Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-03-07

EAG5TTsAV lEOu MOuLSOuSIy OEcW uP
 sJ at the wharf with the regi- ment on board. There was great eoncourse of peo@le on the dock and in the nearby streets. Two or three companies of young boys and old men, home guards, in cheap, ill fitting uni forms, were there to welcome them, and there was regiment from Gen eraI Maury's command at the Spanish fort at Blakely to do them honor. The rest of the crowd was made up of hoary grandfathers, little children and women. The troops on the shore pre- sented arms as the debarkation of the regiment began.
 A regiment! Was that handful regiment? A faint attempt to raise cheer ended in groan. First came the lieutenant in command, mere boy, who had been private when he went forth. There were tears in his eyes, he stepped unsteadily, his sword trembled in his hands, his voice broke as he gave the words of command. Close after him came little squad of men carrying the flag, mere tattered, blood stained rag now, dropping down tire staff in the still air. Then on a litter, carried by some of the soldiers, came the prostrate figure of young Pleasants, the Nheroic lieutenant colo nel. His foot was bandaged, and the wound and exposure had brought on q relapse of his fever. He had strength enough left to prop himself upon his arm and turn his gaze Hstlessly to- ward the crowd.
 Then came the wounded who were able to march-men with their heads tied up, men with their arms in iInpro- yised slings, men leaning on human crutches, men with bandages over their eyes, led by others, and then the well men-only by contrast could these hag- gard, broken fellows be called we'll perhaps 100 of them. The whole body did not number 15O. Their patched, tattered uniforms were covered with dust; they were worn and faded be- yond recognition. The faces of the men were gaunt and weather beaten, but the gun barrels were bright, the bayonets still sparkled in the sun. They had gone forth, not quite three years before, some HOO strong; they came back 15O weak.
 A drum and fife belonging to them struck up as the little company, in the midst of ghastly silence, crossed the gangplank. The remains of the field music made a brave effort to cheer the men, and the tune that rang over the silent crowd was the old sweet one, "Listen to the Mocking Bird' The two men played a few bars of it, but IA aIN G.. yryf~ stopped suddenly.
 The heads of the men of the regi- ment dropped on their breasts as the memories of their first passage down Government street.-the day they went away, so young, so hopeful and so strong - came upon them, staggering over the same highway on that day. Tears streamed from their eyes. They were home, all that was left of them Itlwas good to be home again. A groan burst from the crowd. The regiment proceeded slowly little way up the street, the people swarming about 1t.
 There, on the porch at Annandale, as they had seen her as they marched away, stood Mary Annan-no; not the same, for then she was gay and joy ous; now she was bowed with grief and arrayed in the garments of mourn ing. With her were Mrs. Peyton and her daughter and old Mrs. Pleasants. Hamilton's father had gone to the front. The boy was to be taken there, and his mother had come to meet him. They, too, were in the same somber garb, and they made a striking group, black dot against the white walls of the old house. The women in the street were pressing hard upon the sol diers now. Cries and appeals rang along the street.
 'Jack, Jack! Is it you?''
 "Oh, thank God, you've come backv'
 "Has any one seen my son?"
 "Oh, where is my husband?
 'sTell me, where did you leave my xH7fY5