Publisher's Synopsis
This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1917 edition. Excerpt: ... CHAPTER III LIFE IN THE ARMY Word came to Armstrong in the early summer of 1862 that Colonel Willard, a regular army officer of high standing, was to raise a regiment of volunteers at Troy, N. Y. A short time later Armstrong was in Troy, had applied for a commission, and was presently actively engaged in recruiting. He put up a shanty on a public square, scattered posters, and went to work. The undertaking was intensely interesting to him, and as he expressed it, he met the very meanest and the very best of men, some enlisting for money and some solely for love of country. Armstrong's methods were successful, for he was the first man to fill his quota of recruits, and presently found himself captain of a company. He also prided himself on the fact that his company contained the most respectable men in the regiment. Hardly could it be otherwise with his example before them; they knew that he was upright, honorable, and a Christian gentleman, who did his duty thoroughly and was not afraid to do himself anything that he might require of his men. His brother relates an incident which took place in New York as the One Hundred and Twenty-fifth New York Volunteers were passing through on their way to the front, which may serve to show one reason why Armstrong's men loved him. The regiment was encamped in City Hall Park, and the two brothers were talking together when a private came up to Captain Armstrong and inquired where he could get a drink of water. Armstrong started at once to get water for him, and when it was suggested to him by his brother that it might not be very good military discipline for a captain to be running around getting water for his men, he replied, "The men must have water. I'm bound to see that they get it." From New...
