Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1901-04-09
BY J. H. CONNOLLY.
CHAPTER MI


the British" were not scarce; the Mexi-
can War yet too recent for its heroes to
be much spoken of as veterans" except
for oratorical effect and a vaguely pleas
ing impression pervaded the country that
the American citizen should stand, meta
phorically, with chip on his shoulder,
inviting some etfete monarchy to '.knock
it off and get licked Martial spirit and
patriotic pride stimulated a general inter
est in keeping alive military organiza
tons OF course, the best volunteer"
forces must see much service before they
attain the steadiness and discipline Of
regulars" and our best military estab-
lishment attainabIe then was very far
below such perfection as the severely eff
fective school of civil war has since
taught US in the adaptation Of our mill
tia forces for ready mobilization as a
National Guard" But our militia was
larger then, in proportion to the pOpula-
itiOn, than it Is now, and perhaps was in
fused with more spOntaneity Of patriotic
enthusiasm than has been observable n
later days, particularly since its main en-
plOyment has been in the oyerawing and
crushing Of labor demonstrations. Then,
every man capable of bearing arms was,
but practically member of it, suppose
bly, ready and eager to rush forth, at any
moment, armed with his own gun, sup
piled with his own ammunition. clad ac
cOrding TO his own means and fancy, and
a least measurably provided with his
own rations, to exterminate foreign foes,
wholesale or in job lots. as they might see
ht to present themselves. To be an
American and to have a gun were the
only real essentials, in popular estima
ton. The man who could not be depend
ed upon TO do good fighting ION his own
hook independent of how anybody else
might be getting on in the melee of a
battlefield, would not have been cOhsid-
erred Of much account.
Few were prepared to affirm that there
was not a desirable quality of style about
company and even regimental evolutions
in time Of war, hut Il popular feeling eX-
listed that rehearsal Of such things dur
ing profound peace was little better than
threshing chaff and winnOwing the east
wind. Should they ever be necessary,
Americans could pick them up in a few
days. Hence. Training Day" though
everywhere observed as an occasion for
enthusiastic demonstration of patriotic
and martial spirit, involving not a little
noisy jubilation and license, was seri- |
ously lacking in the educational charac-
ter contemplated by the law.
Very early i'll the forenoon the popula- |
ton Of the whole countryside seemed to
be focking en- mIsse into the little town |
Of Washington, the county seat and its |
streets were soon thronged with eques- |
triaUs and sleighs Of all sorts and sizes, |
from the dainty cutter to the ponder |
Gus farm wagon body temporarily |
mounted upon bOb-sled runners. Not only |
the defenders of the republic came to |
town on Training Day" but their moth
erS wives, sisters and sweethearts as
well; for there was both a gallant show |
10 see and shopping. long deferred for
this occasion, to be done. Women packed |
each of the general stores, where dry /
goods. plOws, crOckery, school books, mo-
iasses timothy seed and a thousand other |
things were sold and all farm produce
bought: men crowded the particular !
stores that dealt exclusively in wet goods, |
for in those days the prohibition move
ment had not yet even Clipped its she'll, |
and nobody thought harm of taking "a |
drop 70 keep the cold out" or, mayhap, |
another for sOciability's sake"
The inn yards were filed with family |
sleigbs. and around three sides of the |
court house saddle horses were tied to the /
hitching rails as closely as they would |
stand without fighting The keen, still |
air was full of the creaking of sleigh run |
ners on the snow the jingling of silvepy |
sounding bells. neighing of horses and |
shouts of salutation between acquaiut- |
ances. 49,.
Presently the shrill sounds of n fife and |
the clatter of a drum awoke the echoes |
with a new sort of disturbance, and the
musicians, followed by all the boys in
town, marched the length OF the main
street and back again, to the common"
or great open square near the court
house, where the drilling was to take
place. There by the flag pole, in all his
awful dignity of cooked hat crimson sash
and sword, fat Captain Ramsey stood,
lists in hand, awaiting his citizen sol
diery. From all directions they came
hocking. in hot haste; and motley look
ing mob they were, so far as clothing
went, no two seeming to be dressed alike.
Tall and stalwart men they were with
1.-THE, vigorous frames, clear, daring eyes
aud firm tread; men who looked as if IA
tigue and fear would be alike strange to
them. Here and there an old man, really
exempt by age from military duty, vet
scornful Of such release, bore a shotgun;
but with those few exceptions. the arms
in the hands of all were the long, heavy,
muzzle-loading squirrel rifle, a small-bor-
ed weapon, but one that would carry far
and with splendid precision. Almost every
man Of Captain Ramsey's one hundred
and seventeen would have been able, with
his own gun, to hit button on sol
dier'S breast as far as he could see it
clearly, particularly if that button should
happen to be on a red coat.
All around the Common the big fam
ily sleighS were drawn up, and in them.
comfortably wrapped in their robes and
Curs. the ladies sat, looking on and thrill
ed by that inexplicable fascination which
military evolutiOns always seem to have
for women. With them, to hold the
horses when the martial music made
them SILVER and dance. sat the old men,
whose weight Of years forbade their ac-
tive service on the training ground. and
who. involuntarily reSenting that fact,
were unsparing in sarcastic criticisms
upon their envied juniors in the ranks.
Il gave them relief to say things like
these;
Turn your toes out, sam. Aou walk
like a pigeon"
will some lady please admire Mr.. Nc
PhevSOu?
step out there. Dave, You stutteS
with both feet
To such bantering salutationS the men
addressed made lively responses in kind,
aud Captain Ramsey in vain made him
sels red shouting;
silence in the ranks
But there were. also, pleaSanter inter
changes OF regard than thoSe-saluteS
and replies inaudible TO the ears, but full
OF music 70 the heart. The young militia
man was rare, who did not Know, or at
less, believe. that some fair spectators
brightest smile OF admiration had a d.
rectly personal significance TO him. John
Cameron, for instance, felt his pulses
thrill and his heart beat high at sight OF