Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1902-06-11


who enlisted. Cruise was released from
his promise. Whyde went swimming
one day In water too deep for him and
was buried three days later with such
military honors as Summerton could
eXtemporiZe.
For the week after my re-enlistment
my heart was as heavy as If 1t had
been filed with bullets. No recruits;
no chance Of commission; worse than
all, no prospect of having Brainard
with me during the three years to
come. was too downhearted to no.
tice that Hamilton and Cloyne were
not In their usual spirits. but one day.
as the three Of us sat In the vacant
store in which we had our recruiting
office and stared gloomily at the roll
which was still blank except for our
own names. Brainard came in, looked
at us and said abruptly:
"If you fellows don't get your spirits
up in some way. you'll never find the
government any soldiers. and you won't
be fit to be soldiers yourselves"
The looks that were fixed upon him
quickly by three pairs of angry eyes
ought to have scorched him and made
him shrivel. But they didn't, for he
went on:
"You haven't got anybody by sitting
here or strutting around the village.
Why don't you 60 about everywhere
and talk your best? Why. there's Mick
McTwyny, a village rowdy. who's
working for sergeant's position In the
same regiment-he's enlisted seven
men out Of the fire engine company
alone"
"Mick McTwynyT exclaimed Cloyne.
springing to his feet.
"That ignorant ruffian" shouted
Hamilton. also rising hastily. HAS he
the impudence to want to be a ser.
geant In our regiment-perhaps our
very company"
"Yes." said Brainard. land he'll be
one. too, If be keeps on as he's begun"
| didn't say much: couldn't. A
whole dictionary could scarcely have
supplied words to express what felt.
For awhile. as imagined Mick In camp
in q sergeant's uniform and myself
a private in the same company and
subject to bis orders. wished 1t had
been | instead of poor Whyde who had
been drowned. Hamilton and Cloyne
began to pace the floor like tigers In a
cage. Suddenly Hamilton stopped and
exclaimed:
"There's but one way out Of 1t. We
must get more men at any cost. I'll
have handbill printed at once and
circulated throughout the county say.
ing that larger bounties will be paid
at this office than at any other In the
United States. Twill cost all the mon
ey and property have. suppose. but
I'd rather lose my last dollar than go
out again In the ranks with beast
like Mick McTwyny in authority over
me-"
"I'n distribute your handbills," said
Brainard.
That boys faculty for seeing what
ought to be done always persisted In
cropping out just when wasn't In con.
dition to see anything whatever. Pret-
ty soon. however. the old worry about
soldering under Mick Mc,Fwyny and
of being three years without Brain
ards society came back to me, fully
prepared to stay and make itself dis.
agreeable.
don't know how | should have lived
through those days If it hadn't been
for my saber and spurs and the chance
to display them on horseback. Arms
were not given out at recruiting sta.
tions. We were told. when we received
orr uniforms. we would have to wait
until we reached the regiment for So.
bers. revolvers. carbines and ammuni.
ton. but learned that there was no
law against q soldier purchasing for
himself such arms as his branch Of the
service used. so bought saber and
belt and took great comfort from the
clank of the saher as dragged 1t after
me In dismounted cavalry fashion.
Then ! bought pair Of spurs, and as
my father lent me horse with which
to ride about to look for recruits, ] had
the pleasure Of feeling that | was the
first cavalry soldier that had been seen
In onr nouptv sipon rho Revolutionary