The Grit-advocate., 1902-12-19
LEARNING TO OBEY ORDERS.
To the Boys Who MAY Some Day be
Soldiers

latter part OF October, ! d. not remem-
Der the exact date, | wa I Young, in
experienced soldier.
MIR. Lincoln had made lis famous
call for three hundred tholsapd vol
unteers, with which he proposed to
put down that great Southern rebel
lion. had been hearing The wonder
full stories OF returning three-months'
men who had smelled powier--Of their
terrible battles and hair-preath escapes
while almost mixed up with the ene-
my-and we'll do | remember how
thrilling to me were the recital of
these scenes by the actual participants
therein. had enlisted ii the July Of
the past summer. In the following
month of August we were ordered to
report at Columbus, Ohio, he capitol
of our state, where most Of ne volun-
teers we're sent to be mustered into
the volunteer service. There We were
organized into COMPANY and assigned
to the Twentieth Ohio Nulunteer In
fantry, and given the position of Com
pany c, as regiments were prganized
at that time. This position made us
what was then called Color Company"
and upon this company ia cach regi-
ment devolved the duty of carrying the
regimental cOlors, which cousisted OF
the national colors and a battle flag.
We felt greatly honored ar that time
in having the care of the coIprs. But
there was nothing funny about it later
on, boys. For we found at Tines that
the colors were honored with more OF
the enemies compliments. in the shape
of slugs of lead, than any other part OF
the line. But it is said, you know,
that one can get used to almost any
thing, and so it WIS with the sudden
.shiss'' and "swish" OF the minnie ball.
But you must be among them pretty
steady or one is inclined to dodge just
a little. or course an American boy
would not make any very big lodges,
but if he wasn't very used to it and q
he wasn't expecting it, and knock
little hole in his blouse just over the
shoulder, or make little notch in the
rim Of his hat and say "Swish' at him
right quick as it passed, he would be
very apt to dodge down just little.
But don't be discouraged boys for old
ii IN, Z ttr =
same thing. don't deny being an old
soldier in that particular myself.
But started out to tell you OF an ex-
perience of mine when learning to
obey orders. did not begin to realize
at that time that an army must be
thoroughly disciplined. An army
without discipline is but mob as liza
BILE to be stampeded as q herd oi cattle
Then all is lost, you are at the mercy
of your enemy. II you must retreat,
as it Is sometimes necessary to do, go
back watching the chance to hit your
enemy hard; then when the opportuni-
ty does come you are in frame OF
mind to make the most of it. We had
reached Camp Denison down near Gin
cinnatti and gone into camp. Here
camp guard was established; the beats
were marked off and guards we're In
structed to walk in the path from one
end Of the beat to the other without
stopping. That meant two hours
walk without stopping for an instant
Now it had been raining for several
days; more or less every day. WheD
my turn came for camp guard, the
beats we were to walk had become a
streak of sloppy mud and we were not
allowed TO walk out OF 1t a little bit.
1t So happened that my position came
opposite our Majors quarters. Our
Major was West Pointer, had receiv-
ed military education and knew the
importance OF discipline, of absolute,
unquestioning obedience to orders, and
was very strict in that line. | had not
walked that beat very long, going from
one end of it to the other, slop, slop,
slop at every step, when l came TO the
conclusion it was all nonsense stopping
back and forth through the mud. and
l didn't need to do it, so l stopped.
1t was broad daylight and everything
that was passing could be seen perfect
ly and that ought to be enough. l
stood watching everything that was
going on and that seemed to me to be
the end Of my duty. l had stood there
perhaps five minutes when the Major
came out on his porch and stood watch
ing me out Of one corner of his eye.
l stood still, mentally saying 81 an not
going to walk in that mud - | had
scarcely gotten these thoughts through,
my mind, when the Major, str Itching
out his long right arm and pointing
his index finger as straight at me as IL
it were rifle barrel. called out in
commanding voice, ''walk thal beat
promptly there" What do you think
l did, boys? Why | "waked, slop,