THE BATTALION.
3
is given .you to rest but you must attend
all roll call, drill, etc. Next day is
what is called old guard fatigue. • You
may be sent in a detail to police around
the garrison or do some work ordered by
the quartermaster. This is where the
orderly figures again ; his reputation
.still follows him. Instead of having to
work the same as the rest he is put in
charge of a detail and carries out the in
structions given him by the officer in
charge of the fatigue party. Fatigue
.call is generally sounded at 7:30 a. m.
and recall from fatigue 4:30 or such
hours as the commanding officer may
direct ; each day there is a drill at a
specified hour and no one is excused ex-
.cept ihe sick and one cook and usually
the non-commissioned officer in charge
of quarters.
The daily routine is much the same,
each day of the week except Saturday
.and Sunday. On Saturday each bar
rack is scrubbed out clea.n, floors, spit-
fioons, bath tubs, etc., everything made
ready for inspection on Sunday morn
ing. The inspection of rifles and cloth
ing is held on Saturdays and that of
quarters Sunday morning. You will be
required to have clean sheets and pillow
slips on your bed, your shoes polished
and your bed made up in regular mili
tary style. When ah officer comes
through for inspection each man takes
his place at the foot of his bed, standing
at attention. Your time for guard comes
according to the strength of the com
pany. You may have ten or twelve
nights in or perhaps only four, seldom so
low, except when part of the company
may be on the range, at target practice
■or some other duty.
After a week or so you will be exam
ined again physically much the same as
at first ; if any defects are found you
are liable to be discharged for disability.
It often happens that a recruit may
be detailed on special duty as clerk in
the many departments, library, etc. If
so, he can stay one year, and at the end
of that time, if he has served faithfully,
he may apply to be assigned to any reg
iment in the U. S. army, with the ap-
proval of the adjutant general through
your commanding officer. Should you
be sent away to a, regiment in a batch of
recruits, a commissioned officer as a rule
takes charge of them, and with the as
sistance of a few of the brightest men
in the batch to act as non-commissioned
officers, he has an easy time.
When he reaches his destination he
reports to the commanding officer with
so many men. The senior officer takes
first draw of the men, the names of the
men being previously put in a hat.
Should you be especially assigned to a
company or regiment and sent by your
self you will get commutations of rations
and a ticket by rail or water, or both as
the case may be, to your destination.
Upon your arrival you will report to
the commanding officer who will send
you to your company, and introduce
you to your captain and first sergeant, if
he deems fit to do so. As a rule a young
man having first-class recommendations
is treated by all very courtly.
[to be continued in our next.]
Ouf piineteenthi Century Soeiety.
The nineteenth century will soon be
numbered as a thing of the past. Onlv
a few more years to roll by and a . new
century will be ushered in to take its
place.
Those of us who were born in this