Litchfield enquirer., 1861-05-09

naturelly arise from the eqmpping and drilling of volunteers, and that's getting to be an old story. Yours, &c
 QuINNIP1AcK.
 P. s. Since writing the above have learned that the Secretary of War has telegraphed to the Governor, ordering him to send three Regiments to Washington immediately. Two will undoubt- edly be sent at once, but the third which is quartered at Hartford, will be delayed some time in making preliminary arrangements.
 
 NEW HAVEN, May 7th, 1861.
 DEAR ENQUIRER Various reports which have been widely circulated of late respecting the privations and hardships of the troops now quar- tered here, are, and have been from the first, the merest humbug. Amid the confusion and inex- perience always attendant upon the campment of raw troops, some of the companies seem to have wasted the food given them, and then charged the resulting insuficiency upon the head of the Commissary. The complaint was echoed and exaggerated by certain parties who had been dis appointed in bidding for the contract for supplies, and so the report has gone abroad that Connect icut is starving her militia. The fact is that they have been constantly supplied with more than the regular army rations. that most of the men have been perfectly satisfied, and that those who complained are now finding out that the difficulty was occasioned by their own negligence and inexperence. Your readers will do we'll to !, from time to time be circulated and extensively believed in community unused to military af- fairs. To the eyes of unsophisticated civilians many things may seem great abuses, which are really in the highest degree necessary to the dis cipllne and efficiency of the service, many things may seem true that to military man are prima ffacie false, and much will seem due to incompe- tency which will be found the result of inevitable necessity. Be sure that Connecticut, which has given to this war the largest sum, in proportion to her resources, of any of the States, will look well after the welfare of her sons; and don't be- lieve that any officer would be so insane as to impair the efficiency of his force by withholding any comfort which it is in his power to supply.
 The Second Regiment c. V. went into camp at Brewstcr's Park, yesterday, in the midst of a pouring rain. They are a sturdy set of men, among them are the famous New Haven Grays, and two fine companies from Litchfield County, and if they stand the exposure of last night, may be considered as fit for any of the hardships of campaign life. They are commanded by Col. Terry, gentleman much beloved for his kind and manly qualities, besides an officer Of known ability. A splendid set of colors will be present ed to them by the ladies of New Haven before their departure.
 The First and Second Regiments will leave this city in a steamer for Washington on Thurs, 1 day, if possible, or on Friday at the farthest. It is probable that the Third and Fourth will immediately be summoned here to take their places, as Col. Loomis the U. s. Agent for Con- place for mastering them.
 The War-spirit docs not abate in the least, and almost every man capable of bearing arms is en- rolling himself in some one of the numerous or ganizations for military drill and duty. A full company has been formed ill each class in Yale College and the College ground is filled with in numerable dril-squads marching and counter marching. About 300 of the substantial citizens have organized C Home Guard" not with the idea of remaining at home necessarily, but of practising and drilling here till their services are required elsewhere. have yet to see the first man whe is not ready to serve if needed. l "The nlunifcent offer'' of Col. Colt of Hart ford to supply regiment with his revolving rifles, is not perhaps fully appreciated here, owing to little circumstance connected with those weap. ons which somewhat impairs their value. It has been discovered that after three of the five car tridges have been discharged the breech becomes so heated that the other two explode spontane- ously, thus blowing off the hand of the man who is taking aim, and also shooting in the head any of the front rank who may be near the piece. It is also found that many of those rifles which were to have been sold to the Egyptian Government, but were most opportunely(?) transferred to our troops, will not work at all, and accordingly they have been all discarded, and the regulation mus- ket substituted. More anon, f