“Brick" Pomeroy, of the La Crosse Wisconsin, on being invited to assist in forming a body-guard for President Lincoln, after due consideration decided to “go in," provided the following basis could be adopted and rigidly adhered to throughout the war:
The company shall be entirely composed of colonels, who shall draw pay and rations in advance.
Every man shall have a commission, two servants, and white kids.
Each man shall be mounted in a covered buggy, drawn by two white stallions.
Under the seat of each buggy shall be a cupboard, containing cold chicken, pounded ice, and champagne, a la members of Congress and military officers at Bull Run.
Each man shall have plenty of cards and red chips to play poker with.
The only side-arms to be opera-glasses, champagne glasses, and gold-headed canes.
The duty of the company shall be to take observations of battle, and on no account shall it be allowed to approach nearer than ten miles to the seat of war.
Behind each buggy shall be an ambulance, so arranged as to be converted into a first-class boarding-house in the daytime, and a sumptuous sleeping and dressing room at night.
The regimental band must be composed of pianos and guitars, played by young ladies, who shall never play a quickstep except in case of retreat.
Reveille shall not be sounded till late breakfast time, and not then if any one of the regiment has a headache.
In case of a forced march into an enemy's country, two miles a week shall be the maximum, and no marches shall be made except the country abound in game, or if any member of the regiment object.
Kid gloves, gold toothpicks, cologne, hairdressing, silk underclothes, cosmetics, and all other rations, to be furnished by the Government.
Each member of the regiment shall be allowed a reporter for some New York paper, who shall draw a salary of two hundred dollars a week, for puffs, from the incidental fund.
Every member shall be in command, and when one is promoted, all are to be.
Commissions never to be revoked.
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