Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1902-07-24

T-4s>A0 ~ ard, and I, with a lot OF
other Summcrton boys Joined militia
regiment which had been hastily called
20 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 we
first took the field, SO several of us
thought it our duty to re-entcr the ar
my and help save the nation.
We knew exactly how TO do It; we
knew almost everything in those days,
for the youngest of us was fully IS
years of age, and one was almost 90.
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 musket
on one shoulder and q knapsack on
both, while the nation was willing to
provide horses for such Of its defend
ers as knew how to ride!
Immediately after existing we were
to 90 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
stoned officer in n new regiment was to
persuade some men to enlist and then
see carefully to 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. A man who could raise" so re.
cruits might feel assured of captains
commission, 30 would secure n first
lieutenancy and 20 a second Lieutenant
cy. Any one who could persuade half
q dozen men to enlist could become a
sergeant, a position not to be despised
in fighting regiment could the SER
geant himself succeed in not being
shot, for after regiment got to fight
ing the officers who were killed or 9th
erwise disposed of were replaced b.
deserving DoncomnisSioned officers.
was so sure of becoming a leuten-
ant that I had myself measured for an
officers uniform before l ceased to be
private in the Ninety-ninth militia.
Had not p members of our company
promis ed to enlist under me II would
enter the Thirty eighth cavalry? They
did it with their eyes open, for all OF
them had seen what there was Of the
Tbirty-eighth and they admired it rs
much as l. Their willingness to serve
under me did not imply that they re-
garded me US military genius or a
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 Ionged for apples,
pears, cherries or plums, and that small
boys have large memories Besides,
my cousin May, who had always lived
with us. was greatly admired by all
the boys whom 1 knew. and 1t had
long been the fashion to be oblging to
tbc OSSadeC = WaS tAc CCuoIh Va bO hICc
girl.
l was not the only Summerton aspir-
ant to a commission. My special friend,
Charley Brainard, was willing to be
sergeant, or even corporal, under me,
but there was Phil Hamilton, First
regiment fmlitia) man. who had left his
Old regimento only because he had TO study
in EnrDna for 70 ininnh
the Summerton company of the Nine
ty-ninth militia merely because his old
regiment had not CHANGED to be called
out, and he wanted TO see something
of field service. Phil was much the
richest young man IN town. He was
also the handsomest, which really is a
great deal TO say to any one who
chances TO know Gummerton. His mus
tache was large enough for n major
general. He owned at least 20 walk
ing sticks and twice as many scarfpins
ana all the girls were said 10 be dying
for him.
Then there was Cloyne. confidential
clerk of the lumber company. He, too,
was handsome fellow. and he had
been a cavalry soldier in the British
army. lie wanted to raise recruits and
get commission. Indeed, both he and
Hamilton had seen the prospective
colonel Of the Thirty eighth aud had
so greatly impressed that gentleman
as to elicit the statement that he would
be greatly disappointed If they did not
become officers Of his and perhaps sue
coed him should the fortunes OF war
carry him out Of the service.
So we three formed an amicable
partnership to raise company. of
which Hamilton was to be captain,
Cloyne first lieutenant and the sec
Cnd lieutenant.
ITO show the other boys that we are
dead in earnest" said Hamilton, there
being lot of trickery aud underhand
work In the recruiting business, let us
oil enlist as private soldiers in the
Thirty-eighth before we begin business,
so our men may feel sure that we are
In the service to stay. There Is quite
lot OF money offered in the form of
bounties to recruits. 1t amounts to
several hundred dollars per man. In
stead OF pocketing it, let us divide 1t
among the men who enlist with us.
That ought to give us some advantage
over other recruiting officers"
We agreed to follow Pitts advice.