Year: 1872

CAMP SHERMAN, SARATOGA, July s, 1872
There certainly must be something In the atmos- |
phere at times in this region that Is productive of
deviltry among the military. We have had bad
and good weather since we have been here, the |
good very fortunately, being the larger measure,
and have noticed that cool breeze and dark
night have the effect of keeping the irrepressbles
OF all the companies in wakeful state, while
hot night has just the contrary effect. City
people, who sleep more soundly on cool
night in summer, will no doubt be at
q loss to understand this; but there are so
many mysteries about this camp life Of ours that
will not attempt to fathom the underlying causes
Of this phenomenon. Last night was rather dark,
and delightfully."- cool breeze, swept through the
gorge to the west Of the camp from early evening
This was enough, OF course, to keep The boys awake
At least that very large portion of them who not
withstanding


THE PATIGUNG DRILLS


of the day. are ever ready to bother the life out Of
their peace and quiet loving comrades, whose
mammas have taught them that


Early to bed and early to rise


Makes man healthy, wealthy and wise.


True, the devils of the camp have SO far not al
lowed single night to pass without having pretty
much their own way when the sentry's back was
turned, but last night in the matter Of the alarms
and rows that the wakefuls created, far abe ad
of any of its predecessors, bad they have been.
1t must be said, however that Saratoga itself fur
nished the first exciting cause. Several OF the men
rode up to the camp fully hour after their passes
were null and vOid by reasons which are obvious,
and announced to the guard that there was large
fire near Congress Hall. This was the of their
delay, they said. They didn't exactly know what
was burning as they left the village


BEFORE THE FIRE BROKE OUT.


They had turned about to return to the village
hut arnhar ynafY In ctar
II they stayed out any longer they took a vote
On the question Of going at once to the camp, and
the result was that discipline prevailed by large
an1rmative vote. This story the sentinel did not
consider as good as pass so he called the cor
poral. He, too, grinned broadly when he heard
the excuse and intimated that the story was only
bid for sympathy 10 get into camp. So thought
the sentry the sergeant ditto, and the offlcer of
guard had his own opinion about the matter. This
settled the fate of the hopefls and they were not
allowed to pass. Just as they were were mourning
over the cruelty OF the regulations another late
batch from village drove up; They told the same
story about the fire. and they were all good boys,
who never take even


SODA WATER on DRAUGHT,
the news was regarded as reliable. Then came the
excitement. Those who had wives sisters sweet
hearts at the hotels alarmed for their safety, |
gathered about the guard and camored to go to the
village. few men were selected by the officer on
duty to go down and report progress, and away
like the the yb Tey o found the n vae
and with loud cheer they turned their horses, |
heads hOmeward. The good news made even the |
innOcents rather b0isterous and as matter of !
course the irrepresslbles, once thoroughly |
awakened, were determined to make night OF 1t.
The alarm about the fire suggested the first devil
try. 1t was now


AFTER "TAps,u


all the lights were out and the camp as silent
as the grave except here and there in the officers
quarters, where the business of the morrow was
being talked d over yer Officially: The mischief makers
the way clear. The 'big six farm wagon, rugged
about engine fashion, was standing near the com
mouth to mouth to 'hitch up.' The rope was at
tached, and, at given signal, they dashed down
he espied the weird-lookng procession coming
down upon him through the darkness. The order !
was obeyed "Who comes there2'' was the next


THE "FIREMEN-


who now began to be convinced that it was not SO
easy 20 run the guard after all. Friends" replied |
the foreman Disgusting his voice so not to be
Ser tn hnen the real test DID the
said the foreman, rather hesltatingly, "we are |


MESSAGE OF CHARITY


We want to put out the fire in town" OF course,
all this scene occurred In less time than it takes to
the guard was fast coming to the conclusion that it
had to make big haul of the whole crowd;
the n ordsrsa nUs s
of the entire fire company This the company couldn't
they led @ back to the the cam CAMP hoty oy the
guard, who were unable to catch them, loaded |
.rS down as they were with their accoutrements.
The engine was however seized and placed near
the guard tent,


UNDER ARREST


Inc Dremen, once back to their quarters, resolved
10 capture their pet u was rather risky business
10 go near he guard tent after what had happened,
what II might. silently they stole out into the
daiKness creeping on all ours at times in order to
escape the observation OF the sentines After deal
o. Crawling they reached the object Of their search.
Within ten feet of them stood a sentry and few |
yarls rtyOnu was the & uard tent itself. Getting
the pIo
The old wagon creaking f.srluly as they ran It |
asled toward the camp. az II their verv lives Ge
l,ehded upon their getting thTe large detail OF |
The guard wes turned out ana sped after the run
sways. The wagon was heavy snd the race an
unequal one; so fearful OF belnl bagged, the 'hre-
hlep" left il 80 its fate. FoweN er the guard kept
ON and succeeded in catching


THE RINGLEA DER
Df the disturbers, and the con sequence was that
day the unfortunate engine stantis sttl under ar
rest at the guard tent, an object On pity 10 ell he
xte company who say 5ney cant nve anS the he
capture Of the leader OF the owls 1t was b.ieyed,
would put an end to any further rnmpus. Tbe
lovers Of quletness counted without thelr iWsL
for about three O'Clock In the morning tue entTe
camp was thrown into terrible uproar by
being sounded. Everybody was up and out IN the !
streets" In an instant, and the companies we're
hurredly formed in readiness for any emergency.
The ALARM however, turned out to be false oii.,
rs 1t was discovered that two Of the men had |
cut ,n,o the eo ropes pes OF the drummers tent, and
|
The father imperfect long roll that had so startled
The sleeping warriors. need scarcely say that the
alarmists were captured by the guard, and that the
regiment turned in rather disgusted at the sell
Now, IL is questionable whether this Kind Of fun was
m regte; for there Ia such thing going too far in
PRACTICAL joking, even In military camp. To turn
me OF the means by which q regiment is disciplined
nf0 paythiDg does not seem to be right, and |
IN happy TO say that such is the opinion of the en-
ire regiment about this particular 'sel." Before
he camp breaks up there may be some sudden ne
essIfy for the long roll TO be


SOUNDED IN EARNEsT.
nd after this mornings experience 1t is question