Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-10-24

sIhu eHc eniS ~ Lie START depends upon
the latter officer. and the further or.
Gers which will be the definite ones.
The orders to move were a sort Of !
surprise after all, though they have
been looked for several days. It was
expected that they would be giver
more time than two days in which te
prepare for the departure. Maio,
Newcomb's letter to the war depart
ment about the situation Of the camt
and the cold weather without doub,
was largely instrumental in bringing
the order.
Major Newcomb was seen, Sunday
by Journal reporter, in his quarters
where he was slowly packing up his
belongings. that he is to take y hh him.
Through the four months that the bat.
teries, with the exception Of Battery
A. have been stationed here, the Off
GERS have collected many articles about
their tents that will have to be lef,
out of the campaign work, and in con-
sequence it is quite task for them to
select.
II am going to try to be like good
soldier and be ready when I am call
ed replied the major in answer to the
question as to when he expected to de-
part from Augusta. 1T will all depend
upon the arrival of the next order. /
really can't tell just when it will be,
but we shall be ready to start. Monday
night, if it is necessary, though even
if we do not start until Tuesday morn
ing, which is possible, we could reach
the transport before night. OF course
it is short notice, but we can be ready
when they want US. The men will be
all in. and the rest of the work can be
accomplished"
The trip will be made by special
trains two of which will be required 10
take the 500 and more men, and all
quartermasters supplies. Whether the
trains will start, Monday night or
Tuesday morning, or even later, can
not be told at, this time. According to
is to take them to New York is the
Mississippi. and it was not known that
she was expected to arrive in Boston
before Thursday, with the 9Th Massa-
chusetts Regiment, SO all can see that
the final marching orders may not ar
rive before Wednesday.
And what about the sick men? Their
disposition is not yet decided. Inquir
les have been sent to the war depart
ment about their disposal, and no an
swer has arrived, so no one can tell
what will be done. 1t is the suppose
ton though, that they will be taken
to the wooden hospital, and left under
a detail of nurses, and a surgeon. OF
those who are sick and will be left be-
hind if the war department desire there
are about 80. but of these men all but
very few are able to be taken along,
if orders come to that effect. They
can be taken if they can have a COM
Portable manner of travelling. The
sick men throughout the State at their
homes. who are convalescent, can also
be taken without fear, but it is not
known whether they will be taken or
not.
1t was wonderful to see the effect
that the news wrought in the hospitals
Men who had not been able to sit up
for days. rose up in bed, and said they
wanted to go. 1t is the best tonic that
has been given them in the course Of
their illness.
The effect among the men in general,
was of course different. Many who live
in this section of the country at once
applied for a furlough to go home for
"a hours, and say a last good by, while
the men who lived far away said they
wished they had time. Some who were
refused furloughs went all the same
But wherever it was possible. the men
were allowed to go. They will all be
back. this morning, and the work of
taking down their tents and making
up their blanket rolls will not take
them long. Many will have to pack
up what they do not need, and send
the packages home. 1t would hardly
be the proper thing for the privates to
be seen going away with the dress suit
cases that many now have in their
quarters. ~
1t was good thing that the weather,
Sunday. was of drying nature, as the
tents were wet, and had they not dried
they would have been likely to have
moulded on the trip, if taken down and
rolled up while wet.
The stay of the men i'll Augusta, has
been a long one, and they are not sorry
to leave as the work here has at the
best been monotonous. They came the
last time in July, and for four months
have been waiting. There will be but
few deserters to be left behind, and the
battalion will go out nearly 500 strong.