The National tribune., 1904-02-11

Army OF Northern Virginia and Johnston s
army passing through were shabby. hun
CRY, and unutterably weary of the struggle.
They only wanted to get home, and begin
life anew. 1t seemed as il this was the
| universal feeling.
Why, then. go on drilling. mounting
guard, and keeping up the serious business
OF war? They would go home soon, take
up their old occupations, marry their long
waiting sweethearts, follow their trades,
open up new farms, or embark in business
or professions. Why bother any more
about the old trade of war, which they
were soon to abandon forever, as the bur-
den Of a time of sorrow, hardship and dair-
ger! Was not the night now past, and the
dawn at hand?
There was absolutely nothing to do dur
ing the long, warm, pleasant Spring days
but to drill little, to maintain discipline,
and to keep themselves, their arms and
accouterments and the camp impeccably
clean The officers became martinets in
insisting upon this, and no camp or men
| were ever in more perfect condition in the
history Of wars. 1t was necessary to do
this, to keep up the regiments efficiency.
The active minds of the boys of Sis
squad sought employment in other drec-
tons. They were mostly danced" as non
commissioned officers, to take the, places
of the Sergeants and Corporals who had
been broken down by the campaign, and
were absent recuperating. Monty Scruggs
| assisted Wales johnson, good -hunlored
young staIwart who was the ranking Ser
geant, but had horror OF rolls and re-
ports, in keeping the company books and
making out returns. Between times he
studied law assiduously, and was always
ready TO make speech to the boys, When
| ever they desired it. which was pretty fire.
quently. Harry Joslyn was mainly de-
voting himself TO preparing for examina-
| ton for a commission in the colored troops.
| Alf Russell had attracted the attention of
the Brigade Surgeon, a kindly, helpful
| man, and was reading medicine with him
| and accompanying him on his rounds of
| inspection whenever off duty. Sandy
| Baker busted himself i'm his workshop and
| besides was in general demand throughout
| the regiment for ideas, advice and drec-
| tons.
| One very lazy day the Sergeant Ma jor
| came down to Go. Q's street with six green,
| awkwardly louting boys, attired in i'll
| fitting uniforms which, though new, Were
badly stained by long journey and ne
glect They seemed sadly ont of place I'm
that trim, well-kept camp, among such trim,
| soldierly young fellows, but in reality did
not hook very different from what the whole
| regiment had when it crossed the Ohio
River. Yet everybody shifted disdainfully
at them, and spoke as il they had no bust.
| ness on the earth.
Nothing could be more despicable at that
| TIME than raw recruits.
Here are some recruits which have
been assigned to Your company" the Ser
geant-Major said to Serg't Wales John
son. Il don't know what on earth they
are sent here for at this time when the
wars over But that's none of my bust
| ness nor yours. You've simply got to take
Il f.,l, 1<,f@
of their names, which you'll enter on your
| company roll, and make out their descrip-
tive lists. Make out requisition for their
| rations, and I'll have it signed, so that you
can draw them at once, and give them
something to eat. They probably need it,
Indeed we do feelingly answered the
poor boys in chorus for they were at that
age when hunger is perpetual and only
briefly appeased for time
20, of course you'd say you were hun
CRY; brats like you always do said Sergt
Johnson GROSSLY, for he was angry at be-
ing interrupted in his game. He had Just
gotten his second man into the king-row,
and felt sure of heating Serg't Coles. who
claimed the checker championship OF the
regiment. Here, Monty, you heard what
the Sergeant-Major said. Fix up the pa
pers and attend to these runts brought out
by the last seining.'
20, the devil" snapped Monty, looking
up most unwillingly from the fascinating
mysteries Of "fee-simple," sbase fee,'' "fee
qualified and fee in TAIL" in which he
was absorbed. "Why can't you attend to-
them yourself, Wales?" It's your bust.
ness"
go on and do as order you, Monty, or
I'll attend to you" answered Wales inn
perntiyely, as he clapped -another checker
on his king. Drop that book and attend
to your duty"
obeyed, feeling at that moment that of all
bores on earth cubs just entering the army
were the most unendurable.f The boys
looked and ncted very mnch Rs he and his
companions did ut the same period OF serv.|
ice, but this never occurred to him. He