Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1898-06-15
MAINE TO DIXIE.
STORY OF THE MAINE TROOPS
TRIP TO CHICKAMAUGA
TR1UMPHAL MARCH OF THE BOYS IN
BLUE FROM MAINE TO TENNES-
SEE-HARD-TACK SOUVENIRS.

| a PpSsioi SolIt5 pOIueIt Vi the Lew IS
ton journal who is with the Maine
troops, writes of the trip South as fol-
| lows
Scenes have been shifted too rapidly
for the boys to be homesick. Indeed the
welcome has been SO hearty from the
kennebec to the Ohio that few have real
1zed that they were putting hundreds
upon hundreds of miles between them
selves and their loved ones in Maine.
The blue coat has been an open sesame
to the hearts of those along the line-a
tallsman more potent than the square
and compass or the three links
1t has been no march into an enemy's
country and not once have the BOYS from
Maine been allowed to lose sight of the
fact that every heart in the states
through which they have passed beats
with the same patriotism which is lead
ing them southwark Chickamauga-
it may be to battle in the Spanish isles
of the Antilles.
But wherever they CO. and no matter
how long they stay, the First Maine vol
unteers will recall with gratitude the
many klndnesses which were shown them
en- route. In years to come the gray
boards will take their grandchildren on
their knees and tell them how they
snapped hard tack for ribbons with the
girls in the state of William Penn.
And, by the bye, it is well the officers
put in goodly store of hard bread for
otherwise the boys would be shy their
rations by the time they disem barked at
Chickamauga. Quite bit OF First Maine
bareback is now stored away among the
ribbons and aces in top bureau drawers
along the line Of the Maine boys march.
AT every stop the blushing damsels
crowded to the windows of the troop
train and with their prettiest smile asked
for something to remember the lads by.
The first few of them got button, but
the boys began to realize that few
hundred miles of that sort of thing would
leave them looking like cashiered officers
so they adopted new plan.
After that when Weehawken maiden
asked for a keepsake, she got a square
OF bareback, neatly inscribed with the
donors name and company. Some Of the
more favored ones got a square with
crossed flags and Remember the Maine"
i'll addition.
The boys did not sleep much the first
night out. TWAS late when they passed
Worcester, and it was still later when
they got through talking about the fire
works and the feed with which the people
OF that busting city entertained them.
The novelty Of the situation also added to
their wG&eta!ness. But they've got over
that by this time and now they're turn
lag IN early and sleeping the sleep of the
campalgner, who can snooze on the soft
side OF Il granite ledge and dream that it
L feather bed.
Albahy's reception was no wit less
cordial than "orcester's. Every tug i'll
| the river Was footing in doube-F and all
the locomotives in the yard blew staccato
welcomes to their brot her engine which
| had the honor OF hauling in the Maine
soldiers.
Passing engineers kept one hand on the
whistle lever and tlourished the other
from the cab window. Crossing tenders
waved the warning flag with one arm and
a handkerchief in he other.
During stop at Germantown, while
the men in the switchtowers were find
ing US way into the QUAKER City,, one
young wife whose husband had already
gone to the front walked the entire
length OF the train on both sides, shaking
hands with everyone she could reach and
wishing each a Godspeed and a safe re-
turn. Not train has stopped in front
of her home which hasn't had the same
reception. With her went her two little
girls They couldn't reach the out
stretched hands, but they lisped their
good wishes and trutted cheerfully along
at their matters apron-strings.
THE ROUTE.
The route takes us through a charming
country, and to most Of he boys it was a
new country, and they have enjoyed the
trip hugely.
Albany was bright and fresh in the
morning sunlight, which tipped the
steen- million dollar capitol on the hill
with rays of reddish gold. Here the
three sections met and parted, not to
meet again for many mile. The second
and third had just clearance room at the
Baltimore & Ohio station, but weren't
near enough for hand-shake.
Out of Alabany, on the Delaware &
Hudson, We went as far as the West Shore
tracks, and then cleared away for the
spin down the right hand rails of the
West Shores double trail through the
Empire state. A delightfully."- cool and
bracing race it was, the breeze floating In
from the river on the one side and re-
freshing dampness oozing from the high
rocky walls into which the road burrows
for most of its way.
Everyone spotted the troop train, and
no matter what they were up to, dropped
their work and yelled their loudest as
they passed. Steamers pushing their
way up and down the placid Hudson