News and citizen. [volume] (Morrisville, Vt. ;) 1881-current, 1902-05-28

at,iment which had been hastily called
80 the front Not one Of us was killed
and at the end of our three months
term of service the stupidest of us
knew more about military life and du
ty than any of our officers when VT
first took the field, so several of us
thought it our duty to re-enter the ar
any and help save the nation.
We knew exactly how to do 1t; we
knew almost everything in those days
for the youngest of us was fully Is
years of age, and one was almost 20
On being mustered out of the militia
service we were to enlist in the Thirty
eighth cavalry, a regiment then being
formed about a veteran battalion OF
troopers near whom we had camped
and whom we greatly admired. No
more tramping for us, with a musket
OH one shoulder and a knapsack on
both, while the nation was willing to
provide horses for such of its defend
ers as knew how to ride!
Immediately after eniisting we were
to go to recruiting. The government
was begging for men and, with state
and local authorities. was offering large
cash bounties by way of persuasion.
We would do all we could to help the
government to increase the army; we
would also do all we could for our
selves while recruiting, for at that time
and during the remainder of the civil
war the only way to become commits
stoned officer in new regiment was to
persuade some men to enlist and then
see carefully 10 it that they were mus
tered into the service. Although there
was no law defining this method. there
was q general understanding which
was fairly lived up to by the authori-
ties. \ man who could raise" 80 re-
eruits might feel assured of a captains
commission. 80 would secure a first
lieutenancy and 20 second Iieutenan-
cy. ANY one who could persuade half
a dozen men to enlist could become a
sergeant. a position not to be despised
in a fighting regiment could the ser
gCant himself succeed in not being
shot, for after regiment got TO fight.
Eng the officers who We're killed or 9th
~ " I't VI ''i''NNb VI "'lt lNII!'l'Nu l.
deserving Reconnaissance officers,
was so sure of becoming q liputen
ant that had myself measured for an
ehicerS uniform before ! ceased 10 be
private in the Ninety-ninth militia.
Had not p members Of our company
promised 10 enlist under me If would
enter the Thirty eighth cavalry? They
did it with their eyes open, for all Of
them had seen what there was of the
Thirty-eighth and they admired it as
much as l. Their willingness to serve
under me did not imply that they re-
gaTded me as a military genius or
born leader Of men. 1t meant only that
my fathers little farm, at the edge of
our town, contained the largest assert
ment Of fruit trees in all Summerton.
that l had never said mo- to any ac-
quaintance who longed for apples,
pears cherries or plums, and that small
boys lave sarge memories. Besides, .
my cousin May, who had always lived
with US, was greatly admired by all
the boys whom l knew, and it had
aoug been tn" fashion to be obliging to
me because was the cousin of so nice ,
q girl.
+ ] was not the only Summerton aspir-
art to commission. My special friend, !
Charley Branard, was willing to be .
sergeant or even corporal, under ne.
but there was Phil Hamilton, a First
regiment (militiaJ man. who had left his !
regiment only because be had TO study !
an Europe for two years, and he joined
the Summerton company of the Nine
ty-ninth militia merely because his old
regiment had not CHANGED to be called
out, and he wanted 10 see something
of field service. Phil was much the
Richest young man IN town. He was
also the handsomest, which really is q
great deal TO say to any one who
chances to Know Summerton. His mus
tache was large enough for q major
general. He owned at least 20 walk
ang sticks and twice as many scarfpins,
and all the girls were said to be dying
dor him.
| Then there was Cloyne, confidential
clerk Of the lumber company. He, too,
was handsome fellow. and he had
been cavalry soldier in the British
army. He wanted to raise recruits and
get commission. Indeed, both he and
Hamilton Lad seen the prospective
colonel of r;.e Thirty-eighth and had
so greatly impressed that gentleman
as to elicit the statement that he would
Ne greatly disappointed if they did not
become officers of his and perhaps sue
.ceed him should the fortunes of war
cS;;ry BIN out Of tie Service.
So we three formed an amlcable
partnership to raise a company. of
(which Hamilton was to be captain,
Cloyne first lieutenant and I the Sec
ond lieutenant.
''To show the other boys that we are
dead In earnest" said Hamilton, there
being a lot Of trickery and underhand