Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-29
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oSy - 49, VOWv
It was great day ct Camp Powers.
Sunday. The weather was perfect and
there was a large crowd Of relatives:
and friends OF the returned soldiers in
camp to zee them and. GIVE . sympsy
thetic audience to their tales Of sun
ering, and privation. The stories Of
poor food and overworlc were the moet.
effective sympathy gamers. however.
and the mothers Of the boys have
grave fears OF their never obtsining
sufficient amount Of cake ana pie
when they finally are sent home.
Excursion trains from the East and
the regular train from the WEST
brought number Of people and the
special train from Rockland, Lewiston
and way stations which arrived short
ly afternoon had a large load. - that
there were over 1000 people in camp be-
sides the large number Of Augusta
people who went up at various times.
during the afternoon. .ss. =. "a
Nearly every tent for some time q.
ter the arrival Of the trains had q
number of people in 1t all eating oat 81
large hamper Of basket which he'd
been brought from home filled withya
nice dinner for their soldier boy. The
mess houses were almost deserted 1T
dinner time for the boys had SOME
thing better.
Those who had no friends come .Wpys
generally fortunate enough to hsyp
some Of friends relatives come ana
he was invited to partake Of the sdell-
cacies provided. There were some who
had no friends and they had r. EFT
government rations while their zWQfe.
fortunate comrades had good dlp-
ner OF delicactes. These ussn-eor the
greater part ate in silence and thougAt
of home and wished Themselves. t3fs
eating good Sunday dinner insteSdtHfF
in the mess houses Of Camp Powers.5
Nearly all the faces had q bright
look and a happy smile for their SOL
der son or husband had been returned
to them well even II not quite a. fat
as when he went away. He had been
spared the sacrifice Of standing mp %
q target for a Spanish bullet although
he was ready and anxious ct all tines
to do so when the department was
ready for his sacrlice. Still It was
great source of qualification to the
mothers and wives that their loved
ones had been returned to them and
no danger hung over them Of their be-
ing called to go forth into battle and
possibly lay down their lives.
The anxious lover who had not seen
his sweetheart for many long months
anxiously awaited the arrival Of the
train and then II possible he obtained
leave, of absence 30 that he could lead
her to some secluded spot and again
tell her that she was the dearest thing
on earth to him and ne was glad to b
again back with her. It was q pleas
ant day Tor them and one doubly hard
for the man who had his sweetheart
come II he was on guard duty.
There were many sad scenes con-
nected with the arrival Of the visitors.
Several mothers and fathers had come
to see their boy and brought him q
basket of fruit and other nice things
and when they arrived in camp found
their boy In the hospital too III to par
take Of the delicades. The kind
hearted parents. however. would give
the food to some other member Of the
regiment who was in position to en-
joy 1t.
There would undoubtedly have been
more people In the city ON the excur-
sions II the rumorS of sending the
whole, regiment home on furloughs In
few days had not been circulated
with such seemingly good authority.
The poorer class would have come II
they had thought that their boys
would mot be home in . few days but
thinking they will soon be. allowed to
60 home they remained At home but In
many cases sent bundle to their boys
by some Of their nelshbors who wers
coming to camp.
Toward the latter part Of the afksf-
noon the crowd rapidly increased and
there were over 1900 people in the camp
and In teams ON the parade ground.
There were many Of them .whs AAA
COME up to zee the dress parade. hwf =
many OF the onlcers ana ~ vsto
away and the men were tirsd fFem- ~
labors Of coming into camp ~ tkslr
long ride on he trails Colonsa xea1aIl
decided mot to have any drills er'1uAIse
Of any kind which were not ateoaut3lt
necessary for Tie maintainanes Is ~.
(continusd = paop ~ ~ y