The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 01, 1894, Image 4

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Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 01, 1894, Image 4

Newspaper Page Text\ THE BATTALION. 2 :neiit not noticeable to the ordinary observer. Next step you vill be ordered to the store room for a new uniform. Should you happen to be a dude you may not find your uniforms to conform to the latest fashion in regard to being tailor made. Likely you may get a pair of pants or blouse too large or too small. .However you must not worry over such trifles. After a few month’s service t’ou will become a full-fledged soldier and have your clothes made to fit you by the best of army tailors. s At meal hours you will be conducted to a hotel or restaurant and when through you will be marched back to the rendezvous where you will undergo ... little exercise in the setting up drill, saluting, etc. Should you wish to leave the premises you must receive permission toleave, and if granted, report on return «nd on time. When there is a sufficient number of recruits to send away to the recruiting •depots, which are situated on David’s Island, N. Y., H. or Columbus Barracks, Ohio, you will be sent under charge of one of the old soldiers previously mentioned at the recruiting rendezvous. Upon arriving at the place of destina tion he will report to the commanding officer or adjutant, who will assign each recruit to a company. After being assigned to a company of instruction you are called into the or derly room and issued a set of accoutre ments consisting of a rifle, belt, bayonet, etc., and four sheets, two pillow slijis, one bed sack (white) to cover your mattress, all of which are issued free to you and you sign for them, and are held respon sible for any loss or damage done them. Next morning after breakfast you are marched with the other recruits, which arrived the previous day, to the hospital for vaccination. The daily occupation of a recruit for the first month consists in the setting up drill and in the manual of arms about two hours eachday. If he is proficient enough at the end of the month he will be put on guard duty. Should he be a neat soldier he will shine up his rifle, belt, etc., in first rate order and stand chance of getting off guard, which means the cleanest man or two men in a body of men formed at guard mount, one or each of the two men will be detailed as orderly for the commanding officer and the next officer in rank. This relieves the young soldier of walking post at night, some thing so desirable that there is a compe tition going on each day among the re cruits, each one trying to be the neatest. It sometimes happens that there are, say three men, equally as clean in general appearance, then they have to draw lots with straws, or guess a number, as may be directed by the adjutant. Should you happen to he the lucky one you will establish your reputation as a neat soldier and be a credit to your company commander and company. As a rule it is such men that are selected bv the captain for promotion. 1 have seen the competition so close that the adjutant would tell the soldier to open up his shirt front and examine his breast, and also have them remove their shoes and stockings before deciding. The tour of guard is twenty-four hours on. Go on at say, nine this morning and come off at nine next morning. A sentinel tvalks post two hours and has four hours off, that is, he only tvalks eight hours out of the twenty-four. The day you come offguard, as a rule,

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

Texas A&M Newspaper Collection

The Battalion. (College Station, Tex.) 1893-current, January 01, 1894, Image 4

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