The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-01-18

provided themselves with horses, and
tney made use Of them by appearing
upon parade. To US 1t looked quite gal
liant to see our field and staff mount
quarters, and with clank Of saber and
clatter of hoof gallop down the rear of
our lines passing our left flank, and
then suddenly appear with a rush upon
our front and center.
The commandant would then assume
command, putting us through our fac
ings Of right and left, for as we had no
arms the manual had to be omitted.
About that time an inspecting officer
chanced to witness our dress parades,
and change came over the face Of
things. Afterwards commandments of
parade, together with their staff, did not
appear mounted. Companies were closed
up while standing in line, and q general
change and improvement was inaug-
urated. This will serve to show how
meager was the extent of our military
knowledge, and how readily and will
ingly was any such information grasped
after and profited by. Although these
irregularities may seem strange and
striking now, still, owing to the rapidly
with which new military duties and evo-
lutions were required OF us, any such
mistakes or blunders were but the talk
and sport of the moment, and we went
on to other blunders and conquests.
Practice was known to make perfect in
other pursuits and this rule was sup
posed to apply to military affairs.
Guard Duty.
Guard duty seems the most frksome
and tedious to volunteers, especially
when their camp is in the immediate
vicinity of their homes and acquaint-
ances, and surrounded by the securities
and projections remote from an enemy.
~, ~,1%~
and when In fancied security we must
train ourselves to be vigilant as If in
the presence of an enemy, and these
duties were now to be taught to volun-
teers fresh from their homes stores,
fields and shops, and upon whom, under
God, alone depended the existence Of
this Republic and the unity Of these
States.
Still, the doubt, the question then
was, Could these untried men become
reliable soldiers? Could they endure
the exposures, encounter the dangers
and make the sacrifices which the crisis
demanded? AS to this let the result
respond. let history speak. The answer
must be that they were equal to and
met all requirements and the survivors
came out veterans and victors, after the
most desperate war of any age, having
restored this Union, having saved the
Republic, having stricken from our
statute books all laws upholding bond
Of union between freedom and slavery,
having ended sectionalism, and thereby
created a homogeneous people and
opened up to them avenues to prosper
ity as broad as the universe and Extend
ing around the world. This is the leg
acy those volunteers bequeathed to their
successors. Fl
| An Impressive Ceremony.
With trained, disciplined soldiers no
ceremony in camp Is more impressive
than that of guard mounting. Whether
| the guards are for camp or picket duty
| it's regularity lis observed with the ut
most exactness,. both as to time and
procedure. BY The observance of these
rules and ceremony men go upon duty
with the feeling, that the eyes of their
comrades are upon them; that their
| trust and confidence are with them, and
that they must be vigilant and do their
duty, as the safety of the camp, the
| lives Of their comrades, perhaps, rests
| in their hands. Such trying and re-
spOnsible duties were now to be per-
| formed by us, SO as to fit us for the
field and to be equal to the requirements
| when we soon would be face to face
with the enemy Details were accord
ingly made upon companies for their
proper quota of men, and in compliance
with Regulations guard was mounted,
posted and relieved, instructions were
given the sentinels that during the day.
time no persons except commissioned
officers were to pass their beat without
| a written pass, signed by company COM
| manders and approved by the Colonel
commanding. The hand of the enlisted
man raised to the cap would not pass
q nerson now, no matter how graceful