The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-12-17

I tolerated.: but Inc did learn and became
| banner private before many months
had passed
America IN Not n Fighting Nation.
II Is tremendous task to trans
form 4 great. Industrious. peaceful
! people Into lighting forces The
Americans arc not and never can be,
according TO their form of government.
military people. An incident which
truly churactorizes the attitude OF the
, average American was told a few days
! ago In Richnond by q. former Confcd-
crate officer. II occurred when Cen
cral Wigfall FIRST brought his Texans
TO Virginia. Ono OF his men was seated
by the side Of some balcd hoy. smok-
Ing his ppc. AS Wigfall and another
general passed. tho latter made
ciplinc OF Texans. Wisfuil addressed
the soldier:
What are YOU doing here. my man?"
"Sothln much" replied tho sentry:
Jest kinder takin' care o this hyar
stuff
DO you know who am, sire" ask
CD the general.
Wall. now, pears like know your
face. bnt ] can't jos call your name
who are you?"
I'm General wigfam." calculated
the inQuisItor.
The words failed in their expected
result: Instead of icapinE to his feet,
removing tho pipe from his mouth,
and stitily saluting--as this same SOL
der would do within a few months
when discipline had him in It's grip
tho sentry extended his hand and
drawlcd:
"Gin'ral I'm pleased to meet you
my names Jones'"
Tho
weel's in camp Is drilling. The first
thing in the morning on awalsing is
drill; and the last thing at night is
drill. At the nrst light OF dag the rat
| tic of drum and the piping OF fires
awakes the soldier TO his days work.
The awkward squad is wcancd from
tho veterans and marched to q
smooth piece OF ground where the SER
scant puts them through their PAGES.
according to the manual OF arms. Then
comes cleaning up--"policinS" of COM
pany streets and sprucing up the
tents. This done TO the satisfaction or
an Inspecting officer, the ever welcome
| breakfast call sounds. and always n
rush 70" the mess tables immediately
| follows.
Glamour OF War without the Blood or
Battle.
| War is leteptivc--it has many sides.
its pdllopilcu Is not all nc-
ton; IL has its dress parade and its
pagcanta.
| In gorgeous uniforms. tile rcgimental
band marchca TO the parade ground.
| its stirring martial music foals
! through the camp. 1t is guard mount.
| The various details come In all their
| shining brasses and nccurtrrmcnts (;
they form while tho officer of tho day
! ITALICS the men with his list Of the de-
! t.,If T1,a, 10, trIo q, 4, IT,.
| relieve the scntlncls who have been on
| duty.
| Later in the morning tho whole .cGi-
mcnt forms OIL the colors. The Held
officers, astride prancing stecds, come
| To the front OF the long lines. The
| regiment starts in motion, and for two
| or three hours Is put through a grucll-
, ing drill. At nrst there Is much con-
| fusion--cven many of the officers do
not accurately know their rules. and
can DC seen furtivcly peeping into a
| book before ordering manocuvrc.
! An Arkansas cavalry officer In the
| Civil War did not know the military
| order for n certain manouvrc. but he
| did know how to achieve tho same re-
suit In an original. businesslike man
| ner. His troops stood ITO horse" as
| the officer. puzzled for moment over
| the next order. hesitatcd. Smiles APP
4
! denly. with look oc disgust, he cried:
Prepare to git onto your critters.
Git"
sports OF the SoIdiera Between the
| battles.
The life of tho soldier Is not all dull
care--hc han his games and pleasures
| TO keep up his spirits. apd thegc are
! encouraged by the officers. Card-play-
ing is perhaps the most popular pass
/ time. Poker, of course, ranks iirst. aud
| in the OWL War 1t was common
sight to see groups of dozen or more
men seated about half barrel. serv.
in gas a table, wagering their meaSre
wages OF the turn Of thu cards. Tho
! game was oven carried to the battle
line. The Fifth New York Cavalry
officers. just before the buBlc-cab
sounded TO send Major Keenan, and
many others to their death In the
Wilderness at charlottesville. were
seated on the ground playing poker,
when the roar of battle sounded on all
sides Of them
II is told that Confederate and Fed
eral ofhcers frequently met i'll a
neutral town or village between the
lines and spent the night in playing
cards. In tho Southern armies seven
up" and "vinse-et-un'. were popular.
I Men on Through from tho Army Of
tho Potomac oame,to camp with tales
of q new game that had the North in
It's grip-it was baseball. A game
was played between Keerny's Jersey
brigade ana Bartletts brigade. While
Grants army was In front OF Peters.
burg. In 1884, tho Thirteenth New
Artillery boastcd the championship
team of footbaliists. Boxing. also be-
came popular and many spirited bouts
| were held
/ Another diversion from tho stern
game Of war was cockhghting. This
was practced in both armies. and fire.
qnontly large sums OF money changed
hands between the bettors.
Championship Contests for Sporting
4, Records,
4 sport that was peculiar TO tho