Brief description:
Tactics or Cupid in Shoulder-Straps (excerpts)
General Rules and Division of the School of the Soldier:
Saturday on West Point! ... Enchanting spot, on that day! The hearts of three hundred cadets bounding at the thought of release from duty. Their joyful prospect of meeting loved friends from abroad! The calls to be made -- all “ so glad to see them. The strolls over the beautiful hill-sides; the paradisaical walk on the river banks -- Flirtation Walk. The putting into practice all they have learned during the week; “Modes of attack——means of defense—making slow and quick marches, and the 'Manual of arms,' in which all are versed.
For example.
"ATTENTION" then "SQUAD"
At the second word the recruit will take a position in front of the eight-by-nine looking-glass, and arrange his hair.
"SHOULDER then "ARMS"
He shall sew on his new chevrons.
"LOAD" He shall polish his forty-four buttons, put on his coat, button it tightly to the throat.
“PRIME!” At this command, he shall adjust his cap very far forward on his head, a little to the left.
"READY" ” “ One time and three motions. The recruit advances to the front, and inspects the Plain, to ascertain if there is an enemy to be seen. He descends the stairs, grasps the tail of his coat, gives one energetic pull toward the heels.
FORWARD then MARCH
The recruit will retake a step of twenty-eight inches, until he reaches the hotel. On arriving, he will execute rapidly the several commands
......
POSTS OF FIELD OFFICERS
Lieutenant Saberin, going to his room, sat down to plan what he would do in the city. He drew his vade mecum, as he called his porte monnaie, from his pocket to make an entry, when out fell a little note he had received that morning . It was written in a lovely little hand. Lieutenant had been for years rather in the flowery toils of a very sweet village maiden. She she had been a schoolmate of his, when he was a beautiful ingenuous boy. Now, he would consider such a man as he too stupendous a sacrifice at such a shrine. He could not afford to marry so recklessly, though he loved her -- heaven only knew how dearly -- and regretted the necessity of such a course, but was it not kinder to drop the correspondence between them....He had gently checked her warmth by not writing to her, but within the past few months, some sweet little pieces of poetry had come to him through the mail, in which, though prettily disguised, he could trace the graceful Italian hand...
Let us read over Lieutenant Saberin’s shoulder. It has no signature— within lies the minnie ball!. He glanced at the note and examined his pockets for one he had received a month ago.....
General Rules and Division of the School of the Soldier:
Saturday on West Point! ... Enchanting spot, on that day! The hearts of three hundred cadets bounding at the thought of release from duty. Their joyful prospect of meeting loved friends from abroad! The calls to be made -- all “ so glad to see them. The strolls over the beautiful hill-sides; the paradisaical walk on the river banks -- Flirtation Walk. The putting into practice all they have learned during the week; “Modes of attack——means of defense—making slow and quick marches, and the 'Manual of arms,' in which all are versed.
For example.
"ATTENTION" then "SQUAD"
At the second word the recruit will take a position in front of the eight-by-nine looking-glass, and arrange his hair.
"SHOULDER then "ARMS"
He shall sew on his new chevrons.
"LOAD" He shall polish his forty-four buttons, put on his coat, button it tightly to the throat.
“PRIME!” At this command, he shall adjust his cap very far forward on his head, a little to the left.
"READY" ” “ One time and three motions. The recruit advances to the front, and inspects the Plain, to ascertain if there is an enemy to be seen. He descends the stairs, grasps the tail of his coat, gives one energetic pull toward the heels.
FORWARD then MARCH
The recruit will retake a step of twenty-eight inches, until he reaches the hotel. On arriving, he will execute rapidly the several commands
......
POSTS OF FIELD OFFICERS
Lieutenant Saberin, going to his room, sat down to plan what he would do in the city. He drew his vade mecum, as he called his porte monnaie, from his pocket to make an entry, when out fell a little note he had received that morning . It was written in a lovely little hand. Lieutenant had been for years rather in the flowery toils of a very sweet village maiden. She she had been a schoolmate of his, when he was a beautiful ingenuous boy. Now, he would consider such a man as he too stupendous a sacrifice at such a shrine. He could not afford to marry so recklessly, though he loved her -- heaven only knew how dearly -- and regretted the necessity of such a course, but was it not kinder to drop the correspondence between them....He had gently checked her warmth by not writing to her, but within the past few months, some sweet little pieces of poetry had come to him through the mail, in which, though prettily disguised, he could trace the graceful Italian hand...
Let us read over Lieutenant Saberin’s shoulder. It has no signature— within lies the minnie ball!. He glanced at the note and examined his pockets for one he had received a month ago.....
Publication
Carleton, Publisher,(1964), 1st,Hdbk,,,VG