Norwich bulletin., 1914-02-10
"REMINISCENCES OF THE
 EIGHTEENTH CONNECTICUT.
Charles H. Lynch Writes the Bulletin
 From Hartford.

In connection with a suggestion to enlist in the movement to celebrate the centennial anniversary of the song, 'The Star Spangled Banner" Charles H. Lynch of Hartford. writes the Bulletin some "reminiscences of the which went out from this city nearly 52 years ago.
 MT. Lynch writes:
 A movement is under way to ce1e- brate the one Iundredth anniversary of that patriotic song, ''The Star SpanSled Banner"
 The boys of 50 and 70 years ago used to sing it at school. It was very popular in those days. Little did they ever dream that they would see the old Flag flying in the smoke of battle, as the boys of the Eighteenth regi- ment saw it, at the Star fort, near Winchester, Virginia, and also in many other places.
 During the Civil war Connecticut soldiers did duty in that old Fort Mo Henry. It was built on a point of land. extending out into the Patapseo bay near Baltimore, Md. A high stone wall was built across the land from water to water, giving plenty of ground for fort buildings, and the parade and the drill grounds. Two of the buildings were used for a guard-house in which were confined prisoners of war
 Sunday, August "A, 1862. the Eighteenth regiment arrived in Balti- more bound for Washington. then Known as the seat of war. While waiting for transportation near the Baltimore and Ohia Railway station, orders were received for the regiment to report at Fort McHenry, for duty, and relieve the 18th New York regi- ment
 On the next morning, the 25th, guns were given to us. After a short drill by officers of the 18th regiment, a large detail was made for guard duty. Guarding prisoners was not very pleasant duty! Our boys claimed they had enlisted to fight for our coun- try, and not that kind of duty After all, it was a good experience for us. as it better prepared us for the life of soldier. The decipline we re- ceived there was very beneficial to us as time proved.
 When off duty we visited the points of interest in and around the old fort. There were many shells and cannon balls fired at the fort from the Brit ish war ships in 1914. They were piled up and marked and kept as relics.
 A few days after the Battle of An tietam, a large number of Conferedate prisoners arrived, and were confined in the guard house. A camp was also located near the fort for sick and wounded Union soldiers. Sympa- thetic friends from Baltimore were allowed to visit the Confederate pris- oners, giving them supplies of various kinds and also words of cheer and encoura cement.
 No notice was taken of the sick and wounded Union soldiers. That was more then the Connecticut boys could Baltimoreans, they were run out of the grounds. The supplies captured and given to the Union soldiers at the hospital camp.
 | The Baltimoreans did not show up again. A few days later the prisoners were taken and placed in some oth- 1 CT camp to be exchanged. ! The Eighteenth regiment remain i ed at the fort about two months When marching orders were received 1t made us happy as we were very l anxious to get out of the place and
 were ready for more active duty. The last night at the old fort, the l camp fires were burning very late while the boys were kept busy sing | ing, dancing. making speeches, and
 having a very jolly time. As we | marched out of the old grounds g great cheer arose which was one oi i thanlkfulness, so happy were we to gel outside the place.
 While at Fort McHenry we had 2
 number of visitors from good old Con
 nectfcut whom we were glad to see Among the callers was that genial. .olo friend NIT. William Converse, whom we all honored and loved. He was al so a great friend of Captain Isaac H 1 Bromley. There must be some ole 1 residents of Norwich. who wil re- 1 member that Nom de- Plume, Felex M l Grundy.
 [ Time works many wonderful chang
 es. It is now most 52 years since the Eighteenth regiment left Norwich bound for the seat of war.
 l Let us all help to celebrate tht 1 one hundredth anniversary of tha i good old song "The Star Spanglet l Banner.