit for duty are given medicine and
marked to remain in quarters, but excused
from duty, and those who are seriously i'll
ire taken into the hospital.
After sick CALI comes ''guard mount
1t $50 a. IN. The Adjutant usually selects |
The neatest-loOking soldier on guard |
mount for commanding officers orderly |
/ sort of messenger or errand boy. This |
IS job much sought after by the sol |
ileIs, as 1t 1t Is an easy way of putting in |
he tour of guard duty, hence the strife to |
Jut-do each other in point of cleanliness |
md neatness. The guard is sometimes |
commanded by Lieutenant, and some
IL,
o its strength or Importance.
Drill call comes after guard mount |
Nhen all the company, who are not on |
guard or other duty, 90 to the stables, sad |
lie up and are given an hours mounted |
anil, instructed by a competent non-cOm ul
ne of the company officers. When the re
ALI is sounded we are dismissed, unsad-
lie and put away our horses and are
marched back to our quarters. AT l.
clock, dinner. From 3 to p. III. another
iours drill, after which stable call. We
lad dress parade every evening Just be-
ore retreat. Precisely at sundown a biz
;un is fired as retreat is sounded and the
lag is lowered. Ir fine, still weather the
arge garrison flag is used; in stormy or
indy weather the small, stout storm fag.
After the roll is called at retreat the
first Sergeant publishes the details"
that is, reads off from a written list for
he following day, something like this:
For Guard tomorrow: Corporal Can
an, Privates Boggs, Finnel, Miller I'd ana
smith 1st.
For Fatigue: Privates Harmon and
filler 1st.
For Cooks Police: Private Wilson.
For Stable Police: Private Huggins.
For Room Police: Private TAYLOR"
Then gives any orders that he may wish,
s this:
Il want the recruits to report to me at
ne ofdefly-fOom after supper, and / will
ssue to each man his kit Il. C., arms.
'elts, etc.. Break ranks-marchw Anu
We went to supper.
The term policing is applied to all
ind of cleaning up. The cooks police
leans up things about the kitchen, car
les wood and water for the cook, washes
Ilsbes, cooking vessels, etc. Stable police
ISsists the stable boss to clean out the
table, feed the horses, bed them down, etc.
toom police cleans out the squadroom. |
aries drinking water, keeps up fires, etc
On the hrst day after joining the com
ANY We recruits went to the orderly room, |
"A First Sergeant's Office after supper, AS
'er order, and received our kits" consist
ng Of Sharp's rifle carbine, saber belts ana
box to each man. We are re
uired to polish all the metallic portions of
'ur kits" even to the brass buttons OH
,ur jackets, and keep them bright as Il
lew dollar; our belts and cartridge boxes
We black with shoe backing, and shine
hem up till you can see your face in them |
Jur Colts navy reVolvers will not be is |
ued to us till we get out on the plains, |
where We expect to 20 as soon as the grass
5 up. Tattoo roll call winds up the days
ounds.
Desertions are not so frequent as at JEFF
erson Barracks, but still the First Ser
;cant has to report one occasionally "ab-
ent without leave" Possibly the offender
5 only gone down TO ,LeaVenworth CITY
on a drunk" i'll which case he will be put
Il the guardhouse on his return, and after
few days imprisonment probably re-
urned to duty. But il he remains absent
or three successive roll calls, he is en-
cred on the morning report as deserter |
f caught and brought back, he is pretty |