Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-08-27
HOSPITAL TRAIN
With Sick and Feeble Soldiers
Of the 1st Maine
Arrives at Augusta at 40 P. NJ,
Friday, from Chickamauga.
Hundreds Of People Give Warm Greeting to
the Boys in Blue.

The hospital train bearing about 80
convalescent LIST Maine soldiers reached
Augusta at 4.3O P. M, yesterday. All
day the crowd that awaited it had
been growing larger and larger; hum
dred upon hundreds of people came in
from the surrounding country to well
come back the boys in blue.
sAt first it was reported that the hos
pital train would disband in Portland,
but by noon it was known in this city
that the train would leave in Portland
only those of the 179 on board who
were sick enough to need hospital care.
and would continue on over the line,
bearing the others to their homes.
The dispatch announcing that it had
left Portland at 2.1O P. NJ. caused an
|atcipation and preparation in Augusta.
The crowd surged towards the station
filling the square and station ap-
proachs an hour before the train could
possibly reach this city.
The local committee headed by Post
master Stinson, made extensive plans
to care for all the boys who were not
able to care for themselves. Many car
riages were procured and lined up at
the station.
About 30 members of the Women's
Relief Corps who had been busy all
day, gathered in the ladies' waiting
room with the lunches, And every ia
cility for caring for sick or tired SOL
diers.
The crowd now numbered several
thousand and was SO numerous that
the need of police work was evident
and detail of so battery soldiers un-
der Lieut.. Dutton, were hurried to the
station.
The platform was cleared and with
the aid of ropes the soldiers and the
local police kept the multitude back
from the track and away from the
waiting rooms. a
Everything was ready and the anx-
ious waiting was growing into sus-
pense, when the whistle Of the hospital
train was heard and it came rolling in
to the station.
faint cheer was heard and few
flags were waved. but the attempted
demonstration was quickly hushed by
he feeling of awe which prevailed all
hearts when the crowd saw the wan.
sick faces at the car windows.
A detail of battery men with the am
bulance corps attendants on the train.
assisted in removing those who could
not upon their own strength.
No very sick ones were brought to
this city. but none of the 30 on the
train failed to show plainly the effects
of their recent illness.
1t was a strange sight for Augusta,
these thin. weak soldiers in place Of
the stalwart. vigorous young men who
went away in May, and tears were in
many eyes.
Governor Powers was at the station,
and personally helped some of the boys
and had an active hand in arranging
| for their comfort. Everybody was
anxious to show their sympathy and
to do something. Quite a number of
the boys were too weak to walk alone
and had to be assisted to the waiting
room.
Among the first to step off were Ser
geants Lester Partridge and John A.
Degen of Co. F. who were met by their
families and both of whom were look
ing badly.
Privates Herrin, Kitchen, Staples and
Hamilton were other Co. F men who
came on the train. sfesf
A large part Of the men were moi
members of Co. F or residents Of this
city, but residents of the State further