Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-03-05
"REMINISCENCES
on Augusta in the Early Days Of the WaI
As Related by Col. H. g. Staples.

A. the csmp FIRE Of Seth Williams Pos
rbr.!,y evening Coi,neI Henry 9 Slap e.
,ha VS. foremost 10 mastering msa "a
the War Of the Rebellion, read before tn
,oc. payer on Augusta in the early dsy
,,,hs rr." Through his permission tn
yorsSAL il enabled to print portions Of thi
,.,v tnts,es;iag coIieciion Of "reminiscences
,,th. piping ho. times in the capital 0
Maine ia 81.
In opeping the colonel SAID
There yas lots Of fun in Augusta 10 tn
4.,,of 81 when We boys we're pfeparin,
10 20 10 .E.
81 have oftes heard it said Of Maine
uliti. that j. was composed Of ''noihin,
IN. bo7,.' yet in 1861 We were Just such
,oz,., they. Comssdes, If We sant to ses
oa,,slys, - We we're then only in mildel
..s,ss. We bavs only TO observe the sc;io,
a, those boys during the State muster ADD
tn.yios VIA. they would be in time Of war
A. Tho smoke Of burning Sumter vas roll
s,,.y. the Ere Of Indignation WAS fun
,n.ly turning } Northern heafi.-Aaguita
-, I'M. state Il fern en,-tben bryan ths
al. Of rshtags compNy OF volunteers.
20, Sardsr. ApT,l Iih, the writer paid
h,rp.psct. to GJ7rra2r Wssahnra, VIII
then boarded Al he house d J9sba, L,
Hath on sac street. COZ occupied
b. !. 4. Hsndee. \ prep swim va,
made 10 he Goyerto' I'D HI. c.ia-
"a. .sset The p'onp. reply -.
,o,sa recruiting ,t'i % ~ o5c.. / give
sou faIl authority 10 90 on repor; your
ling, 10 ne and vii see hat they are
l,y,l.z.d 3. soon IS We cSn arrange matters
4. the .dIagsal genera tN;t vhicil we
hail nr,ceed 10 do wilhou; deisT. We
,b,Il certainly have a three months war.
7, -. month, time vel bring this bushes,
to 10 end
.'On Monday April 18th, ATecI uiting Office
"a op,ned 10 WOO len building occupied
b7 is HeLdse, photograp her, situsted
,bsre now stands the Augusta National
Rank. and known IS Granite Hall. About
hi. tine enc tement ran high So fresh
ts,ryrsm. were paced Cpon the bull
s,in boards. The ar was filed With
,um3r.. Bu.iae. Of ali kinds Was neg
Isetsd. War vas the talk OF the town.
The music oi the Bfe and drum eniivened
the ,csre at recruiting head quarters add
drew A crowd at the entrance. Al classes
vs,e rsu,esenled The rebellion vas to be
crushed 10 30 isys time By the most ou'
.poksp and il they couldn't do ii then
selves they had s relative who could. The
n.y At homes we're full Of advice to these
,ho we're hating between two opinions.
Tho,e who bad the courage TO step up
badly and enlist we're reCkoned as heroes
Who had nesrly severed the bond that
bound them to earth. friends and home.
They were very soon the cen.er of little
ci,rle. .ll sbou. town. At the time no
mao though. OF bounty.
The re.ly enlisted men who ware not
living near by we're 4usrtered at Jesse
Wilson's now the Franklin House, at the
ssu end 81 the kennebsC bridge, the over
ao~ loesng in private houses near by.
W.sn that lively plsce The fumes Of
tobacco we're binding. It's corridors re
sounded with mlrth at times. la very tim
bs,, ,h.yergI As wave follows ssound
ever Of revelry by high! came gently stealing
the PLACID bosom Of ihs Kennebec audible
to mar weary listener on the wes'ern
slope The landlord had MORE business
than he could comfortably manage and his
patience was ,ufely tried. The roll of The
company Was complete about April 18th.
After sitting procets it numb cred l0l cap
tans. no lriysies. Inc carnival OF fur
hal attained its height when it became nee
sssary to settle down to business. An
orgsnz.,ion was ID a. concert Hall.
The meeting was presided over by Col
Miller Of the Governors stall The
- greatest enthusiasm prevailed, The COM
piby then became part of the
militia and were subj'c; to mill
ury hv and discipline though il re
CURED much ma and patience to impress
i, upon youthful minds nder the new
order Of iblngs the city assumed rather
more of & military air, The company
drilled both indoors sra out 81 stated hours.
Concert Hall was used as an s'mory. Dur
ius oil thi, time the sdiutans generals d
par.ment was hard st work to furnish the
much needed clothing. To US IT seemed
like an age in coming. especially to those
whose clothes were thresdbNe, in some
cases even out At the seat. |. seemed AZ
cPporlune time 10 create sensation.
counc Of wNvss held AMI It vas srrsnged
to svper on parade for the first time in
Uniform. At TIE appointed hour they
marched through the streets 10 the State
House, each with a csudsl appendsge OF
white With serious faces and finn mill
tGy bearing they were brought TO
halt in the rear Of the Capitol, faced
to the front and shlut, AID mrchicg
around the building several times elected
great applause. IL was = most ludicr0us
nsh, and had the de, red feet bringing the
dft ios.slmert Of shirts, slight improve
meut ever ragged untidy clothing. Many
Of the good people Of Augusta took an &c
tive personal interest in the Few company
aiding sud encouraging in every possible
way. The vtm,n were coustin, visito's
caring for the sick, and txsring over all
hat kindly. motherly, sympathetic inilu-
suce thsl fjlilwed our h1ys through all the
Ticrsstules Of ~sr, tia: u1solied Itself
from time II time in the good work of II e
Name agency for six an wyu .ded-tl
Christian Commission tue Sisters Of Charity
a'dto the present time in the Ladies Ra!ief
Carps-co nIsiss We are shad)wed thue
tom the Grade to the grave. Crows
o. people were OF the streets daily
10 gather il the Bess sni witness
The drill and everitg pusdss, which
eecame more interesting after the
anitoim. srrJved and the company had a.
famed proficiency in drill sni military beN
ing. About this time secord company
'" raised by Moss b Lskensn alter
vnds colonel. Perfect harmony existed