The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1883-04-19

gallant. These flags will be turned over
to the Adjutant General of the State on
their arrival Mt the Capital and new ones
will be given for their other conflicts as
veterans"
As the train passes each station cheers
are given by the patriotic crowds, and a
hearty response is given by the military
train. At one station an anti-War poll
tician is seen and makes some disparag-
ing remarks concerning the "boy in
blue" It does not take long to put q
quietus on this man, and cheers for the
army and the navy are repeated with
will. During the night, perhaps, the
train crosses the state line and a few of
the boys are reminded that their station
is the next. As these good fellows bid
goodbye to their colonel and captain
they are reminded to assemble at the cap
ital city in Is days from date, when they
will leave for the front. It would do
your heart good to hear those farewells.
uttered; "God bless you;" make every
minute count" "Be sure and seal the
bargain with Nancy Jane;" "Don't let
any secesh fellow insult you" "Stick up
for the old Nineteenth" etc. And these
sentences are now repeated all along the
remainder of the route, and ere long the
eight coaches AMI the last of tie regi-
ment is at home.
Sometimes the furloughed regiment
all remained in a body until they
reached the capital of the state: When
this occurred there was always great re-
joicing. These soldiers were met at the
depot by the Fire Department, secret
organizations and 1.-The citizens general
ly" Fathers and mothers, brothers and
sisters and sweethearts were all at the
station, each one ready to have the first
kiss. Oh, yes, and there were many a
father and mother present at these greet
ings who had one or two boys in that
regiment when it left the state, but
whose bodies are now among the UNI
ground. Yet their patriotism was more
than their sorrow, and such hearts only
regretted that they had no other to take
their places.
On these occasions the cars are soon
emptied and the remnant of the regi-
ment forms into line with much more
alacrity than it did when almost I'M
drilled they bravely marched out of the
city. The old national and state flags
are unfurled, and as soon as the multi
tude behold these threads such cheers
were never heard in that region before.
The story of these flags had been de-
scribed by many a letter, but now they
were seen and if there was ever idol
worship it was on the return of these
regiments. The regiment soon moves,
amid the booming of cannon and the
ringing of bells.
"Did you ever see ouch marching?"
says an old soldier of the Mexican war.
II guess that is what the boys call the
Chickahominy STEP" says another.
"Don't Bob look Handsomely" says one
blushiDg maiden.
"Who would ever thought that any
one could make soldier out of Jim
Long, and now see, he is carrying one
of the flags"
AS the column marched through the
streets cheer upon cheer greeted the
regiment, The public buildings were
all decorated with flags and tri-colored
bunting, while most Of the private resi-
dences bore some mark of loyalty,
A bountiful collation. was generally
furnished the boys, and it was NO unin-
teresting part of the programme to
watch and see what havoc they made of
the good things set before them. No
one had dyspepsia in those days, and
nothing was too good for those men who
had lived uncomplainingly for three
years on the government ration.
Speeches and toasts and hearty CONVEX
sation and good cheer followed the din
ner. Towards evening the regiment was
dismissed and the soldiers, accompanied
by some loved one, fastened to their
respective homes. Each soldier bad his
individual welcome. Every one seemed
glad to meet him. Many soldier who
before enlistment was treated as no-ac-
count sort of man is now welcomed as
a man full of pluck and backbone and
entitled to the respect of the whole COM
munity.
When the veteran reached home his
first act was generally to doff, his un-
form end luxuriate in the citizens dress.
When this was done, somehow or other
the soldier boy did not look as we'll in
the sight of his proud mother, but it was
he felt as if he was free. What a time it
is in that country home on the first night
of the soldiers return. No matter how
tired he is it was long after midnight be-
fore he was allowed to feN that old soft
bed that he had been yearnlng for SO
long a time. The neighbors came and
the veteran must tell the story of his
campaigns and then leave then unfin-
jshed at the last. Many of those who
came to visit our hero were parents who
lost their good boy in battle. How earn
estly did they listen to everything con-
nected with his army life. They must
know all about his last battle and how
he suffered and how he died. If the boy
only died as soldier should pass away,
that was all they required. They seemed
happy to know that he belonged to the
gallant Nineteenth.
At the end of twenty i've days the vet
eran is once more at the Capital, donned
in his blue uniform. The roll is called
and not one of the old men are found
absent. One or two hundred recruits
are added to the list. The state boun-
ties are paid to the veteran and the lar
ger part is sent to the old folks at home
for safe keeping. The new flags are pre-
scented to the regiment by the Governor
of tho state, and after few speeches
the regiment is aboard the train, and
amid loud and loyal cheers the veterans
of the war are again speedily moving to
the front, and many of them never to
return. When this regiment arrives at
their post another one receives its fur
Tough, and so on until each soldier re-
ceiVed what his government promised.
-0-