Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-04-03

They We're glad when they left Au
susta, because they were going to TIL,
| South and to Cuba. They went [,
! Cuba and they We're much more glaC
on arrival in Augusta. Sunday, K
think that they were on their journey
home. than they had ever been before
| in their lives. Home looked to them
like the only place on earth in which ii
| was fit to live. No more will they care
to wander from their own firesides. They
have had all the inactive service they
want.
1t was not the full command that ar
rived home, Sunday. Only about IS of
| the $50 men of the command We're i'll
the special cars attached to the express
train that passed through here at
$50 % minutes late. They We're the
ones who We're the most anxious to
| reach home, and for whom the attrac-
| tons of the route had no charms
There was of course not large crowd
at the station, as they were not ex-
pected. but all found old friends Few
of the men stopped off in Augusta, the
greater part of them being bound for
the eastern part of the State and for
Waterville. Herbert Bowden was one
of the Augusta men who arrived. The
rest will arrive later.
There was difference in the looks Of
these men than there was in those of
the LIST Maine Volunteers when they ar
rived home from Chickamauga. last
August. Then there was fever in the
appearance of every man. Here there
was good health and high spirits in the
face of ALL No sick soldier had to be
helped from the train, and no soldier
was so overcome with rejoicing on
reaching home. that he tainted from his
feelings. There were a hearty, healthy
looking set of men and from all APP
nearances it would seem that Major
Newcomb had assisted nature in caring
for them.
While the train waited in the station.
the Journal learned from one IL the
boys, Private Hilton OF Battery ID. how
they came home.
We joined a party formed by Ser
geant Pratt ~ Battery ID. and il
brought us right through" he said.
We each paid S22.50 for our fare from
Savannah. Ga. to WatervilIe. Me. This
did not include our meals. or transpor-
tation across New York. or across
Boston. We paid our money to Ser
geant Pratt. who carried the tickets of
the crowd. All that we We're provided
with, was the Identification ticket given
us. We started out by special. Fri
day night. In all. the trip TO Water
vile cost each one of us a little less
than $50, which is about S27 less than
the amount allowed us for travel pay, |
so we save from that, you see. Ser |
genat Pratt and party Of Bath boys
left us at Brunswick
Among the first to step from the
train was Major z. f. Newcomb, the |
commander of the battalion, who
from the parlor car to shake 4
the hands of the many friends standing
about. He went at once to Hotel North
and was there seen soon after by the
Journal. The major is the same CHEEKY,
jovial, whole hearted fellow that he
was before he left for the South, and
the only change noticed, vas loss of
flesh
Il have shrunk Is pounds since l left
Augusta" he said. but l have not
seen a sick day in the whole time. But
you ought to see some of the others.
Dr. Turkey has lost nearly double what
have, and he still has over 200 pounds
to carry about. All the officers have
lost flesh, though they are all WELL
Continued on page %