Litchfield enquirer., 1861-09-19
WHOLE NO. 1894
TEMPERANCE MOVEMENT IN THE
 FOURTH CONN. REGIMENT

The following is a record of the proceedings of a temperance meeting of the 4th Connecti cut Regiment at Camp Kennedy, near Freder- ick, Md, Sunday, Sept. 1st, 1861. It is one of the most gratifying movements that we have been permitted to record for long time An incorporate man makes anything but good sol dier. and never should be commissioned as an officer;
 The meeting was called to order by Chaplain E.SA. Walker and Lieut.. Col. White was elect ed Chairman and Sergeant Twining of Compa- ny A, was elected Secretary.
 Col. White, upon taking the chair, said that the pledge now in circulation was not strong enough, and wished for something more bnd- ing. The pledge which had been in circulation was as follows:
 We the undersigned, members of the Fourth Regiment Connecticut Volunteers, desiring to promote the welfare, good character and eff ciency of our regiment, by every means in our power, do hereby pledge ourselves to abstain from all intoxicating drinks, except when neces. sary as a medicine, so long as we are connected with the regiment"
 It was objected to in this form because the exception left too great an opportunity for vio- lating the spirit of the pledge. Col. White substituted the following oath, which he admin tered with uplifted hand to the regiment:
 Il do solemnly swear, that so long as 1 am connected with this regiment, will not touch or taste drop of intoxicating drink, unless by the advice of one of tho surgeons of the regi- ment, so help me God.'
 The oath was taken by nearly all present. The meeting was addressed by Lieut. Mix of Co. l. He in the course of his remarks appealed to the men not to wait for their officers, but to shame them by coming forward and showing Shat they, at least, were men of principle.
 Capt. Sipprell of Co. K followed, advocating the movement.
 The pledge, as altered to coincide with the oath administered, was then presented to the meeting the chairman first signing it, and fol- lowing its signature with remarks urging the ne- cessity of this step upon all present.
 After the presentation of the pledge, while the regimental band was playing, quantity of tracts furnished the regiment by the American Temperance Union were distributed
 Sergeant Hubbard of Co. F, a son of tempe rance, was then called, and made a strong sen sible speech, testifying to the great advantages which he had derived from being strictly tempe rate, and citing many instances of the evil ef- fleets of intemperance which had come under his observation in the regiment.
 Lieut.. Turner of Co. H., was then called up- on He declined speaking at length, but said he had signed the pledge and should stick to it.
 l4euC. ol CO. II, IOllOWeu III q lew remarks in favor of the movement. It was sta ted in the meeting that with the exception of single corporal, all the officers and most of the men Of Co. II. had signed the pledge.
 Lieut.. llammon of Co. f, being called, urged the subject upon the attention of the regiment, in earnest. forcible language, giving his own ex- perlence since joining the regiment, and stating his strong resolution to keep the pledge.
 Major Birge being called on, said" Mr. Chairman, nly speech is written in the pledge on the paper lying before you, and my name is signed to it."
 After another piece by the band, tho chaplain reminded the regiment, in view of the approach ing pay day. that all money put into his hands would be forwarded to New Haven. and depos- tied in the Savings Bank. and urged the men to save their money rather than to scatter it through the various avenues by which we are surrounded.
 The meeting was here closed with benedic- tion. A. H. WINNING, Sec'y, Co. A.