Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-29

AS-k tIy VI Augusta. IL
o was beautiful
day. mere reflection of the joy in the
hearts OF the men for they were glad,
without an exception, to be once more
at home.
There was a a crowd of thousands
out to meet the boys as they returned
from the South. where they have been
since the latter part of May, anxiously
waiting the call to the front. The
crowd was not as large as it would
have been had the troops arrived, Fri
day, as was expected. or had they come
later in the day, but still it seemed
that nearly all the people of the city.
as they were getting up or going to
work, heard the shrieks of the whistles
as the first train pulled in, and hurried
to the station to welcome the soldier
boys with smiles and cheers
For all there was so much gayness
and rejoicing there was an undercur-
rent of sorrow, for the regiment came
back not as strong as when it went May
q, for there are over 400 men ON sick
leave and transferred so that all the
recruits sent have failed to make the
regiment as full as when it left Au-
gusta. Many were the joyful and
many the fearful meetings.
Then again. the men who were re-
membered as fine strapping fellows
when they went away were there.
plainly showing the traces of privation
and sickness. Some of the men re-
membered as fine specimens of manhood
as can be found anywhere, have come
back as thin as rails with their limbs
no larger than an ordinary mans arir;
1t is really surprising what a Rev
weeks in a hot country will do in tlie
way of undermining a mans constitu-
ton. While some of the men have
only themselves to blame for their
sickness having brought it on by over
indulgence, there are lots Of Others
who were unable to stand the strain
The wisdom\ of the rigid physical ex-
animation, before the men were ac-
copied, is now seen, and those who
condemned the course of the surgeons
in turning SO many men down, now
wonder why more were not rejected.
in, 70 ornyNd ~
welcome the troops who have los!
some relative. and they sorrowed and
contrasted their grief with the Joy o!
some others in the crowd who had has
their sons and husbands restored tc
them while they had lost theirs.
But to return to the arrival Of the
troops. The first train arrived in tn.
city at GAO. and was followed by tht
others as soon as the one in the station
was unloaded and out of the way
| The last section arrived in the station
at $50, there being about an hour be-
tween the arrival of each section. TIL
crowd was increasing all the time.
The first section was composed d
three freight cars and II sleepers un
der the charge Of Conductor Peterson
and Engineer Libby. Captain Bake
of Co, B of Portland, acting major o
the End Battalion, was in command o.
the men.
The second section was composed o
three freight cars and 10 sleepers unde
the charge of Conductor Barbour AM
Engineer Morton. The troops wer
commanded by Major Peterson of tn
Srd Battalion, the only major who re
turned with his command, the other
being home on furloughs, having con
tracted the fever while in camp
Lieutenant Stanley P. bennett Of Gen
cral Mattocks' staff, who has com
home on a 80 days furlough, was wit
this section. Lieutenant bennett
will be remembered was the command
ing officer of the Bangor compan
when he came to camp in May, bu
fearing that the 2nd Regiment wOul
not see service he resigned and wen
into Co. c Of Auburn as second lieuten
ant. He was appointed on Genera
Mattocks' staff as an aide with Lieuten
ant Royden and has been offered tn
same position, If the general goes
Cuba or Porto Rico as he now expecl
to.
In. the arrival of the third sectio
the old saw. "the last shall be first an
the first shall be last" was fulfilled ft
; the last section to arrive was the fir!
section Of the troops out of Ringol
: Ga. but was delayed in Boston by a
/ accident to the engine. 1t containe
= = the LIST Battalion and was in charge
/. / Eon6uotns Ravfor opA Eyu1;naa,, VNo