hings being equal, got the earliest letter in the
alphabet of the regiment. The recruiting officer did not know what
kind of a man, of what physical or moral fibre, the service required,
and had no opportunity to learn. His object was to get his hundred men
as quickly as possible; and provided the recruit had limbs, organs,
and dimensions, that was enough. The care of the Governor of the
State, and usually his knowledge, went also no further. He had the
State's quota to fill, and was most concerned to fill it as early and
as easily as possible. The average examining surgeon had no more
knowledge of the business than the recruiting officer, and was
inclined to take the patriotism of the volunteer as conclusive
evidence of bodily soundness. The mustering officer mustered in the
lump, what the recruiting officer had gathered and the surgeon had
passed.

So there was small effort at sifting. The results were sometimes even
ludicrous. One fellow, too short, was passed in high-heeled shoes, and
grew shorter as time and his shoes wore on; but he made an excellent
soldier. Another passed muster in a black beard, which soon after
disclosed an ever widening zone of grey, and he became a veteran
prematurely. More obscure bodily defects developed on the first hard
campaign, and speedily furnished ample material for the hospital and
pension roll. However, by hook or crook the ten companies were raised,
and from various quarters were transported at the Government's
expense, to the camp where they were to be organized into a regiment.
There was some grumbling on account of having to ride in a freight car
on the part of men who afterwards, many times, would have very gladly
availed themselves of that jolting method of transportation. At the
rendezvous the company first to arrive found neither quarters nor
rations, and therefore marched into the city, woke up the Mayor, and
then relied on his patriotic charity. But the later arrivals fared
better, and there was plenty of beef and bread.

The Governor, when he saw the enlistment rolls, and heard that the men
had been placed in camp at the rendezvous, said to himself and his
counsellors: "These fellows who have recruited so many men and have
actually landed them in camp must have military qualifications," and
straightway he commissioned them all. Strictly speaking, however, it
was not straightway, but as soon as the clerks could fill out the
commissions and the Governor found time to si