I 52

GOING TO THE FRONT.

might

have made afor travel! ”

mistake in eon-I must confess

tion” seemed good, and I thought Isidering war so serious after all. “ Chancesnow, after four years of soldiering, that the “chances for travel” were nomyth; hut “ promotion ” was a little un-certain and slow.

I was in no hurry to open the door.

Though determined to enlist, I was halfinclined to put it oft awhile; I had a fluc-tuation of desires; I was faint-heartedand brave; I wanted to enlist, and yet

- Here I turned the knob, and was

relieved. I had been more prompt, withall my hesitation, than the officer in hisduty; he wasn’t in. Finally he came, andsaid: “What do you want, my boy ?” “Iwant to enlist,” I responded, blushingdeeply with upwelling patriotism andbashfulness. Then the surgeon came tostrip and examine me. In justice to my-self, it must be stated that I signed therolls without a tremor. It is common tothe most of humanity, I believe, that,when confronted with actual danger, menhave less fear than in its contemplation.

I will, however, make one exception infavor of the first shell I heard uttering itsblood-curdling hisses, as though a steamlocomotive were traveling the air. Withthis exception I have found the actualdangers of war always less terrible face toface than on the night before the battle.

My first uniform was a bad fit: my trousers were too long by threeor four inches; the flannel shirt was coarse and unpleasant, too largeat the neck and too short elsewhere. The forage cap was an un-gainly bag with pasteboard top and leather visor; the blouse wasthe only part which seemed decent; while the overcoat made me feellike a little nubbin of corn in a large preponderance of husk. Nothingexcept “ Virginia mud ” ever took down my ideas of military pomp quiteso low.

After enlisting I did not seem of so much consequence as I had expected.There was not so much excitement on account of my military appearance asI deemed justly my due. I was taught my facings, and at the time I thoughtthe drill-master needlessly fussy about shouldering, ordering, and presentingarms. At this time men were often drilled in company and regimentalevolutions long before they learned the manual of arms, because of the diffi-culty of obtaining muskets. These we obtained at an early day, but we

r

‘AND THE CORPORAL DID ! ’