Litchfield enquirer., 1865-02-09
nlisfellonp.
-. From our Ioatng Fo7ks.l THE BABY OF THE REGIMENT.

Island, South Carolina. It Was. a lovely No. vember morning. soft and spring-like; the mocking-birds were singing and the cotton fields stil white with heecy pods Morning drill was over, the men were cleaning their guns and singing very happily; the officers were in their tents reading still more happily their let ters just received from home. Suddenly 1 he ar a knock at my tent door, and the latch clicked. It was the only latch n camp, aud Was very proud of it. and the officers always clicked it as loudly as possible, in order to gra
 ify my feelings The door opened, and the Quartermaster thrust in the most beaming face 1 ever saw.
 ''Colone.T said he there is great news for the regiment. My wife and baby are coming by the next steamer!'
 Baby !'' said l, in engagement. % M. you are beside yourself" (We always called the Quartermaster Q.M. for shostness) "1here was pass sent to your wife. bat nothing was said about baby. Baby indeedi'
 ''But the bahy was tcluded in the pass,' replied the triumphant f,ahes-oi-a-tamiiy.- /" You don't suppose my wife would come down here without her babyl Besides, the pass IL self permits her to bring necessary baggage, and is not baby SIX months old necessary bageage?'
 ..But, my dear fellow" sad I, rather anxious ly 'how can you make the dear little darilng comf,r rtahle in tent amidst these rigors tf a South Carolina winter, when il is u,comforta- bly hot for drill at noon, and ice forms by your bedside at nieht?"
 Trust me for that" said the delighted papa. and went of wlistipg. could bear him tell ing the same news to- three oth ,rs, at least, be- fore he got te his own tent.
 hat .N b, arat hapan his abode was 7. wonder of comfort. There were posts and raiters. and a a;sed floor. and d erea, chimrey, and a door with hnges-ey . cry iuxery except latch, and that he could not have. f0i mine was the last that could be purchased One of the reeimental carpenters was employed to make cradle, and another to make bedstead high enough for the cradle to go under. Then there must be a bit of red carpet beside the b-dstead, and thas the pro grpss of splendor went on. The wife of one of the culored sergeants was engaged to act as nursery maid. She was a very resp ctahle yoang woman the only objection to her being that ste smoked pipe. But we thought that perhaps Bal,y might not dislike tobacco; and if she did, she would have excellent ol port IL mites to break the pipe m pieces.
 In due time the steamer arrived. and Baby and her mother were among the passengers. .- The little thing was soon settled in her -rw cradle. aud slept in it as if she had nepe, haown any other The seraeaut's wife gso. ha" her on exhibition through the s-shborhood, ana from that time forward ste was q'u@e httie oneen among us, SLe had sweet blue eyes and pretty bropd hair, with round dimpled cheeks, aud <that perfect dignity which is So beau,ifulm m a baby. She hardly ever cried and WIS hot at all timid. She would go to anybody, and yet did.not encourage any romp- lln. from any but the most intimate friends She always wore warm long sleeved scarlet cloak wilh a hood. and in this costume was carred or "teted." as the eolored soldiers said, all about the camp. At guard-mopnting in the morning, when the aien who are to go on guard duty for the day. are drawn up to be in. spected, Baby was always there. to help inspect them She did not say much. but she eyed them very closely, and seemed fully to appFeci ate their bright buttons. Then the officer o the day, who appears at guard mounting with his sword and sash. and ,,comes afterwards |, the Cololel's tent for orders, would come and speak to Baby on his way, and receive her or ders first. When the time came for drill, shs was usually present to watch the troops, aBo when the drum beat for dinner, she liked tc sr. the long row of men in each company marcl | tin cup and plate. During the day, in plsas ant weather. she might be seen in her nurse arms, about tte company streets. the centre c an ad,niring circle. her scarlet costume lookin, very pretty amidst the shining black cheek and neat blue uniforms of the soldiers. A
 dress-parade, just before sunset, she was aiway , an attendant. As stood before the regimen
 could see the little spot of red out ot tn
 corner of my eye, at one end Of the long In
 of men; and looked with so much intere e for her small person that, instead of saying
 the proper time, "Attention. Battaiionl Shou l. der arms Fit is a wonder that l did not ss ]. ..Shoulder bahies."
 Our little lady was very impartial. and di tributed her kind looks to everybody. She hs
 not the slightest prejudics against color, ar
 did not care in the ieast whetharh her 6articul i, friends were hlack or white. Her especial ; vo,ites. 1 think, were the little drummer boy :, who were not my favortes. by any msans f ? they were arogaish set of little scamps a,
 gave more trouble than all the grown men
 I the regiment. l think Ansi4 liked them t
 lcause they were small, and nude nolse, al
 had red caps like her hood. and they occasio
 ally stood on their heads for her amuse.ne, ! EAfe1 lress-parade the whole drum corps wos march to the great fagstaf, aud wait till ].
 snnset time. when they would beat on th' ,,I drums what is called ' tbe retreat" aud tn
 the flag would be hauled down--a great fesl
 iee Annie. Some tms1 tho sagsantM Me!