Waterbury evening Democrat. [volume] (Waterbury, Conn.) 1887-1895, 1890-11-28


every way pleasantly located. Here tents
were put up, huts built by some, and about
| two weeks Of beautiful November weather
spent most pleasantly.
A line OF guards encircled the camp at
night to break the men in and enforce dis
| cipline as much as any thing, perhaps On
this duty one Of the men accidentally dis
charged his piece and the bullet passed
| through his foot. This was the first gun
shot wound in the history of the regiment.
Upon leaving the barracks at Camp But
Ter each company broke up into Hnesses COM
posed of from eight to fifteen men who
drew their rations in common and did
their cooking together.
Nearly every day the regiment went
out on dress pdrGde-a term that to the nom
military reader needs explanation.
TO participate in this, each man, before
falling in ranks, was required to have his
uniform in good order, his accouterments
in neat trim, his gun and metallic append
ages bright-then the regiment in line
marched to some convenient level, open
space, and went through the manual of
arms, and, so to speak, displayed itself to
the very best advantage.
One day the regiment selected for its
place OF parade an open space near public
highway, parallel with and facing which,
it was drawn up. Some military exercises
had just been gone through and the men
were standing easily at parade rest, when
turnout passed along the road within
Few feet OF them that was new to North.
ern eyes, but afterwards frequently seen
in the South during ar-times.
An old dilapidato1 family carria ge that
looked as though it might have seen serv.
ICE since the Revolutionary period, drawn
by large, dark-colored, raw-boned horse.
only skeleton in fact, and a little, old,
mouse-co!ored donkey; upon these were
Gn rpHs Of old hornacs
were some shabby eli relics of silver
mounting. Mounted on the box with rope
lines in his hands was an old gray haired
darby, who sat upright and dignitied, an
old and very high plug hat on his head and
his person attired in the antiquated re-
mains of coachman's livery. Within the
carriage was man and woman.
The whole outfit was so ridiculous to
Northern eyes that a hearty laugh went
along the line followed by a shout that was
participated in by thousand voices.
At this period but few negroes lived in
rural sections of the North, and most of
these had comparatively regular features,
out 1t was soon observed that very many
OF their brethren of the South had reccd-
ing foreheads, immense mouths, exceed
ingly thick lips and fiat, shapeless noses.
After remaining about two weeks in
camp, orders camo one day to occupy Fort
Pickering, just below the city
Like nearly all localities for any time
occupied by troops, unless extraordinary
precautions are taken, this post was filthy
and repulsive in the extreme.
Meantime snow fell, cold weather came
on, and Ume most unpleasant days were
passed, and, to make matters worse, the
health of many began to fail.
The writer, with his mess numbering
about eight persons, occupied a Sibley
tent not far from the river bank
A Sibley tent is round at the base, hav-
ing in its middle a center pole towards
which the canvas slopes from every di-
rection, forming perfect cone.
The location of this tent on the high bluff
next the river gave the wind full sweep.
and the swaying of the canvas and flapping
OF the ropes was any thing but pleasant, es-
pecially at night
Fort Pickering was at this period sur
rounded by earthworlzs with cannon all
along at proper intervals. At the date of
occupancy the works were constantly being
strengthened by the use Of the spade and
shovel. Most of this work was done by me-
groes, who were fed and paid by the Gov
ernment
After time came an order for the regi
ment to do patrol duty in the city This
nccessitated the breaking UP Of the regi.
ment into squads, who for the time found
quarters and did duty in various parts
Of the city.
The company TO which the writer be-
longed found quarters in a large brick
block not far from the river. In this build.
ing were holes made by cannon shot
thrown during the naval engagement the
9Th of June previous.
Various were the duties performed; at
one time it was guarding steamboat at
the wharf; at another, goods at the levee;
again, II was standing in the rain some
dark night at some cherries corner, for