The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1916-07-12
WHEN OUR BOYS OF
 '6I MARCHED AWAY
General Holiday in Waterbury On April 20, 1S61-MOney
 Quickly Raised. \

Waterbury, July 12.-When oul
 militiamen were called to the color:
 few days ago, excitement reigned a, a high pitch. War was then believed
 to be inevitable. The air was sur
 charged with warlike currents. The
 young men without the least delay took their places in the local com
 panies and then the call was sound
 ed for volunteers to bring the com
 panies up to war strength. The re- sponse was gratifying. The country
 was on the brink of an affair which
 was to decide whether the United
 States should be plunged into war with Mexico or whether we Ameri- cans were to continue the enjoyment of peace and prosperity. The mili- tiamen, many of whom had never been beyond Mantle on military ad- venture, were anxiously awaiting the order to march. They displayed great enthusiasm.
 But in the homes the situation as- stunned a different aspect, especially where there were old folks. Tie trend of affairs had caused them to become reminiscent. They delighted to see the American spirit exemplified as it was in the days of '61, but at the same time they heaHed many a sigh, for they feared the young men were embarking on an adventure which might require of some the some penalties as in '61-'65.
 The old folks laughed and cried as they watched the boys march away, for they could not but think of the scenes which were enacted before them in Civil War times.
 One resident who marched away in '61 was frank to say that Waterbury blundered in its send-off to the troops who are now on the Mexican border. Had it not been for curiosity, saids he, the soldiers departure would have been of no interest to most of the peo- pie, save their relatives. The least the business men could have done was to close their shops for the day. Then he told of how the residents turned out in April '61 to give the soldier boys of those times a send-off.
 { A holiday was declared and the people did everything in their power to encourage and heartep the soldiers. The entire populace turned out. They were massed on the Green, where they were addressed from the band stand by Amer Bradley, then Mayor, the Rev. T. IF. Hendricken, John w.. Webster, s. w. Kellogg, L. W. Coe. C.. H. Carter. Dr. P. G. Rockwell, B. B.. Cooke and N. J. Buel. who in behalf of the clergy, presented pocket Testa-
 6o men.
 On April 20, '61. the order came to march. The wild scenes that at- tended the departure of the troops will never be erased from the memories of those who witnessed the spectacle. Music from the several bands in line made the blood in peo- ple's veins boil with patriotism. The music took such hold of people that they could not restrain themselves from ye1ping like Indians and shout ing all sorts of things of derogatory nature about our southern neighbors. Out of l, 800 voters. Waterbury sent 300 men to the firing line. The pro- cession to the old Bank Street Sta tion was like, they say. Caesars tri- umphant march to Rome. Mothers. wives, brothers and sisters, as we'll as took their places in line and kept step with Yankee Doodle as played by Tompkins' and Merrilps s bands, which, consolidated, led the procession. The fire companies marched with the soldiers. Schools were dismissed for the departure of the troops the pupils participated in the ceremonies. The men went into camp at .Brewster's Park in New Haven on April 2, as Company D.
 To-day the Red Cross society is, so- liciting funds for the relief of sol- diers' families. Many of us scan the figures of the committees report and say to ourselves: Well, we have things down pretty well now. Haven't the people changed2 Who would ever think years ago that the public would donate money so freely to de- pendent families, simply for the ask ing?"
 But don't be misled. Waterburians of to-day are not one whit more char itable than they were 50 years ago. People think they are inaugurastng a new scheme when they contribute to a fund to be expended in relieving soldiers families. Hardly had the boys of '61 been encamped than $11,- 300 had been pledged for the relief of, dependent families whose wage earners had responded to the call. Of this sum ,$1,900, was raised in sub scripions at meeting called imme- diately after the soldiers left for the purpose of devising means for caring for dependent families. Shortly there after Mayor Bradley called a special town meeting and without a single word of objection $1O,000 was voted who had been made dependent by the call to arms.
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