There must be one thing kept in mind: there must be no half-way interest, and there must be no foolishness; the more serious one is at first, the more successful the latter work. It will not take long for a boy Lieutenant to be able to take command if he studies; he must enforce attention, and be sure in his orders. Once let the others find out that he knows well what he is talking about, and they will respect him and obey him as eagerly as if he were forty years old and six feet tall.
Arms and uniforms are absolutely necessary, and of course cost money; but it is quite surprising at what comparatively small expense a company of boys can be outfitted. Drill muskets of wood are the cheapest, and can be procured with detachable bayonets, but the best of all is the old Springfield smooth bore cut down and reduced to about five pounds in weight. A company of boys thirty in number can be equipped with these strong pieces at the cost of about sixty dollars. A good uniform costs much more; but serviceable fatigue-caps can be purchased for less than a dollar, and a uniform made out of good strong blue cloth for five or six dollars. Good drums can be procured at about the same expense as the uniforms, but it does not pay to get a very cheap drum. By enlisting the interest of parents, uncles, and the family in general, an eager boy will accomplish wonders in outfitting himself, and a fair or an entertainment well worked up will draw funds from unexpected sources.
THE CAMP.
Supposing, however, that a company of lads connected with a school, a society, or perhaps entirely independent, wishes to reap the benefits of faithful drilling and go into camp. The first thing to be done is to get the older heads to agree in helping out the venture, then to find a suitable locality, and one not remote from home.
THE MESS TENT.
Good drinking-water, and plenty of it, is a sine qua non (this for our Latin scholars). The ground should be dry and hard, and in as much of a sheltered position as possible, and there should be a wide open field devoid of stumps and muddy places for a drill and play ground. One of the first difficulties will be the procuring of tents, and here, of course, will come a rub. There are, however, many places where they can be rented for the purpose in the big cities, and no make-shift wigwams should be attempted. In some States the military authorities, approached through the proper channels, may be able to loan tents for the purpose, and a letter to the Adjutant-General will procure all the information upon the subject. But even if tents are not to be had, the idea of a military outing need not be given up. A hay-mow is far from a bad place to sleep in, and a fair-sized barn will accommodate a large number of boys who do not object to roughing it. The cooking could be done camp fashion, outside; and that brings us to one of the most important points—food, what it costs and how to get it. A cook should be hired, and one man can cook for a large number if he has a detail of young soldiers to help him with the mess-gear. Every boy should bring, besides his blankets, a knife, fork, and spoon, and a tin plate and cup. It will cost to feed a healthy boy in camp at least forty cents a day; the thing to avoid is waste.
In such a short article as this it is out of the question to go into general detail, and of course without the help of older people and without funds it is impossible to do anything.
A boys' encampment should be managed by the boys themselves so far as the duties are concerned. They should be responsible for their own order and behavior, but of course it is necessary to have some one with experience at the very head, and a doctor or a surgeon must be enlisted for the time. This is most important. Any militia regiment would provide a volunteer for the position of Colonel or post commander, and care should be taken that he is a man who is well fitted to instruct and versed in the usages of camp life.