The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1857-05-15
Tor as U.s.. 4 kssssrs Jssrssi.
RENINIsCRNCES No. 4.

REAIHISCRNCES No. 4.
Mn. EpiroR: Having heretofore give
: some brief historic sketches. in relation
; incidents and events Of oldsn time. withor
any date TO guide me, save my own reco
lestion, Il only remains for me in this Nc
1 just to glance at the pastimes and holiday
Of former times. 20.
Among the farming community in th
country, in former times, but hw days 0
relaxation or holidays were enjoyed. Tn
annual May training. Thanksgiving, Fourtl
Of July, and the Fall Muster, were the onl,
days the boys could call their own.
Tho first Tuesday in May, or annual Ma,
training was q proud day; when oil th'
young men were expected to appear or
parade, Except the MANNED, tho halt, snt
the blind,) armed and equipped as the law
required. VIA musket, two spare ainu
priming wire and bru,h, knapsack and can
teen. With the officers in uniform, thu
young soldiers in their best attire, and the
musicians with their tenor and bass drum
and stirring fife, assembled many Of the
superanuated soldiers Of tho revolution, and
the boy, in the precinct, who were too young
as yet, to do military duty. There was one
essential ingredient to give spirit to these
military reviews that no officer would fail to
procure, who meant to maintain his rank
and honor, and that was four gallons Of
West India Rux. This was provided. and
held in reserve, like column Of fresh troops
in case of an emergency. After going thro'
certain evolutions and military tactics, by
marching and counter.marching, forming
lines, sections, platoons, and hollow squares,
according to old Steuben, the pals of grog
were brought forward by order Of the COM
manding officer, to treat the company, and
all the old men and If any was left, the
boys finished the remainder Of tho four gal.
Ions. remember when q boy, about l2
years old, Of refusing to como forward,
when an officer called to me saying, "come
hero you little rascal and tako your part.
or you will never become man or make q
soldier"
I rccollect at one of thcso military reviews,
q young sailor, who had just returned from
his first voyage to the West Indies, made
his appearance, dressed in his navy blue
costume. This was short blue jacket,
adorned, according to fashion Of those times,
with pearl buttons, set rs close as possible
to each other; trousers Of the same cloth,
very small around the legs, but broad at the
bottom; white cotton stockings spotted
with black; and thin shoes with low vamps
and long quarters. He was an object not
only of curiosity, but envy to th 80 who
could not compete with him in dress, and N
he walked around, in rolling, staggering
manner, some rude young men proposed to
80 to cooper's shop, which was near by,
and get some hoops to keep him from burst.
ing. No sooner said than done. But when
they attempted to hoop him he resisted, or
rather begged of. This they agreed to, on
condition that ho should make speech to
tho company gathered around to SEQ the
fun. Stepping upon log, which wa, near
by, he besan-"Shipmate' have just 70
turned from long voyage to the West In.
dies, five months ago I left Casco Bay in the
noble brig Gray Hound, Capt. Garland
master, for Martinez. We had good run
out, discharged our cargo of lumber, and
took, in return, freight of sugar, molas,es
and rum. Early one morning when in .h'
latitude of Burmuda. wc saw, about thrc'
miles OF our weather beam, q large shiI
bearing down upon us. When near enougl
to be heard. the ship hailed US, and orderet
our captain to heave to until he could CONF
on board Of us. This being done, We soor
after raw barge with twelve men leave tn
ship in the direction Of our brig. Wher
they came on board of us we found to ou
sorrow, they were press gang from th'
Angola, an English frigate of G4 guns
They were headed by IN officer, who o.
coming on board, requested our captain :
muster his crew to the quarter deck, in OF
der, as ho said, to sec II there were net som
OF his Britanic Majestys subjects on boar
of us. With this demand our Capt. CON
piled, for, you must know wc had no powc
to resist. After tho British officer had gon
through the prctcnsc of examining our mer
he said to our captain, there were two me
among our crow he must have, viz-Bo
Williams, and .im Andrews, whom he coul
prove by Patrick Fenagan, were born
Ireland, near the city Of Dublin; and thu
he, Fsnsgan, had known them from the
mothers arms. Our Captain proteste
against such procedure, and declared tha
he, and Others on board knew them TO !
American citizens, born and brought up ]
New England; and ordered their protection
brought forward. Tho British officer too
tho projections, and after looking ut thcm
,orc them up and threw the pieces Owe
board; and thon ordered our two men int
his boat. But Us they refused to 81, b
commanded his gang to ss:ss them. A
, thi, point the young sailors speech, he VI
, intcrru pied by young man, whose wa
spirit had teen aroused. in part by tho thri
ing narrative, but moro especially BY b
free use Of the four gallons Of rum-wh
cried out, by saying, "By tho powers I
Jupiter II we could bc led tins day, }
our whole soulcd captain, against these Bri
! ishcrs, we'd give EN- an awful thrashins-
we'd make daylight shine through 'cm
less than no time (; yes, yes, we'd teach e
better manners than TO tear up sailors pr
.nJ tsvu ,em nj tho mint of Al