The National tribune., 1902-03-27

mand came to stop-one of the many use
less and foolish things, TO the mind of a
recruit, but better understood by him, as
are many things, the longer he is in the
service.
1t was while performing this duty at
another time, that | found out how easy
it was to get in the gudrd-house. 1t
was said among the old soldiers that one
could not be good soldier until he got in
the guard-house at least once. In leading
out horses from the stables there would
always be from seven TO 10 Of them get
away from some green recruit who had
never had much experience with horses.
These horses would have wide scope over
the drill field before being caught, and
from rolling and otherwise, would get
themselves covered completely over with
mud. One of the boys leading in the file
next to me let his horse go as soon as the
animal kicked up little. / observed his
fear of the horse. 1t happened that he
had only caught the horse just as we were
through at the picket line, and he led in
by the side of mine. A Sergeant said:
private Coapman, help that man groom
his horse" / half demonstrated and pro-
posed to inform the Sergeant of the care
lessness and fear of the recruit, which ac-
counted for the horse getting away, and
that he ought to groom his horse without
any assistance. The Sergeant saw l was
reluctant in assisting-too much inclined
to find excuses for not assisting-when he
at once ordered a Corporal to take me to
the guard-house.
The next morning at guard mount the
Officer of the Day, after finding me in for
petty offense, ordered me to report to II.
Sergeant, and look out in future not to
debate an order Of duty, or talk back, but
to perform it, however it might conflict
with my feelings.
H. null, nf he NJ
drill rendered them ready targets for
abuse. No personal violence, however,
was ever used We soon found that
tongue lashing could but hurt the feel
ings, and even those feelings might become
harnened to it in course of time.
l was detailed as clerk to Orderly
Serg't Noonan, who had seen service some
Is years, but having many duties to per-
form at the post they gave him clerk
In conversation with him one day ] asked
him why the officers and ''non-coms" were
so fierce in their way of giving orders,
and also upon drill. He laughed as he re-
piled: "Why, do you think that we mean
everything we say in the sense in which
! it is spoken? Why, we are accustomed
to that style in this service, and l can as
sure you there is no personal ill-will or
feeling connected with what we say or the
manner OF saying it. 1t is simply disci-
pline of the Regular Army, and applicable
to all alike, from the officer in high rank
to the private"
His statement opened my eyes for better
contentment, and l had not long to wait
to find Serg't Noonan's expose of the needs
of the service true. | conveyed the state
ment to the boys of the company. 1t seemed
! to give them q better feeling, and as pro-
gress was made in drill and more knowl-
edge of the service was obtained, we all
felt quite satisfied.
| Hodges, being a musician, was soon
| transferred 10 the post band TO remain at
the post. Hepler and Lobdell were sent
with recruits TO the Sd Cav. l think
Oviatt and Briggs also were sent to that
! regiment. Out of the recruits sent from
Madison, Hodges and myself were the only
ones transferred for permanent duty at
the barracks. ] joined the permanent
company, but must confess that l. did not
feel satisfied, notwithstanding the easy
duties. / did not like the idea of separa,
ton from the boys, who enlisted when
did; aud, then, another thought was, what
service could / show if were to continue
feather-bed soldier throughout my term
of enlistment?
About this time a change in the COM
mand of the post occurred, Maj. Hastings
being relieved and Col. Wm. Il. Royal, OF
the 5th Cav, taking command of the post
! think Maj. Hastings was ordered TO join
his regiment. Col. Royal was q proper
successor TO the Major He, too, had beer
long in the service at different frontier
posts before the wsr. There was no ma
terial change in the routine duties of the
: post under Maj. Royal. Recruits from til,
: various stations continued to arrive, and
after preliminary drill were forwarded tc
the front to replete the regiments of cav
= airy. From 200 to 900 usually made III
t the detachment.
At the commencement of the war Car
E Isle Barracks was an established deDo
+. for Volunteers as well as Regulars. Th,
5 Volunteers were in tents adjacent to tn,
post, and received their rations from il
e but otherwise, excepting a general com
:. mand which Col. Royal had over the camp
they were under the immediate care O
their own officers. Carlisle City in ever,
branch of its business during the wa
s period was aourishing. The town wa
full of soldiers both night and day, an,
E only strong patrol guard furnished b!
E both Regulars and Volunteers could keel
! the boys in blue In check and within prope
Z bounds. There were many thousands O.
: men forwarded from this point to tn,