Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-11-26

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STREET SCENE IN EARLY DAYS OF THE WAR.
this transpred while the two companies
from the writer's county were yet in citi-
zen's dress and eating the food of civil life.
Already, however, had each member taken
an oath before a justice of the peace to
support the constitution and laws Of the
United States.
The little round OF routine ut the county
seat-of eating, sleeping and imperfect
drill-was varied one evening by social
gathering in the body Of the courthouse,
at which all the soldiers and many citizens
and ladies were present One young lady
sang with much effect the piece thcn just
published, in which are the words:
brave boys are they, gona NJ their cOuntry's
call,
"And yet, and yet we Gao rot forgot Aat many
brave boys must fa'i"
The song made even tHN more thoughtless
of the newly-enIisted think seriously of tho
new and dangerous duties upon which they
were about to enter.
AS before stated, an order had been re-
ceived directing the companies upon an
early date in September to report at lit
tie city forty milos distant.
AS the time for departure 4drcw near
every man visite / home for the last time,
and final arrangements were made for long
absence.
Then the adieus were said and all once
more came together at tho county seat.
But sad and fearful woro those adieus as
father, mother, brother, sister or wife took
the parting one by the hand, none knowing
how soon he would fall in wars frightful
harvest of human life.
At the appointed time friends, neighbors
and relatives came with wagons, and early
one fine September morning tho vehicles
were loaded with hearty specimens of
young manhood, ind the journey over a
dusty road to the railway, twenty miles
distant, Yves begun.
Three or four mics on tho road was a
hill, where the procession for some cause
halted for a time.
From here The writer remembers taking
look ct the r5-house and church spires
behind, thinking may be this was the last
time he would ever see them.
At about noon lie railway station was
reached and all boarded the passenger
train that soon arrived. To many of the
younger men the experience was new as
they were never before inside q railway
cara statement that may sound strange
to the rising generation, but quarter of
a century ago railroads were much less
common than now.
After travelling on the cars for twenty
or thirty miles the men got of and marched
seven miles across the country to the little
city of their destination. The afternoon
was hot, the roads were dusty, and the
writer remembers suffering much discom-
fort from pair of new, tight-ftting shoes
he had put on that morning for the first
time.
Indeed the discomfort amounted almost
| to torture, and for this reason Gh.a trip of
| seven miles proved one of the hardest
marches in the whole three years. service.
Arrived at the little city, the men were
| directed to the fair grounds, where, under
the sheds in the horse and cattle stalls,
they found quarters. An abundance OF
| bright, clean straw had been provided
| upon which, with the blankets and quilts
brought from home, sleeping places weyo
made. The grounds were inclosed wttA 4
high, tight-board fence, and within were
| green with thrifty grass while scattered
| about We're groves Of shade trees. The
September weather was delightful, and the
| novelty of the new way Of living with its
| pleasant surroundings was most en- Joy abba.
However, there was one DIRT rTbask
meals were taken at the boardiR & houses
| in the city; these were all run by Ger
mans, and the taste and fumes of garlic
i seemed to permeate every article OF food
on the table. 1t was, Of course, in all the
meats, in many OF the vegetables; but
every man would have taken oath that &
was in the bread, coffee, and even in the
salt and sugar as well.
Nearly all took severe colds from sleep
ing in the open air.
Only about ten days werc spent at thil
place when the men were ordered to the
State capital, Springfield, Ill. St Louis
was reached by rail, when steamboat
was taken for Alton, Ill here after night
the men boarded train Of coal-cars, boards
having been put across for seats. The ride
was any thing but pleasant, those sitting
near the outer edge Of the car seemed In
constant danger of falling overheard, ant
the smoke, cinders ana sparks from the
engine were tormenting in the extreme.
After awhile Springfield was reached
meantime a little rain had begun TO fall
and the men found shelter as best theJ
could. The writer, with a companion
night on the stone steps-over which wa
a projection-of friendly church building
near the railway depot.
Next morning breakfast was found q
the hotels. During the forenoon the writel
with several comrades visited the late res
idence of President Lincoln, gathered some
flowers from the yard and sent them home
as a souvenir.
About noon the cars were taken fol
Camp Butler, seven miles east of Spring
field Here was found an Enclosure o.
about forty acres, having around it a higi
tight-board fence. Near the sides of the
Enclosure were rows of long, narrow build
ings-barraclks. At one end were the OH
GERS, commissary and quartermaster de
partments; ct the other end the guard