Montour American. (Danville, Pa.) 1866-1920, 1902-06-12


wore sIouch hat ana 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 l 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, and | followed them. Quite a
number of uniformed recruits were
there in the back part of the room, so
it seemed to me that other officers and
would be officers must have been more
successful than our trio Mt SummertOn.
l was about to tell Hamilton and
ClOyne of my luck with Bralnard, but
Charley begged me not to. He said he
wanted to surprise them when we re-
turned to Summerton. Until then he
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 be trying to find
some one or count the recruits we could
not discover which.
The major had not yet arrived. The
lieutenant, who always seemed to be
on duty as aid or assistant, leaned
from the window as if looking for the
major. Finally he withdrew his head,
walked to the rear of the room and
shouted:
Attention, men! Fall In"
81 wonder If he is going to indulge
in squad drill?' 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.
"Beg pardon" said Hamilton, salut-
ing gracefully. "but we've an appoint
ment at noon with the major, at his
own request"
Eyes, understand" said the lieu.
tenant. 81 represent the major. Fall
fn-according to height"
'If he meant drill" muttered Hamll.
ton to Cloyne, why didn't the old
duffer say SO? Did he think we
wouldn't obey orders. that he got us
here by such unmilitary waysY'
"Right-dressw 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 "FrontT Then the lieutenant
looked at US as carelessly as IL merely
to see If our general appearance was
fair. At last he shouted:
Attention. Men, orders have come
cavalry to be sent to the regiment at
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
marchp'
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 l was as angry,
shocked and frantic as they. "Get off
some time this EVENING" That meant
couldn't see father, mother or Ned
before / started-couldn't see them in
three years unless the war ended soon-
er. 1t was awful-it was worse than
the worst thing ever had imagined
about war.
Some of the more excitable fellows
made a 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