I Found That Hartford Was All Alive With Trade, And That Wages Were
High, Because There Are There Two Factories For The Manufacture Of
Arms.
Colt's pistols come from Hartford, as also do Sharpe's
rifles.
Wherever arms can be prepared, or gunpowder; where clothes
or blankets fit for soldiers can be made, or tents or standards, or
things appertaining in any way to warfare, there trade was still
brisk. No being is more costly in his requirements than a soldier,
and no soldier so costly as the American. He must eat and drink of
the best, and have good boots and warm bedding, and good shelter.
There were during the Christmas of 1861 above half a million of
soldiers so to be provided - the President, in his message made in
December to Congress, declared the number to be above six hundred
thousand - and therefore in such places as Hartford trade was very
brisk. I went over the rifle factory, and was shown everything,
but I do not know that I brought away much with me that was worth
any reader's attention. The best of rifles, I have no doubt, were
being made with the greatest rapidity, and all were sent to the
army as soon as finished. I saw some murderous-looking weapons,
with swords attached to them instead of bayonets, but have since
been told by soldiers that the old-fashioned bayonet is thought to
be more serviceable.
Immediately on my arrival in Boston I heard that Mr. Emerson was
going to lecture at the Tremont Hall on the subject of the war, and
I resolved to go and hear him.
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