Today | News | Books | Recipes Adventure | Science Fiction | Ghost stories | Poetry | Children | History BookThe Project Gutenberg eBook of Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, fifth series, no. 153, vol. III, December 4, 1886 This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere in the United States and most other parts of the world at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org. If you are not located in the United States, you will have to check the laws of the country where you are located before using this eBook. Title: Chambers's Journal of Popular Literature, Science, and Art, fifth series, no. 153, vol. III, December 4, 1886 Author: Various Release date: April 22, 2025 [eBook #75937] Language: English Original publication: Edinburgh: William and Robert Chambers, 1853 Other information and formats: www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/75937 Credits: Susan Skinner, Eric Hutton and the Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced from images generously made available by The Internet Archive) *** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART, FIFTH SERIES, NO. 153, VOL. III, DECEMBER 4, 1886 *** [Illustration: CHAMBERS'S JOURNAL OF POPULAR LITERATURE, SCIENCE, AND ART Fifth Series ESTABLISHED BY WILLIAM AND ROBERT CHAMBERS, 1832 CONDUCTED BY R. CHAMBERS (SECUNDUS) NO. 153.-VOL. III. SATURDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1886. PRICE 1½_d._] 'ON GUARD' AT WINDSOR CASTLE. Though the honour implied in the protection of the principal residence of the sovereign is considerable, military duty at Windsor is not by any means held in high estimation by soldiers, that is to say by those whose lot it is to perform the ordinary functions of 'sentry-go' around the castle. In a word, the duty is 'hard.' This term, applied to peace-time soldiering, means that the men have few 'nights in bed'-the criterion by which such service is invariably judged. At some stations the rank and file have as many as twenty of these coveted consecutive nights in barracks; but at Windsor the present writer has at times enjoyed the honour of passing every third night on the exposed terraces of the castle; and as the 'Queen's Regulations' lay particular stress on each soldier having at least one 'night in bed' before going on guard, it will be granted that the Windsor duty is not unjustly considered somewhat trying. Perhaps a glimpse at the inner life of the Castle-guard may interest some readers. The armed party, which consists of some fifty soldiers, is under the command of an officer, assisted by two sergeants, together with as many corporals, and it enters upon its twenty-four hours' tour of duty in the forenoon. A drummer-boy also 'mounts:' his chief employment being to go messages and to carry the lantern used in making the nocturnal 'rounds.' When the guard marches into the lower ward of the castle, after having in its progress considerably enlivened the quiet streets of Windsor, the 'old' guard is formally relieved, and the men not immediately required as sentinels take possession of the guardroom-a large, comparatively modern building, in the vicinity of the antique Curfew Tower. With a view, probably, to the preservation of discipline, the two sergeants are provided with a 'bunk,' a small portion of the area of the apartment partitioned off, and fitted with a miniature guardbed. Here they often employ their time in the making up of pay-lists, duty-rosters,[1] and the like. On entering the guardroom, the privates quickly divest themselves of their valises and folded greatcoats; for it is now admitted by the authorities that a sentry may march about quite 'steadily' without being constantly burdened with his kit. The valises are suspended from rows of pegs furnished for this purpose; and-what might in fine weather seem surprising-the greatcoats set free from their tightly buckled straps. Ostensibly, the 'loose' coats are necessary to spread out on the guardbed, so as to slightly soften that uneasy couch, as well as to prevent dust, which may there have lodged, from adhering to the tunics of recumbent guardsmen. But the real reason for shaking out these garments frequently is to allow them to dry, because in many cases they have been liberally sprinkled with water before being buckled up, to insure a more compact 'fold.' A stranger to things military, on surreptitiously glancing in at the guardroom door early in the day, and while the sentry's back was turned, would notice a large number of white basins drawn up on the tables and 'dressed' with extraordinary precision. These vessels are placed in position for the reception of the soup, which is served shortly before mid-day, and they bring us to the important subject of the culinary department. There are four cooks connected with the castle guard. One is 'corporal of the cooks;' another is 'standing' (or permanent) cook; and the remaining two are merely sent daily on 'fatigue' from the barracks. The provisions are conveyed to the castle in a barrow of peculiar construction, and deposited in the cookhouse-a place not at all resembling a conventional kitchen, but both in situation and appearance very like the dungeons one is occasionally introduced to when visiting ancient strongholds. In this dismal region are capacious 'coppers,' in any one of which soup, beef, vegetables, or tea can be prepared. To return, however, to the proceedings of the members of the guard. When they have satisfactorily arranged their equipments and, above all, thoroughly repolished their boots, a corporal calls for silence. This obtained, he begins to make out the duty-roll, or 'detail' as it is usually termed, of the sentries; and when the detail is completed, he affixes to the wall in a primitive fashion-with pieces of damped ration bread-a short abstract, in which the men are represented by figures. To the uninitiated observer, the purport of this might be rather puzzling. After a particular numeral, for example, is inscribed the word 'Cocoa.' The soldier to whom it refers has assigned to him the task of preparing the beverage named, which is issued to the guard at midnight-the 'standing' cook having the privilege of every night in bed. The abstract is attentively perused by the men, who sometimes take private memoranda of the parts of its contents that apply to them individually. Not unfrequently this is done with a pencil on their pipeclayed gun-slings, in such a position as not to be apparent to the inspecting officer. As soon as every one has mastered the corporal's hieroglyphics, a sergeant issues from the bunk already alluded to, bearing the 'order-board,' which is of rather portentous dimensions. As the great majority of the men know the regulations off by heart, they are read in a slightly hasty and perfunctory manner; though, with true military exactness, not a word is omitted. There is little in the list of ord |