“Recover――arms!”
This left them at a “ready,” again.
“That load in twelve times is only for discipline,” Hannibal scoffed.
“To teach ’em to work together. Load in four times is the Regulars’
way, by count――one, two, three, four. But mostly it’s ‘Load at
will――load!’ I’d hate to be a Volunteer. They can fight, though. Yes,
siree; they can fight. They’re not much on discipline, and they yell
and sing and straggle while marching; but when they see the enemy――my
eye!”
These Volunteers were indeed a lively and good-natured if rather rough
set. When drill was over they raced for their messes and proceeded to
loll about and cook and eat and sing, as if they had no thought in the
world except to picnic. The rust on their guns and the length of their
beards never bothered them at all.
Here’s a health to all them that we love,
Here’s a health to all them that love us,
Here’s a health to all them that love those that love them
That love those that love them that love us!
This was the song of one group, who were drinking from tin cups.