Year: 1863

good, lawful height, which it is considered |
breach of good conduct to jump, but great many
of the boys are just breacby enough to do it. AT
least | am told there are, especially after the roll
call at night, when everything is quiet, and there
are no Indications of any enemy. do not state
this as fact, but have strong suspicious that it
is SO, for when | was on guard the other night |
and walking my beat with all the dignity of
young veteran, noticed number of soldiers
leaning against the fence near one end of the
beat, and when had walked to the opposite end
and returned, | noticed these same fellows wasn't
there. had no means of finding out where they
had gone to, for when inquired. the boys only
laughed, and said they were taking walk. Per-
haps they were. | noticed a number of fellows
about that time walking rapidly down Fourth
Street to Broadway, clothed in Uncle Sans uni
form, and they bore strong resemblance to
these. felt very much grieved to have the rules
of camp violated. in such manner, but couldn't
possibly prevent it.


But the best fun of all was to stand guard to
keep the little children out of the park. They
seemed to have the faculty OF lodging a guard
every way at once. If we told one to stay out OF
the park and threatened him if he didn't, the
next minute we might look to see him scamper-
ing like wild cat away to the middle of the
camp. They would seem to fly over the fence
invisibly. at least no one could see them till the
thing was done, or else they would vanish from
the street and scamper in the park. When other
expedents failed, they would offer to bring can
teen of ice water for some of the boys, which of
course we could hardly find heart to forbid, and
this would pass them in. Children when their
parents were with them, were allowed to come in.
l noticed many children followed parents that
the latter did not own.


One day was on guard before the camp was
fairly organized, and the rules were, as they al
ways are at such times without head or tail, or all


head and no tail. Children we're not allowed to
come in at all. The regulars had then separate
guard. There are three skeleton regiments of


regulars in this park, the Sd, 4th and 9th, but all


three are not larger then one Vermont regiment.



7 They guarded their own gates that day, and we
+ guarded ours. AT that time it so happened that
these sentinels had received 10 instructions to
O keep the children away from the park, and the
6 children soon found out that there was iugress


there, and it sought all the more because for


bidden on our side My post was on the west
side. There large gate there for teams


which was kept closed, only when used, and on
: each side was small gate for travellers on foot
guarded one of these small gates and regular


guarded the other. My orders were strict to. LET


none of the little brats into the park, but the reg


ular might let in as many as he pleased. Troops


of frolcking children were continually pressing to
> enter hut my bayonet afforded an nseparable
. barrier at that gate. 1t was amusing to notice how
:. quickly their look OF eager glee changed to one


of grim dependency when | told them it was


against the orders to let them in, and they saw


eviced determination to keep them away. /
= they happened to think of it they would try the
v next gate, and when they saw there was nothing


to hinder, they would march in in the creates
> triumph. Of course it was matter Of perfec


indifference to me, but when they turned anc
> gave me a salute with their thumbs to their noses


and their four fingers dangling In the air towards
: me, began to appreciate the Importance of my
:, position, and to see great advantages arising from
" winning the respect Of the rising generation thus
! early in the day. These young ones would GER
! tainly admire my frmness in preserving order