Litchfield enquirer., 1871-09-14
THE ARTILLERY EXCURSION.

THE ARTILLERY EXCURSION. - =.
 We make the following. clippings from letters printed in the Bridgeport Standard: - . NORFOLK. r,.. ts-. '7S
 As soon as the gang plank was thrown up- on the dock, their came quite number of citizens on deck with the inquiry, l''Did the Connecticut boys come on this boat?" l answered that there were quite number of the Nutmeg fellows on board and I learned from the citizens that the Norfolk papers had published that Regiment of Connecticut aailitia were to visit that place by the steamer Wyanoke! We did not answer exactly to that announcement, but some of the citizens took charge of us, nevertheless, and escorted us abont the place, showing everything that was worth looking at. The city has population of about 20, ,OOO,l eve rything looks quite in business way, and stones of many of the streets There are three papers published there, one of which is republican journal. I made inquiry as to the prices of various articles, and found that four was from $5 to $11 barrel; team hire two dollars per hour, and la5or, from secenty 1tre cents 10 one dollar per dag! tt
 
 To-day Aug. 21st) we visited some por- tions of the old lines, and also the position which the 2nd Artillery threw up with their bayonets, and in fact anything which could move shovel full of earth. It was the night of Sunday, June 19, 1S64 We had moved down bank and relieved the 11th Connections, and were separated by wheat field from the enemy. We had to make our own covering and as spades were few, we used coffee pots. bayonets, hands--any- thing in fact that would move dirt, and worked all night and in the morning had completed our defenses. Here we remain ed all day and lost many men. Monday evening we were relieved by the 8th Con- necticut, and were removed to another part of the line. The place of course was very interesting to us and we spent long time in looking over it and calling up the mem orles of those trying times. We have pick ed up many mementoes of the place, such hs7e mlnn.s 5az M giffe f6p6$ y af 6f a and nahot the one l carry on my shoulders)
 We left the hotel at 9:30 A. M., to-d day Aug. 22) and it required eight hacks to convey our party. We visited the left of our old line, opposite the right of the Con- federate, and found the same we'll we used to get water from, just at the foot of the Compsny's street. The well, built by us to give us the necessary supply, is kept in running order by an old darkey, who lives in one of our soldier huts, and is cultivat ing cotton, which now thrives upon the same ground where we were encamped for three months. Hundreds of acres of corn are growing all about the vicinity of Grants lines, so far as we have explored, and I sup pose you know why corn should grow bet ter there than in any other place in the South. Most of it is of grand growth, and two large ears on each stalk is the common proportion. They plant about the same dis tance apart here that the Northern farmers do, but only allow one plant to stand in a hill. Fort Wadsworth is in good state of preservation, taking into consideration that everything moveable (except the earth thrown up), has been taken away. We have seen as yet but one plantation with any fence at all about it, all being. as gen. eral thing, one vast field. We visited the U. S., cemetery at Poplar Grove, where lie 6, lS7 soldiers. Of these ninety-two were Connecticut soldiers.
 COLD HARBOR. -.
 After seeing the sights of Richmond, the party started on the 25th, for Cold Harbor.
 The Cold Harbor Cemetery contains about 2.500 U. s., soldiers. We here noted quite number of our regiment which were killed in our charge, June 1st, 1864. Here was trench where were buried 568 un- known U. S., soldiers. -'-1
 The battle field looked very natural, al- thongh it is now covered with corn. A member of New York cavalry regiment bought 75 acres of the field one year ago at SIP per acre. He employed three of his com rades to help in cultlvating his 75 acre farm and running country wagon and smith shop. The boys scattered here and there each in search of piece of shell or minnie ball as a relic of the battlefield. It was no trouble to find them, as they lay ground thick, even after the inhabitants have pick ed up tons of it for which they realize quite an amount by selling to the manufacturer A gentleman in the iron business informed us that at this time, most of the iron used around his works, was taken from the bat tie fields. Quite number of bones were collected here and buried upon the field. We drank from the same spring, where so many of our men used to get hit in trying to obtain that which onzy will quench thirst We reached Richmond at eight clock. P. M, after sad but very interesting trip.
 NORFOLK AGAIN.
 On their return to Norfolk the regiment fell into the hands of committee of citi- zens, and visited the Portsmouth Navy Yard. They then visited Fortress Monroe where they were received by Gen. Barry, dined at the Soldiers Home and danced af- terwards. Capt. Marsh and Adiutant Vaill each received a cane as memento of the satisfaction taken by the party in the ex- pedition those gentlemen had organized.
 FINANCES.
 At meeting held on board the Bell, by the members of the excursion party, our fi- nancier Capt. B. w. Marsh reported the to- tai amount received, and the items of dis. bursements which shows that the general fund was Dr., to each member ninety cents; report accepted with great applause. With some it was great mystery how Capt. Marsh could have given us so many hack rides and return money from the general fund. Now you who want great recreation at the small expense of $34, TO-, go and do likewise s@s 1as s-.as1sfss