A TRUE EXTERIENCE.

BY FRANK CAHILL.

I HAD thoroughly made up my mind to enlist. The bounty may have tempted me; my young affections may have been blighted; or, which is the most likely case, a friend of mine, then a Lieutenant-Colonel, commanding a regiment, may have written me to come out, as promotion was speedy and sure.

Good by," he responded, shaking it. "I wish I was single, so I could accompany you." "Don't tell anybody where I have gone." "Of course not, if you wish me not to;" and he was away.

I knew if I told any of my friends of my determination to enlist, they would endeavor to The next morning I proceeded to the recruitpersuade me from it; so I kept it a profounding office in the City Hall Park, New York, for secret from all at least all save two; and the express purpose of enlisting. But somehow how I came to tell them will be explained in or other the bustle and confusion in Mr. Orison due time. Blunt's recruiting office unnerved me, and I thought a little walk would do me good.

I had a just appreciation of glory, and knew exactly what it meant, viz., hard fare, much discomfort, and the chances of being shot. So I shivered on the brink of Uncle Sam's servitude, hesitating to take the final plunge.

Visiting one of my friends at his place business, I told him in the most mysterious manner that I wanted to talk to him on a most important

matter.

"Hold on a few minutes," said he. "I shall be through directly."

My little walk meant a tramp to Central Park and back, and occupied some three or four hours. When I returned it was past three: much to my regret, the office was closed, and I had to wait till the following morning.

This annoyed me exceedingly; when I found it was impossible to be enlisted that day, I was the more anxious to become a wearer of the army blue, and left highly irate at the policy that closed a recruiting station at such an early hour in the I thought those few minutes were the longest day, thus preventing any number of brave deI had ever experienced, so anxious was I to make fenders rushing to the protection of their country. known my intention of enlisting. At last I heard "It is an outrage upon the nation," I said, the sharp click of the clasps of his ledger, which" and I will write to the papers about the n.athe placed in the safe, turned the key, put that inter." his pocket, changed his coat, his hat was al- But I didn't. ready on, and said he was ready.

I mentally determined to defer telling him till later in the evening.

Having left my boarding-house a day or two before, that night I slept at Tammany Hall, and had serious thoughts of lying on the floor, inTalking of almost everything but soldiering, stead of on the bed, so as to accustom myself we walked about the streets for hours, occasion-to the hardships of the tented field. After tryally stopping at a wayside inn to refresh.

At last Smith-for that was my friend's name — said: “What do you want to see me about? I must be going; my wife is expecting me."

"O, nothing," I replied; "I just wanted to see you, and have a little talk; that was all

But Smith knew better. He could tell by my face that this was not all; so we continued our perambulations, and occasional halts for refresh

ments.

Ten o'clock came, and I was no nearer telling him my intention. I was so sure he would dissuade me from it. Smith said he must really go; it was getting so late. He shook me by the hand, at the corner of his block, and left me. "Smith," I cried, calling after him; "one moment. I may not see you again. going to enlist."

ing the floor for a few minutes I concluded that the bed was the more comfortable; so into it I turned.

At the time I enlisted, fifteen dollars hand. money was given to all who brought a recruit. Laboring under the impression I should prefer a friend receiving the money, rather than a stranger, I hunted one up, and told him I wished to put fifteen dollars in his pocket.

You're just the man I wanted to see," said he; "but how?"

"I am going to enlist."

You don't tell me! My gracious!" exclaimed Jim, opening his eyes with astonishment. "Let us have a drink."

"What I want you to do, is to take me over to I'm-I'm the recruiting office and receive fifteen dollars hand money."

"Are you? was all he said, not at all startled by my announcement. "I should have done the same thing myself long ago, if I were not married "

My county bounty," I continued, "I will send to you."

"All right; I'll take care of it." "And if anything happens to me- "here my voice became somewhat emotional-"give it to

"But some one will have to get it." "That some one will not be me. use talking any more about it."

Having been paid my county bounty of three hunI tried to reason him into it; but it was of no dred dollars, I was placed on a sort of revolving use. Jia was determined. So, after enjoining niche and turned into another room, where some him to secrecy, we shook hands and parted, he twenty-five or thirty other recruits, who had premuch the sadder man of the two. ceded me, were in waiting. Many of them were Immediately on leaving Jim, I went to the re-engaged playing cards, already gambling away the cruiting office, and made known my desire to en- bounty they had just received. list. "But," said I, "I have no one to receive the hand money. As I have brought myself, I suppose it will be paid to me."

