Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-16

The first train to bring in the excur-
sionists was the 9.l5 paper train, which
arrived % minutes late, with 400 peo-
pie bound fer the muster grounds.
The 1O.oo train brought less than last
Sunday, as all the troops from that
section east of Augusta, have returned
home.
At little before 10 O'Clock, a special
excursion train arrived, that brought
in IA car loads of people, some Of whom
came from over the line of the Grand
Trunk Railroad.
The 10-cent teams We're rushed, and
the poor horses without doubt wished
Camp Powers was at Chickamagua
the hotels were crowded to their limit;
the streets leading to the grounds and
the camp itself, were thronged with the
eXcurslonists, the toWnspeople, and
those from all the surrounding towns
AS one approached the camp from
Winthrop street, at noon, it was like
approaching a country fair ground. All
along the side Of the street We're peo-
pie resting. In shady spots groupes
brought with them, and thereby save
a trip to the city.
Il Cd
the more like fair it appeared. The
few tents visible, the great crowd of
people, and more especially the one
around the suffers house, where the
small beers, cigars. and pastry were
selling at an amazing rate.
The guards were On their beats mere
ly as matter Of form, as no one was
challenged, and all the guards had TO
do was to keep the teams out Of the
camp limits
The scenes upon the arrival of the
visitors were interesting to behold.
The soldier who didn't have 4 friend
or relative in that vast assembly Of
people, is to be pitied. 1t seemed as
Though every mans relatives and &C
quaintances had come to bid him good
by.
Great bronzed fellows would rush out
ana shake hands With their mothers,
and the mother wouldn't stop at that.
She would exact a kiss from her son,
whom she now realizes more fully than
ever how much she really loves him.
And it isn't the mother alone who are
taken this way, the fathers, brothers
and sisters are beginning TO realize
with the mother what the loss Of their
soldier boy would lie.
Every soldier in camp must have had a
sweetheart. or at least a young lady who
admircs him. for there were enough
young ladies among the visitors to form
a regiment Of the size of the present one.
Every soldier had a young laiy friend
visiting him, and they weren't all sisters,
either Some of these young ladies We're
accompanied ny IntlF HlptHtfS, pT tntS
accompanied the fellows mothers, and
many of these same mothers didn't real
izc how much more they would be liked
if they would leave the couple to WANDER
about by themselves for a short time
1t was a day that will long be remem-
bercd by those who were present. more
especially if the soldier whom they visit
cd never comes back
The crowd was certainly not one Of the
usual Sunday excursion kind, but rather
one which had an object in view. Yet of
course the eXcursionist was to be seen
here and there
Dress parade was held at o'clock. as
advertised. in order that all might wit
ness it.
The parade was a first-class one. yct
some of the old soldiers found fault with
the way the companies executed the
wheel movement on the review, but they
will overcome that with more practice.
All four sides Of the parade grOunl were
lined with people. and there must have
been 5000 at the least calculation.
Governor and Mrs. Powers, with their
from their carriage near the staff officers.
Not long after the review. religious ser
vices were held in front Of the Y. NJ. c.
A. tent. Chaplain Cochrane of the I'd