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"hay-foot! Straw-foot!"

"hay-foot! Straw-foot!" image
Parent Issue
Day
18
Month
July
Year
1879
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Many boys and gids may have heard these words applied in a diverse way to raw recruits who were mak ing a begining in their military educfttion by learning to march : but very few young people - orold ones, either- know how the terms originated. During the war of 1812,there was a great deal of drilling and training amoiig the malitia-men all over the country, especiaüy in the larger cities and towns, where the principal recruting stations were situated. In New York City, much of the drilling of newly enlisted men was done in what is now City Hall, Park, in front of a tavern which stood where the Sim newspaper building is located. Many of these would-be soldiers werefrom the country, and these, of course, knew nothing at all about marching in military fashion. They could walk far enough, some of them, and vvork as hard and bear as much fatigue as any soldier in a regular army; but they walked as they "pleased, and had no ideas upon suc'h things as "keeping step." It is even said that there were lenows among theni who did not know their right loot from the left, and who were therefore continually getting thernselves and their companions into disorder by mixing their legs,- that is, moving out their right leg when the onicer who was drilling them called out "Left," and the other leg when he called out "Right." If they could have put hoth legs fovward at once, it is probable that they would sometimes have done so. To make these men understandj exactly which leg was rneant when the oflicer gave hls orders, a curious plan was devised. Around the right leg of each man, jast below the knee, was tied a wisp oí hay, while a wisp of straw was tied around hia left leg. Now these country fellows knew very well the difference between hay and straw, and so, when they were ranged in line and the ofticer gave the word tomaren, and called out, "Ilay-foot! straw-foot ! hav-foot ! straw-f oot," each one oï thein understood exactly wbieb was the foot he must put forward. It sometióles happened, however, that a manwould be so busy observing his and perhaps making fun, at the same time, of their attempts to walk like soldiere,- that he would forget his own business, and put forward his "straw-foot," when "hayfoot" was called for. Itmust have been very funny to see these raw reeruits - hear a country ostler in high boots and striped shirts ; therea farmer in his shirt-sleeves and broad straw hat;then, perhaps avilage doctor or school-master, with his high beaver hat and his spectacles, with a tall boy near by in cap and short jacket - all marching side by side, with hands down by their sidea, thumba turned out, eyea flxed on the ofncers as he stepped backward before them, and all keeping time to the 1110notonous cali of "Hay-foot! strawfoot! hay-foot! Btraw-footl" The regular BOldlers who may have been drilling at the same time probably smiled, if they did not dare to laugh, at these queer-looking men, with their hay and straw bounds lega; but the mothers and fathers and sisters of the recruits, if any of them chanced to come to town to see their sons or brothers drill, doubtless thought theaffaira ftne military display, and that Jeremiahor Caleb woüld be a general yet, if the war lasted long enough.- St. Nifholas.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Michigan Argus