USA > Maine > Waldo County > Belfast > History of the city of Belfast in the state of Maine v.I, 1770-1875 > Part 41
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" Having ascertained that the object of the expedition up the Penobscot had been attained," says the despatch of the British commander, "it was no longer necessary for me to occupy Belfast. I therefore, on the evening of the 6th,8 directed Major-general Gosselin to embark the troops and join me here [Castine]." At about ten o'clock the next morning, this order was carried into effect, and the departure made in the same quiet and orderly man- ner as the arrival. While an oath of allegiance or of neutrality was required of all the inhabitants between the Penobscot and St. Croix Rivers, as a condition of protection, such a requirement did not include Belfast, as not being within the British dominions, and the town remained unvisited by the enemy during the rest of the war. Its occupation was only for a temporary purpose : that of the eastern territory was intended to be permanent.
In 1814, the military strength of the town consisted of two companies of militia, commanded respectively by Captains Nathan
1 Mr. Edmunds desired Ebenezer Colburn to furnish some beef, but he failed to com- ply; and it is doubtful if the enemy received much from the town in its municipal capacity. Yet, in 1816, John Cochran was paid five dollars "for half a ton of hay for the British troops, Sept. 1, 1814, by order of A. Edmunds."- Town papers.
2 Locke's Sketches.
8 The date of this despatch indicates that the enemy remained here six days. Con- temporary accounts say four. Colonel Ulmer's despatch to the Adjutant-general, post, gives the former number.
439
MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815.
Swan and Robert Kelsey; the artillery, commanded by Captain Alfred Johnson ; and a small body of cavalry, of which Annas Campbell was captain. During the evening before the enemy . arrived, the two field-pieces belonging to the artillery were con- cealed in the woods near A. W. Park's, between the Belmont road and Poor's Mills. Some thirty stand of arms were secreted at Peter Rowe's, and others in the Durham house on Wilson's hill.
Upon the departure of the enemy, the militia of the neighbor- ing towns, commanded by Colonel Jacob Ulmer of Lincolnville, and Colonel John Cummings of Freedom, which had been assem- bling for several days at the edge of Belmont, marched into the village.1 Their conduct here was not marked by that strict disci-
1 Since this chapter was written, a copy of Colonel Ulmer's despatch to the Adjutant- general, concerning the investment of Belfast, has been kindly furnished by Z. K. Har- mon, Esq., of Portland. The following are extracts : -
LINCOLNVILLE, Sept. 29, 1814.
On the 2d instant, I was informed of the enemy's landing a force of about 500 or 600 men at Belfast, which is ten miles from my residence; and immediately I ordered the regiment of militia which I have the honor to command to he under arms, and to march against him. I was, in the first instance, informed they had marched to Hamp- den, with about 300 men, with an intention to destroy the shipping on Penobscot River. I accordingly put myself in motion, with as many of my regiment as could immediately be collected, to pursue him, and to co-operate with the force at Hampden. In this I was disappointed. Having marched within ten miles of that place, through woods, &c., I there learned, to my great mortification, the total defeat of all the militia at that place. I then fell back to Belmont, five miles from Belfast, and there encamped, waiting for reinforcements (which I expected) with an intention then to attack the enemy, then in Belfast, taking care to cut off and prevent supplies going to him from the extensive coun- try round about there. On the 6th instant, he precipitately embarked with his whole force from Belfast, and we marched in and took the ground they had lately left, expect- ing then an immediate attack would be made on Camden. At that time, Colonel Cum- mnings, with his regiment of the 11th Division, was encamped in Belmont with me. . . .
In obedience to the despatch received and alluded to, I have dismissed the regi- ment under my command, with orders to hold themselves in readiness to march at the shortest notice. The effects produced by their discharge is the almost daily passing of beef, cattle, grain, and supplies of almost every description the country affords, from Belfast, and other places in the vicinity of the Penobscot River, in large quantities, bound towards the enemy at Castine, which, as I am credibly informed, can be proved, and I think might he prevented, by vigilant militia guards stationed on and about the Penobscot River, in proper places. I am extremely sorry to see so many as there appear to be, in Belfast and its vicinity, show such striking marks of favor for the ene- my, and prejudices against our own militia, as evidently seems with an intention to trade with and supply the enemy all in their power. The enemy at Castine frequently send out their foraging parties and plunder the inhabitants, which they attempted on the 23d instant, at Northport, with five barges. I met them with a party of my regiment, and they were repulsed. Sometimes they demand their fire-arms, and at other times such supplies as they may want, frequently rohbing houses, &c. Desertion from Cas- tine has been quite common, and I believe would be still more so, if there was any military force on or near the Penobscot River, to secure and assist them in their escape.
440
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
pline which characterized the British, to whose martial bearing they appeared in striking contrast. As an investment of Camden was anticipated, our forces proceeded in that direction as far as Dickey's Bluff, where they reconnoitred for a few hours, and re- turned. Our local companies were ordered to reinforce the troops which had gone to Hampden. Upon reaching West Prospect, now Searsport, they learned the disastrous result of that expedi- tion, and returned ; Captain Johnson, of the artillery, leaving his guns on the east side of the river, where they were concealed until peace was declared. The soldiers from abroad remained here but a day. A portion of them afterwards did duty along the coast and at Wiscasset. After forty years had elapsed, it was dis- covered that the companies1 of Captains Swan and Kelsey had been in active service long enough to be rewarded by their grate- ful country. The following is a list of the members, most of whom, or their representatives, received land warrants, under an Act of Congress passed in 1855 : -
Pay-roll2 of Capt. Nathan Swan's Company, under the command of Jacob Ulmer, of the Second Regiment, First Brigade, Tenth Division of Massa- chusetts Militia in the State's service, stationed at Belfast, commencing Sept. 2, 1814, ending Sept. 21, 1814.
