The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1898-08-03
Letter From Rev. Mr.. McAninch.
NoRrurlELp. Mass. July %, Ise

mOnuay, July SOtn, seems 10 nave
been the day set for the beginning of
clergymen's vacation. No less than four
OF the Presbyterian pursuasion were on
their way to different points in the East
and another going in another direction,
all from Oil City to Warren. Rev. Smith,
lately dubbed d. d., and / are itinerating
together. We separated, however, in
Philadelphia, to meet later in New York,
he to visit friend and l to visit the 18th
Reg. Pa. Vol. at Fort Matt, n. J. where
my nephew, L. NJ. Baker, of Pittsburg, is
in Co. /.
i went down on the Delaware side of
Co. was transferred to Fort Delaware on
the island. got man to row me to
the fort, about three miles. II was |
pleasant ride, as the water was smooth |
and saw the boat was in skillful hands. |
Last year while rowing across the channel |
at Bayonne l was nearly upset by the |
boy running into the waves of passing |
boat and this time / was not taking any |
chances of a spill mile or so from shore. |
/ got good man. At the warf l found |
Co. had not arrived and Co. E, whose
place it was to take, was just embarking
for Fort Mott on the New Jersey side.
The boys were very kind and told me to
get in with them as Co. would be de-
tained some time. We sat in the boiling
sun nearly an hour waiting for a breeze.
Finally it came and l had my first ride
in sail boat. | got snap shot of the
rhoat and men, and by the way this was
y stpicture got. They do not allow
an larry a camera about the forts.
left pod hands-the sergeant
of the r, us stationed there. l left it
by specis. request. The iorts are both
formidable, commanding completely the
river at this point. The 10 and Pinch
disappearing guns are surely monsters of
death. Work is being done on both forts,
fitting them for better and more efficient
service. Boats were lifting the mines,
which / believe were alt taken out that
day.
Then went to the camp of the 18th. 1t
had been wheat field, but now trodden
down smooth by the the tramp of the
boys in their drill. The field is quite
level and affords visitors good opportu-
nifty to see the mapeuvers. | saw the
regiment relieved at $3.50 p. IN. Only six
companies were out, two being at Fort
Delaware and Co. e had just moved into
camp from that place.
l really had taste of army life.
Shakespeare says something about hav-
ing "a stomach for the fight, and found
this to be true even to watch a parade
com mfortably. ! was wondering what |
should do for supper-the nearest hotel
(Salem) was six miles away, when E. f.
Lithgow ofCo. A, formery of Oil City said
if l could eat it he would furnish my sup
per, and he did. 1t consisted Of boiled
onions and tomatoes put together in tin
plate, large tin cup of coffee and an
other of milk Il don't know how he got
the last for it was not on the bill of fare),
and two big slices of bread mo butter,
and knife, fork and spoon were also at
hand. | sat on blanket and the floor OF
the tent served for a table. The supper
was both good and abundant-for one
time only.
The boys have not yet received their
uniforms nor all their guns, and have
little expectations ofseeing active service
soon. They are hearty looking lot,
most of them being quite young men or
boys, but are anxious 10 get to the place
where fighting is being done. got ac-
quainted with great many of them and
had very enjoyable visit.
Our ride from New York to Boston by
the Fall River steamer, Puritan, to use
an Irish expression, "would have been
more pleasant il it had been less disagree
able" We started all right from Pier
No. 10, North River, and had fair weather
while we passed the Battery, Bedloe's ISL
aud with the statute of liberCy standing
guard. under the famous Brooklyn
Bridge under which the largest oceal
steamers pass and on which flows in con
tiuuous stream all day long living mass
of human beings on foot, in carriages, in
trolleys and steam cars, and on till the
Greater New York was fairly left behind
With the fall of night the weather bagar
to thicken and we had scarcely got fairly
asleep when the great whistle began tC
belch forth its ear-splitting blasts which
.. were repeated all night long at intervals
of from one to two or three minutes. We
knew at once we were in fog, but We
had no fear for we also knew the com
pany could not afford to have an avoid
able accident with 500 or 800 passengers
on board. The monotony of our whist
ling was varied 10y the answering signals
OF passing boats.
For some reason one boat did not give
the proper signal and instantly our ma
,, , chinery stopped. The big boat stood still
and we slid back the window and looked
out. Passengers always do this on trains
whether they can see anything or not. II
a few minutes the offending steame
glided by quite close to us and vanished
,, in the white mist that enshrouded it, anC
through which only for very brief per
5 iod could its lights be seen.
, Tired and sleepy we tried to take il
Boston next day but the elements wer'
; against us. However we rambleC
A through the Harvard grounds stood be
} fore the house of Longfellow, walked
through the yard of Lowell, stood beside
the mausoleum of the former and tn
: plain slab that marks the resting place o
Q the latter in Auburn Cemetery, an'
O pressed with our feet the sod made sa
| crnd hv fhn valnrnns dneds of Onr pranI