The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1916-03-26

" ''|N'' W. =" Wv fAbb oINFS
had heer disbanded at the close Of
tlc Revolutionary war and +, was not
until 1890 and 1919 that the War and
Navy departments respectively were
formally recognized with skeleton
forces.
The VAR with France and the punt
tive expeditions against the Tripolitan
piratcs were waged by the newly
created uavc with "A personnel Of
3.0V0 old officers and men. At that
time the regular army boasted a little
more than 1000 men. although the
term of enlistment was for but one
year. and the total strcneth but two
thirds of the force authorized by Con-
gees. The Marine Corps. first Of all
the regular forces created by the C.n-
tinental Congress IN Ills. then num-
bcred 900 men under q three year en-
lis;,mcni.
When the War OF 1872 was seen IN
Re- inevitable Congress authorized an
army u 9.?:i men. but WAS able to
muster only two-thirds Of that force.
Tine navy's strength in personnel was
800. and the marines were increased
to 1900. While the army had no
port In either the wsr with France or
that with the Tripolitan pirates. the
Marine Corps, acting with the navy.
vas a veteran force. its ranks full
and the men serving three years with
tks co,or.
4 picture Of life IN the service In
those days. stripped uf the glamour
Cat a passing c.niur! cndows, APP
psars IN tho initial number Of the
Nrrjnc Corps Gu,cttc under the title
@. The Corps one hundred Years
Ago" That picture ma he taken rs q
faithful mirror of garrison life in the
early years ri the nineteenth century
ana through IL runs "a suge .stion Of
the service aioat. 1t IL based on the
daily ,n;ries Of the order book of the
marine barracks at Washington from
August %. 1903. TO January IL. 1919.
The first Of the entries relates to n
court-martia. convened for the tr.a!
q. sundry derel:c;ions. aud me last L.
~ recital Of the execution Of u desor:"r
h. - firing squad. The scope indi-
Gated ry tin. two entries l. c'oquent ~.
che variety Of the routine life set
down in many honiwrit!ncs, with
many u flourish. a p-od!gal!;. Of cni'i-
this. odd Authorizations and with many
Q quain, turn Of the written phrase
Grim tragedy shows when mutiny
r. the fabric of the entry. and nn""n-
stious humor IN IN" frequent r"!"r-
ences Il, ARRAYS witt the 'lf!Zens.
From their sum total one Is apt -
couture up a picturc Of the enlisted
man Of those stirring days a. - hard
hittcd soldier. ever ready 10 scale the
p.cNels in pursuit OF Liquor: who's.
falor.tc outdoor sport was sleeping
o.; his Post, thereby losing his
Niskvt": prone 10 fight ami defraud
tie pcaceable citizenry; with his heart
s.e.led AGAINST his Offices. Other en-
tries would indicate that Il officers
we're unnecessarily cruel and unable
O. command the respect Of their men.
Yet here and there are orders pre-
s.r.bing honnrs for these same ofhcers
Srd men who figured sallantly In the
wars against Great Britain. the Cor
eairs and the Florida Indians. Oppo-
e.,e TIE sentences that call for hocgins
Gre entries to the effect that the pun
i.,lm.nt had been RENTED at the IN
tercesslon OF an officer. Sandwiched
!r between days of the usual punish
m"n,s for the usual infractions of
military discipline lies the date u; The
battle Of Bladenshurg. when these
same hard hiited sea soldiers under
tie leadership of these same officers
made their gallant stand against the
Bltisli regulars while the volunteers
broke and fled a, the first v"'lcy.
Sc%grcgatinC the sentence. Of nm
u-anl character W. find early entries
Y.,u'ing 10 fi"gsinE for such offences
a. dcsertiun. theft and drunkenness
TIC lashes were laid III 20 the tap o!
the drum. The sentence Of James An
d"rson for descrtion from headquar'
tcrs on October IS, 1905. Is recorded
S Fifty I.ashes. 10y the Taps, Hare
Labor. Ban and Chain" Flogging
.oweycr. Mas abolished when a Navy
Dcpartmcn, order Of June :, 1872, ex'
tended to the Marine Corps the re
pcallng OF corporal punishment a.
published rs the W'ar Department or
May 10, ISLE, It's inhibition was fol
lowed by a preference Of the courts
Tor hard iabo".
Another entry in which lashes wore
PgcAribed followed the theft by JOIN
bryan of "a tumbler from the Sergt
Major" Opposite that entry Is
"prdrrcd. that William Blackwood re
tDNe utty lasheS Tor peinc 'DTunk tn'
hang his Money
James Morgan was drummcd out o
a." corps at the same time for threat
sG.Hz the Lives o! the Guard" ant
s5tn Hlich. deserter. was sentenced
eco have one side Of his head SHAVED
4 drumnnd out" Whether this am
.!Suous sentence was carried ON
!~,crally only 20 far as il called for tn
Saving and drumming out OF on" sid
CT the head, or whether II was admin
stored az meant. Is buried in the his
tory Of 1906,
pnc court. w%earying OF n wave Of in
tor."ty that had caught the head
Quarters garrison in It's undcrtow
sentenced Charles Daily n job,
Dunkinson TO wear the Drunkard'
Dress, the former for one week, tn
latter for a fortnight Their specih
offence, committed or New Years Da
o' 1905, was In being drunk and absen
from quarters at tattoo.
new form Of punishment designe
70 mold UP the culprit TO the ridicul
81 the garrison appears in the follow
Ing entry ~ January 5. 1905, regard
ing a deserter ramed Foley; "FOu
me ran the Gantlope 4 drummc
out" This doubtless was a corr uptio