The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-29

enc manual of arms told Cloyne so one
day. and he replied
That's the reason you're being taught.
There'd be nonsense In teaching you II
you already knew how"
The regiment--that is. the new com
panies--had no horses and we Summer
. ton boys would feel very dismal when we
saw the older companies mount and go
of on a scouting trip. as they did at
| least once a week. while we. instead.
were marched out TO drill or set To work
on the stables. which were so many and
large that II seemed they never would
be finished. There were u OF them, and
each was more then 300 feet long and re-
quired 100 thick 10 foot posts. which had
10 bet cut In the forest. besides hundreds
OF smaller ones for the roof and TO d.
vide the stalls Many OF the men made up
their minds while this work was going
on that a soldiers life was n dogs life,
and they proved their sincerity by acting
like dogs-growling. snarling, skulking
and fighting.
During this wretched experience OF cav
airy life my spirits were strengthened
frequently by Hamilton, listening 10
Cloynes sensible comments on whatever
occurred and admlring the loyal spirit OF
little Brainard 10 whom whatever the
government did through any OF its offi-
cials seemed entirely right. Whenever my
mind was troubled because / didn't un-
derstand the full meaning OF everything
that was done or left undone Brainard
would remind me that II knew every
thing about the war I probably wouldn't
be a private soldier. but general OF the
army or perhaps president OF the United
States.
Leaving something. a little something.
tn thn coll AL he a
ut least the president" Brainard would
say. 'If you could do and manage every
thing. as you seem TO wish the higher Of
hcials wouldn't have anything TO do but
draw their pay, don't you see?"
There was some truth in this. and such
Q remark would generally pacify me for
q few hours. l think. however that got
most comfort out OF my spurs and the
Joy / anticipated for the time when l
should have a horse and tickle his tanks
Ny father had never allowed one OF his
horses TO be touched with a spur-my ex-
perience with old Rover was unknown 10
him-so there was pleasure In store for
me. And what spurs they were! had
brought them from New York. They were
'Mexicans." the wheels nearly three
Inches In diameter. with points as long
as a shingle nail and they gave out a
bell-like Jingle as | walked. which was
such sweet music to my car that never
was without them. l even wore them TO
bed, for, as no one removed any OF his
clothing when lying down for the night
On the floor OF his tent. where was the
Use in taking Off ones spurs?
One night this question was answered
q some extent Our tent was round and
he Is men who lived In II slept with
heads toward the outside and feet 10 the
centre. BY early November the nights
were so cold that n man needed n blanket
as well as his uniform 10 keep him
warm. Several recruits who admired nv
spurs had purchased others as much like
them as possible OF the regimental sutler
or storekeeper. and they wore them con-
tinually. One evening after our tentful
had enjoyed a private supper OF fricas-
seed goose. purchased from colored
woman. we all lay down peaceably 20
sleep. Whether the geese-there were two
OF them-were underdone or too rich for
men whose ordinary supper was dry
bread and sauce OF dried apples I don't
know but some OF us were affected IN
our dreams very much like small children
after Christmas dinner and unlimited
candy How the trouble began I do not
know. but I awoke from a dream of be-
Ing heavily shackied In a rebel dungeon
TO find terrible uproar and struggle GO
Ing on In the tent. which was as black
as Egypt during the plague Of darkness
To make matters worse. the most serious
part OF my dream seemed stili I'm opera /.
ton. for ] could not libcraie my feet
when ] tried 20 crawl away from the cen.
ter.
What blanked cuss has been tying
eur feet together7" roared one man.
Let 90 Of my blanket" shouted an