Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-05-03
REVIEW BY MRS. MCCLELLAN
FIRST CONNECTICUT REGIMENT
THE HoNoRED BODY.
Ceremony Occurred March 4, 1862
Account Of the Affair Writ
ten at the Time.

| with an account OF the review of the LIST
Connecticut Regiment by Mrs Mcclellan.
| March Z, 1862 which he believes will be of
| special interest to the members Of the So
/ ciety Of the Army Of the Potomac, now as
| sembled here in annual reunion. The paper
| is a wartime relic, as it was written at the
| time. The chaplain says:
THE day was beautiful. The wind blew
just hard enough to remind one Of what 1t
could do if it had mind to. Cold clouds
were driving through the sky-shreds of
yesterdays storm, and threatening an
other storm upon the morrow. But the
sun shone bright upon us. and the blue
birds came out and sang. It seemed as
though nature had let in just this one fine
day among the chilly, clustering days of
March, in honor Of our distinguished WIS.,
itor.
THE camp shone with cleanliness. Not
| shaving leaf or scrap of paper disfgured
the parade ground: Boots sparkled.
Every nusket had little halo of bright
ness round about 1t. The sentry boxes
were fresh whitewashed. The guard house
ditto. The barracks had been mopped.
swabbed, scrubbed. brushed. swept and
garnished. Odors Of cleanness arose from
the very ground. Something was evidently
coming to pass. Officers and men kept run
ming out Of the tents and looking in the
leveled at the road where it mounts over
the hill. Everybody was on tiptoe. The
great black guns in the fort were holding
their breath with that ominus silence that
betokens an impending explosion
Great Buzz Arose.
eat last a great buzz arose from the
camp and fort: They come! They come!
A chariot drawn by glowing steeds of
white, and slam bang! bang! bang! bang!
went all the guns in the fort in irregular
OILY l1,'f
their feelings.
However, this did not signify. The glow
ing steeds turned out to be but sorry jades
The chariot was nothing but hack. So
the guns were reloaded and requested to be
more careful next time
Another buzz! and this time without
mistake. Four horses, chariot and out
riders. And with beautiful precision q
major generals salute of fifteen guns was
given. Perhaps the faith of some was
shaken on discovering that the chariot was
only a four-horse ambulance. But 1t was
Mrs. Gen. McClellan's equipage, neverthe-
less.
80 the guns fred. the men cheered. the
flags waved, the band played. the sun
shone, the camp smiled, the old fort grim
ned and showed it's teeth, and there was a
great jubilee.
"The party consisted of Mrs. Gen. Nc
Clellan and several Others They were first
introduced to the coloneis tent while the
companies marched out of their respective
streets, and the line was being formed for
the review.
Reviewing Party Takes Its Place.
"Then, when all was ready, the review
ing party took it's place. The regiment pre-
scented arms, officers saluting. colors drop
ping, music playing, drums sounding the
three ruffles
Her ladyship acknowledged the salute
by graceful bow.
Then the command shoulder-arms!
was given and executed; after which. the
music playing all the time, the reviewing
party proceeded to the right of the lines.
passed along the front, round the left
flank, along the rear of the fle-closers to
the right, and SO back to the camp coiors
in front.
1.-THE line was then broken into column,
and the regiment went through Its PAGES
First they marched around in common time,
officers saluting,. colors dropping, drums
around again at quickstep. Then the band
struck up the First Connecticut Double
quick March, and away they all went At
old SAM with his knapsack strapped
upon his back, bringing up the rear, all
out of breath and cutting the corners SO
as to keep in place. Good dog! But ne
wanted to do his best, for it was the gen
erals lady who had come to review him.
| The line of battle was then formed again.
The regiment presented arms as at the
| first, and the review was over But not
the day. Then followed guard mounting,
at which her ladyship also assisted. 1
quote from the diary of one of the men:
| Mrs. Mcclellan was present at guard
| mounting and inspected our muskets with
| the eye of an old soldier Next the hos
| pital was visited, Mrs Mcclellan going into
all the wards and having some WORD OF
| kindness or of sympathy for each one of
| the sick 1t was touching to see the poor
| fellows lying there on their backs, trying
| to give her the regular military salute.
Her visit was medicine to them, as it was
sunlight and music to us all.
Refreshments Provided.
From the hospital the party proceeded
to the cottage opposite, where refreshments
had been provided for them. The band
came down and played during dinner. And
after dinner the room was cleared for dane
ing.
THUS, the day passed merrily away; but
it could not last forever. Old Boreas began
| to signify that he had held in long enough.
The bluebirds had gone into the woods out
of the cold. The shadows were lengthening
over the landscape. The ladies must start
at once. If they would reach Washington
so the ladies got into the ambulance:
the gentlemen mounted their horses. Good
byes were said: but 1t was hard to part.
At first one of the horses absolutely re-
fused to go. The quartermaster was 80 af-
fected that he actually lost all conscious
| ness and was Ill for several days We were
| all in great distress. The wind blew and
howled. The sky looked gloomy and dark.
Our hearts were chilled.
But fate is memorable. The pleasantest
days must come to an END. We cannot
good-ble! and the cavalcade slowly pro-
"Our last recollection of that delightful
day Is that of a lady's handkerchief waved
toward US as the carriage passed out Of
sight over the hill by Fort Albany"