Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-08-31
THE WAR is OVER
And None of Co. M. Boys
Seem to Be Kicking.
They Return Hale and Hearty from the
Seat of Trouble.
And Doubtless Appreciate What Real
War May Mean.

The war at Portland, is over, and the
National Guard, which rallied to the
defence of the city has been recalled,
that the members thereof might return
once more to the paths Of peace. Co.
NJ, of the I'd Regiment. whose ranks
contains the flower of Augusta youth.
arrived home on the special troop
train, Saturday evening.
1t was not without misgivings and a
little anxiety on the part of many that
the home coming of the bays was
awaited, for all had heard that Co. M
was in the thickest of the fight and
had been captured at Long Island. No
list of wounded had been sent in to
prepare the loved ones at home for the
worst, and they went to the station
without knowing what scenes they
would have to endure when the train
should give up Augustus quota of the
heroes in khaki.
But they We're spared all scenes of a
narrowing nature, for though the boys
had endured Il week of as hard work as
they will probably see during their
lives and had, with one exception
proved themselves the stuff of which
heroes are made, both when on the fir
ing line, where wax bullets We're flying
thicker than leaves on the trees, and
when throwing up trenches, they came
back unscathed, a little light in flesh
and dark in skin. and tired, but rich in
experience that may sometime come in
handy.
1t was not generally known that the
an
late in the afternoon it became noised
around that the boys would be home
sometime during the evening. That
was a guarantee that there would be
something doing at the ticket office for
the balance of the day, and there was.
How many times Ticket Agents Walker
and Weber answered the question:
When viii the troop train be in?" or
similar ones, has not been computed,
but it will run up into the thousands
The first heard from the train was
that it left Brunswick at $50. Then
on ascertaining that it takes an hour
and ten minutes to run to Augusta, it
was easy to figure out that the train
should be in at about 8 O'clock BY
wireless it was learned that the boys
were all there-Capt. Drake, Lieuten-
ants Owen and Enright, sergeants.
corporals, privates-except one we'll
known figure
The train rolled into the station at
about 3.lo, and TO use a theatrical
term, played to a crowded house. And
pre-eminent in the gathering was the
small boy. 1t seemed as if every boy
of that particular size, from both sides
of the river. from Pettengills Corner,
Chelsea. Manchester, and few from
dallowell were at the station, and all
were yelling in chorus. To the tired
troops on the train, who were irving
to get 4 little sleep, it must have
seemed that Bedlam had broken loose
AS the train came to a stop, Co. M
quickly discmbarke1. and on reaching
the platform, fell in, preparatory to
marching to their armory. AS they
came into line their soldicrly appear
ance was remarked on all sides. OF
course they were dead tired from long
and unusual work and loss of sleep,
hut there was about them something
which suggested the veteran, some
thing which a week at muster could
never give them.
The company then proceeded down
through M:rKet square to Water street,
and as they turned the corner by Col.
Soule's store, the entire street was il
Illuminated by red fire. 1t was a pretty
sight. The buff uniforms making a
pleasing contrast to the blaze of red.
AS the company passed up the street,
their fine marching and good alignment
elected frequent applause from the
people on the sidewalks, which must
have been gratifying to all.
Co. NJ is to be congratulated for the
work done during the past week at
Portland. 1t is a new company,
and has never attended muster but
the manner in which the boys deported
themselves is a credit to them and to
the CITY