Anti-slavery bugle. [volume] (New-Lisbon, Ohio) 1845-1861, 1848-08-11
From The Chrisiion Citi-en.
The Patriotic Volunteers.

the remains oil inc MASSACHUSETTS Teglme nt
on their homeward journey from Mexico, had
taken passage In the cars OF the Western
Railroad at Springfield, and would pass
through our city at about four o'clock, on
their way to Boston, where they were to re-
ceive the balance Of their pay and a discharge
from the service.
Al the appointed time, we proceeded TO
the depot, for the purpose OF seeing with our
own eyes the remains of a corps who went
out from among US, some eighteen months
ago, deluded by promises of grog and glory,
10 do the internal work of the government,
in the butchery Of human beings upon the
fields, and ia the cities and towns Of Mexico,
that the domain Of slavery might be enlarged,
and its power and influence in the councils
Of the nation might be increased and strength
ened.
Knowing the material of which that regi-
ment was composed, we were prepared to
see as hard a looking body Of men as ever
marched to the music of drum and fife to do
the bidding Of any government upon earth,
and we pictured in our mind ranks of fierce
looking soldiers, dressed in all the toggery
of war, with elastic step and defiant eve, re-
turning with e~xultant hearts to the land OF
their nativity, proud Of the d" honors " they
had achieved in robbing a sister republic Of
her territory, and in doing, as far as il was
in their power TO do it, the villanous work of
human butchers. We knew that these men
had been told, at various points upon their
route, how much glory they had achieved for
their %country, we knew that the assurance
had repeatedly been given to them that Z" their
country would ever hold them in grateful re-
membrance, that their memories would live
in the grateful heart Of the nation to the latest
period Of time" and We supposed that such
eloquent expressions OF popular regard, would
have had The effect to make them somewhat
proud and disdainful to US poor civilians who
were so unpatriotic as to remain al home.
But, when the cars arrived, all these
thoughts and ideas vanished in an instant,
and gave place in our heart to no emotions,
but those of EXTREMIST commiseratIon and
pity. Such a spectacle as greeted our eyes,
we have never before witnessed. and, in all
probability, never shall again. We thought
that we had seen something of human mise
ry and degradation before, for we have stood
upon the crowded decks of emigrant ships,
upon their first arrival in our harbors from
the famine-stricken countries of the old world,
and we have visited the overlooking alms-
houses and prisons of some Of the largest eli
ties in the union but no sight that we have
ever witnessed in places like these. could
compare in squalid wretchedness with this.
Here was "glorious war" exhibited in its
true light. Stripped of its paint and %tinsel,
its brass buttons and rooster feathers, we
saw it in all its ghastly and soul-sickening
deformity. We cannot convey to the minds
of our readers any correct idea of the appear
ance of the men, for we do not know any
condition to which We have ever seen human
beings reduced by p~rivation or poverty in its
most appalling form, TO which we may COM
pare it. 1t was humanity in a neW phase
and the lowest and most degraded that we
have ever Witnessed.
II a disposition had existed on the part Of
the crowd assembled, to greet them on their
return by any show of applause, the first
glance at the misery before them was suGi-
cient to check it, and they wisely forbore TO
insult them by any display of enthusiasm
which would have appeared in such painful
contrast to the detection which was written
upon the wan and CHASTITY faces OF the SOL
diers and a silence as OF the grave pervaded
the whole assembly.
The personal appearance of the men was
shocking TO every feeling, and repulsive to
every sense. Many of them were barefoot
ed and bare-headed, and clad or rather half
Slau IA 5diuSh'o " CNciN hub anu wv oIbO
and shape. With u%ncombed hair and I'M
shayen faces, upon which the dust OF a fifty
days journey appeared to have settled, they
gazed l~istlessly on, Of the windows OF the
cars, as if life were not worth to them the
lifting of a finger for its preservation. Theil
scanly clothing was torn and ragged, anC
their coarse shirts as dingy as it God haC
never watered by his showers any other croJ
of cotton, except that from which they werl
woven, and, as if in this broad land, Their,
were no springs of bright, sparkling water
or rivers pouring down the purifying ele
ments Of nature to the ocean.
Their bodies were emaciated by suffering
and hunger, and their blood shot eyes an
sunken cheeks appealed in mute but expires
sive language against the deep and damnin
wickedness that had so degraded and abuse
them.
In ore of the saloon cars, we notice
stretched upon the couches, four soldiers VIII
appeared to be npon the very verge of tn
grave, their eyes were open, their lips parcf
ed with fever, and their forms wasted by dix
ease 10 skeletons. In another car lying upo
the floor upon a little straw were FIVE or 81
more in the same hopeless and pitiable col
dition. They had been all day, and for man
DAYS before, lying in the same position, III
filth aecumulating upon their clothes an
persons, until the stencil had become abst
iutely insupporiable. None of the soldier
had eaten anything since morning, though
was then late in the afternoon, and SO VOL
out and exhausted did they seem from priv
ton and hanger, that their hold on life seen
ed to hang upon the slightest thread. W
saw not a smile upon the countenance of
single soldier, and. though many exchange
recognizing glances and words with expec
ant friends, there was that air of solemnit
and deep.toned sadness about thGm such q
people are wont to exchange over the cofir
Of their dearest friends, when dust is con
mitled to its kindred dust.
Wha, . pummeuisy waf !his apoa d