In this advanced stage of the drill, the Colonel determined to hold a
dress parade. With much running to and fro and much discord under the
theory of drumming and fifing, from the drum corps on flank, much
exhortation on the part of the line officers, much right-dressing and
left-dressing, the regiment was gotten approximately into line. The
Colonel was in his place in front, with his war visage on, and filled
with energy and disgust, when suddenly and prematurely the drum corps
broke loose and began to ramble down the line uttering discords
galore. It was very far from "sonorous metal blowing martial sounds."
Then came the first order of the Colonel which, as faithful history
must record, was the beginning of the military history of the regiment
as a battalion. The order was: "Captain Bangs, stop that damned
drumming." The order was directed to Captain Bangs from local
considerations, he being the Captain nearest to the point where the
confusion had broken out. It is needless to say that neither Captain
Bangs nor the drum corps heard the order. They would not have heard it
had it been uttered through a megaphone, and megaphones had not then
been invented. The Colonel, the noise continuing, and the drum corps
continuing, grew more and more wrathy, and finally charged upon that
musical body sword in hand. It was an unfair advantage, justifiable
only on the ground of military necessity. The Colonel was armed and
the drum corps had only drums and fifes, formidable for offence but
not for defence. Instantly they were routed and fled, and disappearing
around the nearest flank, took refuge in the rear. It was the first
victory in the regiment. It could not be said that this charge reduced
things to order; it only tended to suppress disorder.

What became of the drum corps on that day I do not now remember. I
have the impression that they retired to the guard-house for
recuperation. Certainly they appeared no more upon the scene that day,
and the dress parade proceeded as a school of instruction, which the
Colonel administered partly to the regiment as a whole, and partly to
individuals, with distressing particularity. Of the instruction given
in general terms it is sufficient to say that it was of the most
elementary character, and was such wholesome counsel as an experienced
and trained officer would give to a green regiment; only the terms
were unusually emphatic, and the amount too great for one occasion. Of
the individ