Daily Kennebec journal., 1881-09-13
An Eventfal Day Of Arrival and
Preparation.
Tents Pitched and Camp Fires Lie,. \
On the State Grounds.
"eep''g Skies Pour their watery Welcome
Upon the Advance Guard.
a 0ao 6eginning Always Makes O
Good Ending"
SCENEs AT CAMP PLAISTcn


''n"ay dawned inauspiciously. The skies
we're ieaden colored and waterv No, ,;e
eouiu oe seen in the whole canopy.
"e "eather report in the Journal was eager.
scanned by thousands of readers. but its
ambiguity puzzled and perpIexed them. A,
haif' past eight o'clock drops of rain be,. %
patter down. Notwithstanding the disagree.
aoie weather, at an early hour the streets
ieadihs to the State grounds began to wear
an animated appearance Heavily loadsd
wagons, laden with terts. poles. bund,es
ana camp equipage and accessories, moved
through the mud and rain to the field. Sopads
OF soldiers, detailed to erect the tents for
their companies, arrived on the trains. and
marched up to the State grounds where thew
reported to Major James NJ. Andrews of Bid.
deford. Division Commissary.
THE Forenoon ON THE FrEIn.
hammer, saw and axe were industriously
pied by carpenters and members of the mill
ua with rubber coats and boots. Wooden
booths began to spring up on the outskirts.
White tents began to dot the greensward. and
the canvass avenue from the State street fence
to the river began to assume a military an.
pearance. The Capital Guards we're detailed
for duty, and upon their arrival upon the
ground were ordered to assist in the erection
of tents, etc.
GENERAL PLAN OF THE FIELD.
There is no better place in Maine to hold
Muster than Augusta. Centrally situated,
easy of access from all parts of the State. with
adequate hotel accommodations, a spacious
park where the troops can be landed directly
from the railroad, it offers inducements which
no other city possesses. The large, level
field between the avenue leading to the mon
ument and the trotting park, has been moved,
and will be used as the Muster field. The
tents run in a straight line from State street
to the river. The First Regiment occupies
the eastern tents, and the Second Regiment
the western. The tents are arranged in
streets, and make quite little city. There
is space of 80 feet between the First and Sec
ond Regiment. Major General Chamberlain
has his headquarters in fine tent at the head
of the avenue leading east from the entrance of
the grounds. Around his tent are the tents for
the staff officers. Above Major General
Chamberlain's tent is large reception tent,
and west of this is the Governors tent of fancy
striped canvass. inexpensive wooden floors
have been laid in these tents, and in the ma
jority of tents on the field. This will add
much to the comfort of the men, and will pre-
vent them from contracting colds and rheu-
matism to which they would be exposed if
they bivouaced upon the water-soaked earth.
The CoMMIssARY.
South of quarters of the men are the tents
where the cooking for the regiments is to be
done. Each company has its own tent, pre-
sided over by a cook, and when the troops
arrive on the trains this morning they will
find a steaming breakfast awaiting them.
The bill of fare will be varied and excellent,
and delicacies from home will add variety
to the young soldiers menu.