Morning journal and courier., 1888-12-29
ECHOES OF ,RI.
Accounts of the Sunday Memorable Tel
the Passage OF Massachusetts Troops

Accounts of tine Sunday III emOFaD1e Ter
the Passage OF Massachusetts Troops
Through This City.
At the request of many citizens we repub-
lish the accounts of the passage of Massaehu-
sets troops through this city on that memo
rable Sunday, the 21st of April, 1861. It is
an occasion remembered by great number
of our older citizens, and the welcome given
the troops was remarkable in the history Of
the city. The accounts given below were
published in the JOURNAL AND COURIER of
April 22:
MORE MASSACHUSETTS TROOPS ON TIE WING
ENTHUSIASTIC RECEPTION.
In addition to the battalion which passed
through the city on Sunday morning at one
O'Clock we had dispatches that three thou
sand more of the same troops would 60
through at about three p. m. Acting under
the enthusiasm which controls all classes
now, immense crowds were collected about
the Springfield depot to welcome them and
send them on their way with the cordial en-
dorsement of old Connecticut.
Not only was the depot crowded but the ad-
joining streets, railway bridge and the track
for long distance up the road was filled
with people.
By the foresight of Landlord AIlis of the
Union House, who was aided by several citi-
xens, pals of water with glasses were ste
toned along the stopping places, and men to
serve it out to their brother soldiers on their
arrival.
At $40 the train arrived. The New Ha-
ven band, which turned out voluntarily, well
coined it with several national airs, the
crowd cheered it, the ladies waved their
handkerchiefs, and the Massachusetts, men
with joyous looks returned the salutes. The
troops on the train were the Fifth regiment,
Massachusetts, Volunteers, numbering about
900 men, and divided into four companies.
They were all strong, stalwart fellows, fur
nished with rife muskets, overcoats and q
good supply of ammunition.
The regimental officers were Colonel L. @.
Lawrence, Lieutenant Colonel ]. Darrell
Green, Major Fl. W. Reyes. The colonel
also commanded battalion of 800 men who
went on the Sunday morning train and q
company of flying artillery FROM Boston in a
train just behind him.
His orders are, he said, to go to Washing
ton and exercise his discretion in getting
there after leaving New York He informed
us that his regiment was ordered out only so
hours before he arrived in New Haven and
that by singular coincidence he sent his Or
ders for his companies through the historic
grounds of Lexington, Concord and Cam
bridge on the same day of the year and on
the same route that Paul Revere of Boston
summoned the Americans for the fight at
Bunker Hill.
Inc Train waited lot q cQRnge OF 1OcOmO~
tives at the depot for long time, and the
crowd passed up to the cars, shaking hands
with every soldier to be seen, giving each
cordial blessing and cheering for ''Old Msssa-
chnsetts," Major Anderson, etc., while the
band played frequently the good old air of
our country.
The troops received their welcome most
cordially and pledged themselves to maintain
the honor of the American flag.
AS the train moved out of the depot the
troops had to shake a continuous line of
hands extended by those fortunate to get
within reach of the cars. They also respond
ed to the cheers and music, by waving BAN
ners and handkerchiefs, cheers and cap
throwing, and the assurance that old Massa-
chusetts was only beginning to turn out.
Owing to the length of the train it moved
slowly, and was not expected to reach New
York before eight O'Clock, when the colonel
will act upon his own discretion as to his
march to Washington.
The Fifth regiment is composed Of compa-
MES in Middlesex county and Boston, COM
prising Concord, Lexington and Charlestown.
The Charlsstown companies were armed with
Minnie rifles with the Maynard primer, and
each man had also a small Colts revolver,
presented by the printers of Boston. The
officers of the regiment and many of the men
were also armed with revolvers.