The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1882-01-05
Written for the Republican Journal.l
Sketches of Army Life.
NUMBER ONE



broad seal and grand motto of the State of Maine,
and the great crowds upon the streets Justify
cheered The stalwart boys from the old Pine Tree
State At the wharf embarked upon the "Mer-
rimac," government steamer Of something over
1900 tons burden. We had hardly taken posses
sion OF our quarters between decks, when we
heard the sound of drums and the loud cheers OF
the people upon the wharf-and the Both Massa-
chusetts regiment, gallant body of men, 200 in
number also embarked on the ''Merrimac,' and
became our intimate neighbors. The two regi-
ments, including officers, numbered some 2,3OO
men and occupied every square foot of the space
afforded in the steamer. Preparations for our de-
parture were rapidly made; the plank was pulled
in the lines cast off, the great engine began
to throb with fiery life, and we glided down the
harbor-I knew not where With moist eyes and
heart strangely throbbing, stood III the midst of
the crowd pressed against the rail of the steamer
and looked at Boston, now fast receding from view.
| saw not the lofty domes and spires of the great
city. | noticed not the great business blocks Gov
ering SO many square acres. heard not the rush
and ham of traffic that tell upon the ear like the
music of distant waterfall 1 thinking of.
and seemed TO see, like picture on the distant
sky, great forest q small clearing the hill side
a little cottage home and circle of dear friends
as they stood with fearful eyes to say good bye,
when | had taken my departure from home, A
sickly sensation came creeping over my heart
great lump gathered IN my throat; but Just at
that moment a sergeant, who sat on a high pile Of
baggage, began to read paper just purchased in
Boston 1t contained the condensed kilograms Of
The preceding week - kilograms that had sent
mourning and CONSERVATION all through the loyal
North.
Major General John Pope succeeds GeneralMc-
mae "A terrible battle has been fought on the
old battle field of Bull Run in which the Union
forces have been dIsastrously defeated and are re
treating upon Washington "A terrific encounter
between the right Of Pope's army and Stonewall
Jackson at Char,iHy, twenty miles from Washing
ton, il which the Cnionists are defeated Gen
eral Stevens and brave Phil Kearney are among
the slain" lee stll advancing" w ashington
is in danger" The war to be transferred to
Northern soil
1t would be difficult to describe the emotions of
the listeners as the news read \ of the
old Bay State from the hills of Berkshire climbed
up in the rigging of the steamer and cried Three
cheers for old Abe and at least thousand
voices responded to the call Three more were
proposed for Little Mac y" and then three times
three for the red. white and blue" Men cheered
until they were hoarse the air was filed with fly
ing caps and the good steamer "Merrimac' shook
from EN- to stern
Thus began my first voyage on the ocean. Every
thing was new and exciting to my boysh vision.
The steamers space between decks had been filed
with rude hunks, and in those slowed
until every square toot of space was occupied.
| and then hundreds Of men compelled to re
man on deck The first night was one of unneees
sary anxiety. Several ru1nors were firing. The
lower hold was said to be filed with powder and
munitions of war, ard One Of the confederate
| privateers had been seen cruising in the vicinity
| aithin short time and should probably be
captured or blown to the stars By their firing
| shell into the magazine under our feet Some
| one wondered what we should do if the boat
should strike a rock and 20 down The steamer
| rolls il the sves Of the ocean There Is the
The atmosphere grows thick and foul Sleep re-
fuses to ccme to ny relief At ast all is still save
the rumble of the machinery and the tramp Of
| feet overhead All are sleeping suddenly there
is fearful crash Fifty voices shout She has
| struck a rock Fifteen hundred men spring from
| their hunks and with a mighty surge rush for the
gaugway. The panic is terrible. Men push, swear
crowd, strike and rush on; but to our horror the
! hatch is fastened down and there is no escape
Some one for the first time discovers the cause Of
! the alarm The beat had moi struck a rock but a
/ ong tier Of hunks Lsecurely tas euel, had fallen
| upon the tiers below and all had gone down to-
sether A general laugh followed the discovery
all declaring that they had not been frightened
aud We return TO our rest wiser and hope braver
| men Thus davs and nights passed. The weather
| was fine, and the ocean like sea of glass Through
the days we studied the ever changing sea dotted
| here and there with snowy sails, and watched the
| flight of the birds and the playing ot the ish At
night we dreamed of home aud flends, or of the
| scenes OF carnage toward which we were hasten
ing On the morning OF September 18th, our
steamer drew up to wharf at the cltE Of AteSau-
| dna. Virginia, seven miles below Washington At
this point the Potomac river is q u.i.e in width,
t,.t,.u a. l,.. (, ,.t, a., ga H..
anu IL 'D'' - w ,''0 N->' 90
| ehoTage The landing was made and our regl-
nent disem barked and stood for yhs first time up
~, ,5, ~ ,,,ro,, ,;l f y-,r,i,io
,,.,,..,
Alexandra was c't9 ot some I@'VVV lnhaoI-
tauts at the breaking out of the war, and was of
,,, ,,ort,l ,oro,al ,,,,,,r+,,,ca 4, rbis t;,,,
/ IL was occupied oy a smai! l hl'n IoFce anu 'he
stars and stripes we're wing from several public
| bniIdiros We were to re,n,in tor a short time
ana so went "iIH 10 explore tue utSt o"u'neIA
! town we had ever seen. 1t was an old, dilaPl-
| datad town Darkias dirt and damora1izatioD met
,..
| lhe eye III over! o1'V''on' 1"ei0 VERY Out 4e"
| places Of interest to visit The most important
| ,,as tho ..\IarchaU uo7sa " from which Col + F
| EItsrnrth Te,,0Tad lta sccassi1n fg on the a4th
| Of Nav iSEf We ac.irnhad IN tha r1of from when
| no tla,, h.d hnop ,nrr al stond On thp stars
,rk4T The blood nf be bravo natrintir colonel had
| n,Iod tr;th ,ho, ~ ~, .,oa5F,i,n,s. focLsnn A.
ra to1d ~, tbn st,irs an rnt sT,,.I 1,onas 1t,
,,I fr,, th.,, 10 L.r a,r,,, os rol,rs ula saaI,ad
IN draw an insnir,finT fr II tn Inen,nry of tha
| hr,IiIon. SnrlI.r Nm thrra ,,re III Iifa I'd his
! canntTv At ni,bt Tra encam5ed hetrern the tFo