The American union. [volume], July 06, 1861, Image 3

About The American union. [volume] (Martinsburg, Va. [W. Va.]) 1861-1861

Image provided by: West Virginia University

                
PROVOST MARSHAL.
The appointment of various offices of
army of the United States in the cities
and towns occupied by our troops to posi
tions with the title of Provost Marshal,
bs3 been a fruitful theme for newspaper
dincussiou. The offioe i3 certainly some
what novel iu this country, but in Europe
it haa been w-oll known for centuries. Wor
?ester informs utf, by copying from a glos
?ary of military phrases, that "a Provost
Marshal'is un officer of the English army,
whose duties are to take steps for the
prosecution of crime and offences against
military discipline; to saize and secure de
serters, to punish marauders, &c ; to take
?harge of prisoners and superintend the
extculiun of punishments-" It is said, al
to, that he is an officer of the English na
vy, who has charge of prisoners at a oourt
martial, aud to hold them iu custody after
wards till tho senteeco of the oourt martial
itf ?iecnted.; -
The definition of Webster is moro gen
?ral ia its application than Worcester, and
?Xtends the uso of the term, to civil life.
A ProTost Marshal says Webster, "in a
general souse, is a person who is appointed
to superintend or preside over something ;
the chief magistrate of a city or town, as
tho Provost o? Edinburg or Glasgow, an
swering to tho Mayov o? -frizes ; the
Provost of a college, answering to President.
Ia Franco, formerly, a Provost was an in
ferior judge who hud cognizance of civil
eausea. The Grand Provost of Franco, or
of the household, had jurisdiction in the
King's house and over its officers. The
Provost Marshal of an army, (usually pro
nounced pro-vo,) is an officer appointed to
arrest and secure deserters and other crim
inals, to hinder the soldiers from pillaging,
to indiot offenders and see sentences passed
ob them and executed. He also regulates
* weights and measures. He has under him
a lieutenant, a clerk, executioner,'' &o.
The term Provost, propositus, is an offi
?er placed before or over certain relations
for tboir control and management. It ap
plios to all the departments of government,
whether civil, military, educational or oth
erwise. The provost is generally the pre
tiding officer o/ the institution. Associa
ted with the term marshal, it assumes the
military relation, and indentifics the mili
ary with thi civil office. The term marsh
al ia itself d military application, and sig
nifies much that is contained.in the charac
ter of a provost. Marshal was once used
to desigmte an offieer who had charge of
borsoa. It is from mahre a horse, and
tcJiaUe, a servant, hence the application to
oae wio has cbargo of bones. It was
subsequently applied to persons in charge
of impcrtaDt stations, even to tho one that
precedes the prince in his travels, and to
one that regulated the lists of combats,and
to the commander-in-chief of an army.
In their origin, the words were both ap
plied to inferior stations, and advanced as
their more extended use became nocessary.
The provost of the king's stables was an of
ficer that attended court, and held the
kiug'sstirrup when he mounted his horse.
ORGANIZATION OF THE FIFTH REGI
MENT OF U. S. ARTILLERY.
Col. Sherman, of the U. S- A. is at preseut
in Harrisburg, making arraugemeiHs for the
organization of the new artillery regiment which
he was ordered to recruit by the President of
the United States. This regiment will contain
twelve batteries, and be otherwise equipped
and armed in the most officient and effective
manner for attack and defence. It is the pur
pose of the. Colonel iu command to make this,
in all respects, one of the most thorough reg
imental organizations iu the service, for which
he is singularly fitted by hia military education,
skill and experience.
The organization of the regiment will be iu
the following order:
One colonel, one lieutenant colonel, three
