Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-31

snip OIL the SnOalS DelOre heading Tor
New York
-Four batteries of the LIST Maine
Heavy Artillery arrived in this city,
last night, on their way to Savannah,
Ga, where they are to join the 18th
Army Corps, under the command of
Gen. Lee.
1t was very wet and dreary well
come that Boston gave the Maine boys
as they arrived here, decked out in
new uniforms, and looking as if they
were ready to stand against the dead
Hest enemy. The train on which they
came was a special one, which left Au-
gusta about noon, and was due to ar
rive in this city about $50 o'clock.
1t was not much after that when the
train neared the Boston & Maine Rail
road docks in East Boston. There it
waited for a few minutes, and was thea
backed into the sheds. There were l3
coaches in the train. Eleven of them
were passenger cars, while the other
two were full of baggage and rations.
In the front coach We're the officers
and IS convalescent privates. The lat
were on the road to recovery, they in
sisted that they be taken with the
regiment. They will be all right in a
short time.
The train had hardly got inside the
sheds when Maj. Newcomb, the COM
handing officer, made his appearance,
and he was met by Maj. Hyde. the
quartermaster of the army depot for
this vicinity. Quartermaster Hyde told
Maj. Newcomb that it was at first
planned that the batteries should at
once so aboard the Mississippi, on
which they were to be taken to New
York, and that the transport should
proceed on her way with the slightest
possible delay.
On account Of the bad weather. how
ever, the pilot decided not to take the
transport out of the harbor, and it
would be necessary to wait until this
morning at least before getting away.
Maj Hyde also informed the COM
manding officer that the transport had
just been washed up, and, as the
weather had been so bad, the floors had
not dried, and it was possible he would
not careSto have his men sleep on
board on account of the exceeding
dampness.
If such was the case, Maj Hyde
thought it possible that arrangements
could be made so that the men could
sleep in the cars in which they came
from Maine. Maj. Newcomb examined
the boat, and decided it would be bet
ter to have the men sleep on board of
her. notwithstanding the dampness.
The Mississippi had been taken over
from the New England dock during the
afternoon, and so it was but a few
minutes work for the men to
march by companies from the train
to the transport. Every man was on
board before $50. They were soon eat
ing hearty meal, and trying to enjoy
themselves, in spite of the wet weather
and damp condition of the transport
There were but few people out to
welcome the Maine men, but all who
did turn out in the rain pronounced
them as fine set of men as have pass
ed through the city for a long time.
They carried themselves like veterans.
The four batteries were: A, Capt. H.
G. Crockett, 1870 men, Lewiston; +,
Capt. f. NJ. Hume, 80 men. Moulton
and surrounding towns; c, Capt. T. H.
Jewett being sick), Lieut.. w. d. Whit
ney, Sc men, Gardiner: d, Capt. w. r.
kimball, So men, Bath. About Is men
were left at camp on account of sick
ness.
The men were very anxious to get
leave to spend the evening in Boston,
and all sorts of excuses were presented.
There was hardly a man who was not
alleged to have a sister or some other
near relative in Boston whom it was
necessary for him to see. Shore leave
was granted to but very few, however
and the men were obliged to content
themselves on board the transport.
This morning, if the weather permits,
the transport will get away by day.
light, and before Boston is well awake
she will be out on the ocean. She will
proceed to New York,
where the men will be disembarked at
Governors island. and then they will
take passage on another transport for
The Mississippi will prob
ably be loaded with rations and sail for
Porto Rico by Weanesday-Herald.
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