INSPECTION OF THE TROOPS. 233 



head. The word " company " is applied to infantry and 

 cavalry alike, a portion of either service being quartered 

 in the barracks at Fort Biley while I was there. 



Having been ten days on the plains in a waggon, it is 

 scarce possible to describe the relief it was to pass a quiet 

 day, free from the heat of the sun and dust, in the society of 

 gentlemen and ladies, whose civility and kindness to me 

 I shall never forget. I attended guard-mounting, and 

 with Major Wassells inspected the barrack-rooms and 

 arms. The same drill as in England was evinced when 

 " 'tention" was called on our entering the barrack-rooms, 

 and at first for the life of me I could not make out why 

 the privates of the companies reminded me of those I had 

 been used to, more or less, in England. This was very 

 soon explained, however, for they were all Irish, with the 

 exception, I believe, of a few Germans ; and there was 

 nothing in that part of an army before me that was 

 different from ours, save that the smart and superior class 

 of men who officered it were all of them Americans. In 

 mounting guard they " troop" much as we do, but the 

 officers in mounting and relieving guard exchange more 

 words, while their salute with the hand is made by fling 

 ing out the arm from the chest instead of up to the forehead. 

 The men went through their exercise, both sword and 

 musket drill, very well, and, considering that the enlist 

 ment is but for five years, I saw some well-drilled, properly 

 set-up soldiers, and some very smart non-commissioned 

 officers. The barrack-rooms and beds were neat and in 

 good order, but, though the officers took care that the arms 

 were well kept and clean, a great many of them were not 

 fit to be relied on in service. 



The lassitude which beset me, and my desire to recruit 

 my strength sufficiently, made me retire to bed early. 



