Such, However, Was Not The Case
Either In The Northern Or Western States.
The trains ran much as
usual, and those connected with the boats and railways were just as
anxious as ever to secure passengers.
The boat clerk at La Crosse
apologized amply for the delay; and we sat ourselves down with
patience to await the arrival of the second Minnesota Regiment on
its way to Washington.
During the four hours that we were kept waiting we were harbored on
board a small steamer; and at about eleven the terribly harsh
whistle that is made by the Mississippi boats informed us that the
regiment was arriving. It came up to the quay in two steamers - 750
being brought in that which was to take us back, and 250 in a
smaller one. The moon was very bright, and great flaming torches
were lit on the vessel's side, so that all the operations of the
men were visible. The two steamers had run close up, thrusting us
away from the quay in their passage, but doing it so gently that we
did not even feel the motion. These large boats - and their size
may be understood from the fact that one of them had just brought
down 750 men - are moved so easily and so gently that they come
gliding in among each other without hesitation and without pause.
On English waters we do not willingly run ships against each other;
and when we do so unwillingly, they bump and crush and crash upon
each other, and timbers fly while men are swearing. But here there
was neither crashing nor swearing; and the boats noiselessly
pressed against each other as though they were cased in muslin and
crinoline.
I got out upon the quay and stood close by the plank, watching each
man as he left the vessel and walked across toward the railway.
Those whom I had previously seen in tents were not equipped; but
these men were in uniform, and each bore his musket. Taking them
altogether, they were as fine a set of men as I ever saw collected.
No man could doubt, on seeing them, that they bore on their
countenances the signs of higher breeding and better education than
would be seen in a thousand men enlisted in England. I do not mean
to argue from this that Americans are better than English. I do
not mean to argue here that they are even better educated. My
assertion goes to show that the men generally were taken from a
higher level in the community than that which fills our own ranks.
It was a matter of regret to me, here and on many subsequent
occasions, to see men bound for three years to serve as common
soldiers who were so manifestly fitted for a better and more useful
life. To me it is always a source of sorrow to see a man enlisted.
I feel that the individual recruit is doing badly with himself -
carrying himself, and the strength and intelligence which belong to
him, to a bad market.
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 120 of 277
Words from 61599 to 62112
of 143277