"No. You can't enlist yourself; you'll have to get somebody to bring you here.'

"But I haven't any one to bring me." "We can't help that; you can't be enlisted, then."

"That appears to me to be a strange proceeding. The Government wants soldiers I offer myself, and you won't accept me."

The officer beckoned to a policeman, who at once advanced, and requested me to move on. did so.

As I was leaving the building, a clean-shaven, mild-spoken, gentlemanly-looking man approached me, and asked if I wanted to enlist.

I answered in the affirmative.

I was taken in charge by a couple of men, who furnished me with a uniform, a knapsack, a haversack, a in plate and cup, and knife, fork, and spoon. Bringing me in debtor to the United States Government to the amount of twenty-seven dollars and twenty-six cents.

About four o'clock a detachment of men belonging to the Invalid corps came to escort us to the Provost Marshal's office, situated on Broadway, between Thirty-sixth and Thirty-seventh Streets.

Arriving there, - forty-two of us in all, — we were placed in a filthily bare room on the third floor, measuring about seventeen feet long and fourteen feet wide. The windows were barred, and the invalid soldier who kept guard over us, with a cocked navy revolver in his hand, sternly forbade any one approaching them. One man, a

"Then I'll make out your papers, and put you little intoxicated, who insisted on looking out, he through in no time."

threatened to shoot.

He was as good as his word. In a few min- We were kept confined in this room until nearutes he had recorded my age, height, occupation, ly three o'clock the following day. There were and personal description, handing me over to the no seats; neither was there sufficient room to lie examining Surgeon when he had done so. down. Sleep was out of the question. Though, This last-named personage told me to strip my-it is true, I did once drop into a fitful doze, in self, which I speedily did. He then put me through my paces, as though I were a horse he wished to purchase. First, he went to the farther end of the room, and taking up a pack of playing cards, selected one. Holding it up, he asked,

46

What card is this?"

"The nine of clubs."

66 And this?"

"The ten of hearts."

66

Right. Now come here."

I went to him, and he pounded me on the chest and bade me cough; he made me run, walk, stretch my legs as far apart as I possibly could, put my hands as high above my head as they could reach, and strike out in the most approved shoulder-hitting fashion.

which I was strangely mixed up with the hold of a slave ship and the Black Hole of Calcutta.

Coffee, bread, and meat, wholesome and good, were given the men, which they threw at one another and trampled under foot. They had too much money in their pockets to eat such plebeian food as beef. So they bribed the Sergeant of the guard to procure them ham and eggs, and such like delicacies, from a neighboring restaurant.

Whiskey, too, was in great request. The demand far exceeded the supply, for the risk to procure it was great, and the price high -ten, fifteen, even twenty dollars being paid for a bottle.

Much to my relief, we were at last driven out of this room like so many wild beasts, and conveyed to Riker's Island.

Just as he was about to pass me, he espied a small varicose vein in my left leg; so he hesitated. When I enlisted, Hart's Island, with its com"That's nothing," said the clean-shaven, mild-modious and clean barracks, was not the rendezspoken gentleman, who was interested in me to vous for troops. the extent of fifteen dollars.

"I don't know about that. Wait a moment; and he left the room, but quickly returned, followed by another Surgeon, who pronounced my varicose vein as nothing; so I passed.

He then led the way to the muster-in officer, who told me to place my left hand on a Bible that lay upon the table, and hold up my right hand. He then recited something, which was just as intelligible to me as,

"Mumble, mumble, mumble, mumble. So help you God."

I was kept on Riker's Island for six weeks, — though I made several appeals to be sent to my regiment, doing nothing, eating the bread of idleness, not even being taught the common rudiments of drill, subjected to the mean and petty extortions of the non-coramissioned officers, and treated, as a rule, like an ill-bred dog.

Twenty-three of us were the occupants of one Sibley tent; the necessary caloric was provided through the means of a small stove- - value three dollars. This stove was the property of the Government. The sergeant who had our street in