The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1891-10-16
CONNECTICUT Over The Tince.
HOW GENERAL BUTLER DISCIPLINED 4
BODY OF RtoroUs RECRUITS.

bOD1 VT NlOlOOo NI0NGlios
When General Butler was on special
recruiting service in New England i'll
the fall Of 1851, the governor Of Con-
nccticut met him one day and told
him there was partially completed
regiment of lrishmen in camp near
Hartford, which he wished Butler would
take off his hands. Butler did so, and
sent them by rail to his own camp at
Lowell. They were a hilarious lot,
and so delayed the train that it miss
ed connection at Groton Junction, and
was detained for some hours. The men
left the train and foraged the village.
Finding barrel of whiskey, they got
gloriously drunk, and when the train
started for Lowell late in the evening,
the soldiers were lying along in the
cars ''like sardines in boxes" says But
ler in his forthcoming book. The
mayor of Lowell heard they were com
ing and wanted to swear in hundred
special policemen right away. Butler
heard Of it, and told the mayor to do
no such thing, and he would see that
there was no trouble
The train stopped beside the camp
ground, and with much difficulty the
men were pushed, led, and carried in
to the enclosure, which was surround
ed by high board fence. Here they
lay on the ground till along toward
morning, when they began stirring
about and discussing the situation. AT
length a gang Of some forty or fifty
raised the cry, "Over the fince Con-
nicticut over the fince y and making
scattering rush, they started to climb
the fence.
But no sooner did the first man
reach the top and swing over to lower
himself down, than he felt the point Of
a bayonet in what General Butler dis
cribes as the ''most probable portion
of his body With a yell, he drew
himself up again, only to discover that
his formost comrades were faring like
wise. General Butler, foreseeing an
attempt to run away, had instructed
the sentinels just what tactics to pursue.
The would-be escapers sat on the top
of the fence for few minutes, and
swore in the most vigorous Anglo-Sax-
on possible then, again warned by the
bayonet points, they dropped down on
the inside and stayed there.
In the morning the regiment was
formed in hollow square and General
Butler addressed them. He told them
that froliCking time was now over, and
that discipline hcnceforth would be
strict as a ramrod. He sent for the
sentinel who had been the first to use
his bayonet on the fence climbers, and
promoted him to sergeancy in the
presence of the regiment.
"Now," said he, tonight the senti-
nels will be instructed as they were last
night, except that instead of using the
bayonet, they will shoot. And the first
of them that kills fence climber, l
will make lieutenant
That Connecticut regiment, says
Butler, was after that one of the finest
and best disciplined he ever had. They
went with him to Ship Island, and New
Orleans. While they were on Ship Is
land, detachment of them was sent
to distant point one foggy morning.
Suddenly looming through the fog, a
body of troops appeared little way
off. Uncertain whether they were to
meet friend or foe, the men stood with
their muskets in readiness.
"Sure, believe thim's the Twenty
Sixths boys, captain" whispered a
sergent. ''Jist let ME try 'em with the
countersign, please ?"
"The countersign, Mike; What do
you mean?"
"Oh, aisy, captain; jist this" and
raising his voice, he shouted, ''Connict-
icut over the fince y
A general shout Of laughter and re-
cognition came from the other side.
The strangers were another party of
their own men, and all danger Of a
| collision was averted