majora, one adjutant, one regimental quarter
master, sergeant major, one quartermaster's
sergeant, one ccfcimissary sergeant, two princi
pal -nrinrielaua, oiio liospitaf steward, twenty
four musicians for band, and eighteen hundred
and seventy-two non-commissioned officers and
privates.
Each battery to beorganized 03 follows, viz:
One captain, two first lieutenants, one first
sergeant, one company quartermaster's ser
geant, six sergeants, twelve corporals, two bu
glers, six artificers, one wagoner, and ">ne hun
dred and twenty-two privates.
Rendesvous will bo immediately opened in
different parts of the state cf Pennsylvania for
the raising of these batteries, and a fine oppor
tunity is presented for those who have a fond
ness for this particular arm of the Bervice. to
promptly fly to their country's standard, in this
her moment of need. Faithful and able bod
ied soldiers who have been discharged from the
light artillery in the past few years, will here
find an admirable chance of distinction and ad
vancement.
WAR ITEMS.
A part of Company E. "Capt. Anderson" of the
9th Regiment, P. V? was engaged in the skir
mish with the Rebel Cavalry, which was notic
ed in our laBt issue. The men of this compa
ny behaved with coolness lind courage.
The picket guard from the Third Regiment
was fired upon by a squadron of Rebel Cavalry
about two o'clock this morning. The tire was
returned, and the assailant* driven off. It is
beSeved that no one was injured. These Reb
el troops are continually prowling around the
country, and our troops cannot exercise too
much vigUanet.
THE SECESSION CAVALRY.
Air.?"Hiippy Land of Caanan."
On tha_8oij of Old Virginia not very long fcge,
Wheti the Union Volunteer* crossod the
border;
They mettlie "giilant" ?:ivalry dmaed out for
pomp and show.
And they sent tlicra o'er tho couBtry in
disorder.
Ciiorus.?Oh! hat ho! You should hav*
seen them go!
Dashing, clashing, splashing o'er tho gravel !
Such "chivalry" cau't fight, but you'd better
believe we'ro right,
When we tell ycu that they know hew to
travel.
Tho Badger boys were there, and the Yankees,
cuto and true,
Came out to fi?ht the battles of the nation ?
And tha Keystone State so gallant, seut her
sons both bravo and valiant,
Who fear not all tho traitors in creation.
Chords.?Oh! ho! ho! &c.
These patriot soldier* true, met thi wild Se
cession crew,
And they let them have a touoh of Northern
fighting,
Thoy showed th#ra Yankee Doodl# with a can
non shot or two,
And didn't they send tho frightened rekth
"kiting I" "
Chorcs,?Oh! ho! ho! &u.
The Union boys arc trne to the red white *?d
blue,
And truo to tho old Constitution ;
They will wipe out of the land Jeff Davis and
his band,
And savo tho great Republic from pollution.
Cuouus.?Oh! ho! ho! io.
"THE AMERICAN UNION,"
Tune?"Wait for tho Wagon."
"Tho Union" is our watchword where'er our
footsteps roam,
And with tiio friends of freedom we always Cud
a homo ;
Our hearts are with our country, our cyei are
on our flag;
And we will plant it North and Sooth on plain
or mountain crap.
CnOBua:?Then wait for the Union,
The proud sailing Unien,
The imperishable Union,
And we'll all take u rid*.
We'to left onr home and kindred, in qnest of
traitor hosts,
Resolved that we will bravely die, ordriro thorn
from our coasts;
Our fathers fought the mother when she raised
tho tyrant hand,
And we will whip tho brother whowo'd icoage
our happy land.
CiioRUS?Then wait for tho Union, Ac.
?*
Oar wagons are "substantial," and oar horses
large and full,
We have pork aud beef and crackers, jnit as
much as they can pull;
All our men are "gay and happy" while there's
aught of work to do,
And when they get into battle they will "put
the rebels through." ?
CiioHcs?Then wait for tho Union, Ac.
Our cause is just and holy, onr lawi "must b?
preserved."
A nd in the work of fighting, wo cannot be un
nerved :
God bless our noble amiy?in then we all
confide?
80 jnmp into the Union and we'll all take a
ride.
OittBOt?'Tixtg ,u* *?