The Vermont watchman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1883-1911, 1904-09-22
CONNECTICUT At
MANASSAS.
Boys of , the Nutmeg State Tell Of
Their Experiences.

Come around in about a week"
said Capt. Fitzpatrick of Company G
with tired smile. We are little
worn out, but the boys did wonder
fully we'll under the circumstances. 1t
was trying experience for some of
us, but when we get rest the good
the trip did will begin to be appre-
ciated. The Connecticut troops made
an excellent showing for all that
things were wee bit strenuous at
times.
How do l feel ?" repeated one
unkempt being in bedraggled khaki
sympathetic hand to him. oh, I
feel swell Never had such good
time in my lite And say, the grub
was simply out of sight. wayout,
And that's no piperino either. Pie
three times day and tea and toast at
four every afternoon. How in HI
do you suppose l feel after Juggling
Barnum & Bailey's big tent around
on my back for the past three days,
sleeping in cigarette box and living
on silica of bacon three-sixteenths of
an inch wide, and cracker ever since
Saturday, Sept. 8? Go away and
leave me before commit murder
Well" sighed one big rookie with
a commissioning grin to a reporter,
as my remarks on these manoeuvers
amt likely to get back to the war de-
partment in Washington and result in
the loss of my stripes, which to tell
the truth are most across my back
where 1 slept on Virginia fence rail
all the time I was away from the pa
rental caves. guess 1 can put you
wise to what we were up against. 1
never was a hog and know when I've
got enough. I'm satisfied. No more
dreams of hero's grave for mine.
The feather bed and full stomach is
good enough for your Uncle Dudley
when it comes to cashing in. Anyone
that wants to die on hard tack and
patriotic aspiration can have my share
Of it, and no questions asked. War
may be hell, but it's barn dance
with hard cider and pumpkin pie on
the side alongside of this arrange
ment. 1 thought we were going up
against Mantle camp affair where
everything was tossing people in
blankets and running the guard for a
night on the beach. And 1 WASH t
the only one either. No one knew
the way the deal was framed until the
two hours sleep when the joyful bugle
rang out. I rolled over dreaming
was home attending a band concert
but it was no use. Now it may be
all right for regular, that does this
stunt for living, to get up in the
middle Of the night for a thirty mile
hike but man ought to have little
more preliminary training for such
goings on than measuring dress good:
with yard stick. What we went
through settled my case for good and
all. Out into the night at double
quick sprawing over rocks, tearing
through brush and pounding the hare
roads when you couldn't see your hsnt
before you and for what? Three
ham sandwiches and cup of water
you had to fight for and that tasted
like Epson salts when you got it
Say. talk about roads, but the ones il
the Old Dominion take the money
Macadam is soft as mu sh in compari
son. Why they tell me the farmers
have to shoot their potatoes into the
ground with gun to get them to taxi
root. I'm sorry l can't talk any
longer as I have an engagement will
a meal I'm afraid oouldn't break
If anyone wakes me up before mex
Thursday afternoon at O'Clock Their
will be something doing"