The mirror. (Stillwater, Minn.) 1894-1925, 1913-09-11
REv|LLE And TAPS
BY Blackstone

by DIdCASUOuO
Fort Rodman commands the en-
trance of the New Bedford harbor,
and is one of cham of small forts
placed at strategic points along the
Atlantic seaboard. Its battery con-
sists of two modern high power
eight inch disappearing rifles. The
fort in summer time is used as an
artillery training school for recruits
in coast defence corps, and for the
artillery regiments of the National
Guard.
There are usually few naval
vessels cruising in the vicinity of
the fort, monitors, gunboats and
torpedo craft. The officers like to
come ashore and enjoy the hops"
at the Casino, and the blue-jackets
like to visit the boys behind the
guns and fiirt with the mill girls
from the city.
It is no exaggeration to say that
the first time new recruit drills
with the big guns he is in panic
and scared to death. He feels sure
the gun will burst and kill every
one, and when 1t does rise and send
out its deafening roar, he puts his
hand on his head to see if it is all
there, having forgotten to keep his
mouth open, to relieve his ear
drums from the pressure of the
blast.
Before the organization of the
coast defence corps the forts were
manned by regiments of heavy ar
tillery; probably the discipline was
not SO rigid then as it is now, the
time from retreat to tattoo being
our own for social pleasure and
practical jokes-one of these jokes
is good illustration of just how
verdant new recruit can be.
Our Commandant lived in large
roomy cottage, midway on Off
GERS Row." surrounded by large
and beautiful shade trees. In the
rear was his garden and melon
patch. duly cultivated by extra
duty men" and others who were
working out petty sentences of the
regimental court.
The Colonel's melons had a way
of mysteriously disappearing that
was anything but soothing to his
temper-his orderly said his chief
was rapid fire artist in seven Ian
guages anyway probably Red, the
driver of the Quartermaster's wagon
could shed some light on this por-
ton of our story, as he had a mash
on the Colonel's kitchen mechanic.
A mock court martial was ar
ranged, conducted entirely by en-
listed men who wore such additional
trimmings to their uniforms that
enabled them to pass as officers in
the candle lighted tent. The ver-
dant recruit was duly arrested and
brought before the court for trial.
A long list of charges were read to
the prisoner, the penalty of each
being stated as death or such
punishment as the court martial shall
direct.
At the conclusion the poor boy
thought he would be shot at sun
rise. The court, after hearing evil
dence in proof of all the charges
and securing an admission of Sleep
ing on post, found him guilty and
sentenced him to twenty-four
hours guard duty. His rifle maya
zine was filled with blank cartridges
and he was secreted in the Colonel's
melon patch, with orders to shoot
or capture any providers. The time
of posting the new sentry was after
Guard Rounds" which is the last
official tour of the officer of the day,
when at midnight he inspects and
visits all posts for security and
safety.
The chief conspirators of this
little plot had information that
Red" was to make an early morn
ing visit to the Colonel's kitchen to
get some baggage for transportation
to the city. 1t was also expected
that a few of the Colonel's melons
would go along at the same time.
1t will surely be no difficult mat
ter for my readers to picture to
their IMAGINATION exactly what han