Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-06-14
OUR APPOINTMENT WITH THE MAJOR.

SS u quest. As we ap
preached headquarters from the op
posita side Of the street we saw Ham
ilton and Cloyne coming down. and
Rrainard stopped me. exclaiming:
did you ever see two finer looking
soldiersT
said ! never had. Each was tall.
straight. well formed and carried him
self with the grace and ease that came
Of military training long before they.
with US. had Joined Billy Beecham's
company of the Ninety ninth. Their
cavalry uniforms had been carefully
altered and retitted. so there was none
Of the awkwardness about them that
made the volunteer soldier appear more
shabby than the average citizen. Each
wore q slouch hat and plume. like the
regulation dress" hat. only much finer.
and they attracted more attention from
passersby than any Of the commission.
ed officers whom one met every mo-
ment or two on Broadway In those
days. ! wanted to tell Brainard how
much more distinguished they would
look within a day or two when they
had received the commissions. about
which the major undoubtedly wanted
to see them and ME. but hadn't the
heart to speak OF good fortune from
which poor Brainard was to be ex-
cluded. so said nothing.
The two fine fellows entered the
stairway which led to the loft In which
our regiments recruiting headquarters
were. aud followed them Quite a
number of uniformed recruits were
there in the back part OF the room. so
1t seemed to me that other officers and
would he officers must have been more
successful than our trio at Summerton.
was about to tell Hamilton and
Cloyne Of my luck with Rralnard. but
Charley begged me not to. He said he
wanted to surprise them when we re-
turned to Summerton. Until then be
would try to keep out OF sight. ! join
ed them alone. therefore. and the three
of us walked about together. amusing
ourselves by observing the old SER
geant. who seemed to he trying to find
some one or count the recruits. we could
not discover which.
The maj had not yet arrived. The
lipItpnant who always seemed to be
OH duty az aid or assistant. leaned
from. the window as II looking for the
major. Finally be withdrew bis head.
hn ~ l,a
shouted:
Attention. men! Fall inp'
Il wonder II he Is going to indulge
In a squad drll?" said Hamilton to
Cloyne. as both OF them stepped aside.
followed by me. in order to be out Of
the line which the men were forming
by the aid OF the old sergeant.
"Fall In. men," said the lieutenant
approaching US.
"Res pardon" said Hamilton. salut-
Ing gracefully. but we've an appoint.
ment at noon with the major. at his
own request"
ayes. | understand" said the lieu
tenant. II represent the major. Fall
in-according to height"
"If be meant drill" muttered Hamil
ton to Cloyne. why didn't tie old
duffer say so! Did be think We
wouldn't obey orders. that he got us
here by such unmllitary waysT'
"Right-dress! shouted the old ser
geant. who had stationed himself at
the right of the line. Then he ran along
the front, pushing some men back a
little and pulling others forward.
Finally he returned to the right and
shouted Front" Then the lieutenant
looked at US as carelessly as If merely
TO see II our general appearance was
fair At last he shouted:
attention! Men. orders have come
for all recruits for the Thirty-eighth
cavalry to be sent to the regiment al
once. You must remain here. there.
fore. until the order for transportation
comes. Well get Off some time this
evening. That's all. Break ranks
march,
The yells. roars and oaths that went
up from two or three score of the men
were worse than any ever had heard
! couldn't blame any of the other re-
cruits. however. for | was as angry
shocked and frantic as they. Get OF
some time this evening" That meant
| couldn't see father, mother or Ned
before started-couldn't see them liz
three years unless the war ended soon
er. 1t was awful-it was worse than
the worst thing l ever had imagined
about war.
Some Of the more excitable fellows
made n rush for the door to find there
for the first time an armed guard, be-
yond whom at the head Of the stairs
were several more. They did not be-
long to our own regiment either. Then
they dashed to the rear Of the loft and
threw up the window sashes, but two
infantrymen with fixed bayonets were
in the tiny courtyard below. Then
Babel began again. while the lieutcn
ant resumed his chair. cigar and per
US cO0lly as If he were deaf or accus
toned 10 such scenes.
Can it be possible that this was
what the major meant?" ! asked OF
Hamilton and Cloyne.
Undoubtedly" groaned Cloyne. "l'
isn't a new trick by any means"