.
No. of Days.
Pay.
No. of Days.
Pay.
Capt., Nathan Swan
19 $36.78
Fifer, John Merrill.
14 6.19
Lient.
"
Drummer, Jonathan T. Quimby .
Ensign, R. C. Johnson
16
17.06
14 6.19
1st Sergt., Alfred Sawyer
19 9.81
William Avery
"
2d Sergt., Jeremiah Swan
17 8.78
Lewis Bean
16 5.87
3d Sergt., Benj. Monroe . 17
8.78
Parker Brown
16 5.87
4th Sergt., Joshua Adams
16
8.26
Samnel Brown
15 5.82
1st Corp., Ebenezer Wil- liams .
16
7.60
Ebenezer Colburn, Jr.
16
5.87
2d Corp., Josiah Bean
16
7.60
Robert B. Cochran .
19
6.98
8d Corp., James Holmes .
16
7.60
John Crea
19
6.98
4th Corp., Benj. Poor . 17
8.07
David Durham
16
5.87
Joshua Brackett
17
6.25
1 These companies belonged to the Second Regiment, First Brigade, Tenth Division of Massachusetts Militia. The field and staff officers of the regiment were as follows: Jacob Ulmer, Lincolnville, Lieutenant-colonel, commanding; Noah Miller, Northport, Major ; Thomas Cunningham, Jr., Belfast, Major ; William Salmond, Belfast, Adjutant ; Chauncy C. Chandler, Belfast, Surgeon; Charles Hall, Belfast, Surgeon's Mate; Ben- jamin Stevens, Northport, Sergeant Major; George Ulmer, Lincolnville, Quartermas- ter's Sergeant; Thomas Osborn, Belfast, Drum-major ; Samnel Jackson, Belfast, Fife- major.
2 From the original, in possession of William H. Burrill, Esq.
441
MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815.
No, of Days.
Pay.
Days.
Pay.
Jonathan Durham .
16
5.87
James Miller, Jr.
16
5.87
Andrew Derby
16 5.87
John Moor
16
5.87
James Douglas
19 6.98
Zebulon Murch
19 6.98
John Dolliff
15
5.52
Samuel Peck
16
5.87
Robert Emery
19
6.98
Richard Rider
19
6.98
Benj. Frost, Jr.
16
5.87
Peter Rowe
12
4.40
Samuel French .
15
5.52
Jonathan Stevens
19
6.98
Jacob French
17
6.25
Aaron Sawyer
12
4.40
Andrew McFarlan
17
5.52
William White, 2d.
16
5.87
William Frederick .
16
5.87
Peter Winslow
16
5.87
Samuel Fletcher
19
6.98
Stephen Wentworth
19
6.98
Peter Holmes
17
5.87
Joseph Whittaker .
19
6.98
John Holmes
16
5.87
Daniel Johnson, Jr.
12
4.40
James Kelloch
16
5.87
Muster-roll of Capt. Robert Kelsey's Company of Militia, in Col. Ulmer's Regiment, raised in Belfast, and in service at Belfast and vicinity, from the 2d to the 21st of September, 1814.
Robert Kelsey, Captain. Shepard Blanchard, Lieutenant. Joshua Nickerson, Ensign.
Sergeants.
Corporals.
William Durham.
Daniel Brackett.
James Houston.
Charles Gordon.
John McKeen.
Jesse Basford.
Robert L. Eells.
John Houston.
Musicians.
William G. Ordway.
William Griffin.
Privates.
John Ames.
Nathaniel French.
Seth W. Eells.
Robert Patterson.
John Gilmore, 2d.
Salathiel Nickerson.
Elisha Patterson.
John Ryan, Jr.
Robert Patterson, 5th.
James Cunningham.
George Patterson.
Moses Brier. Miles Coombs.
Eleazer Davis.
Cornelius Lane.
John Patterson.
Jerome Stephenson. Reuel Philbrook.
John Shute.
Abram French.
Miles Fowler.
Hugh Ross.
No. of
John Croxford.
442
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
The British strongly fortified Castine, which became the most important place in Maine while the war continued. A large trade was maintained ; and, as specie constituted the only circulat- ing medium, all the eastern banks were soon compelled to stop payment. During the winter of 1814-15, extensive smuggling operations were carried on, in which Belfast was to some extent engaged. Although commerce by sea was at an end, the substitu- tion of that by land proved more remunerative. Large quantities of foreign goods found their way " over the lines " to this town, and were abundant and cheap. Horses, oxen, and teams of all descriptions were in constant demand for conveying contraband merchandise from Penobscot to Portland and Boston ; money became abundant, produce found a ready sale, and the possession of the enemy proved an advantage rather than an injury.
On the 2d of November, 1814, Major Noah Miller of Lincoln- ville, with six men in an open boat, captured in our bay, off Turtle Head, the sloop " Mary," bound from Halifax to Castine, with a valuable cargo of dry goods. Carrying his prize to Camden, Miller caused her contents to be unladen, and transported over land to Portland, where they were sold by the United States authorities for $70,000. Upon the news reaching Castine, an armed vessel was despatched to Camden, and the destruction of the town threatened in default of a return of the cargo. But, as the goods were beyond the limits of the town, these threats were not executed. Two of the selectmen were carried away as host- ages, but afterwards released.1
Major-general Gerard Gosselin 2 commanded the military at Castine, and acted as Provincial Governor. No person was allowed to remain at Castine without permission, or to travel within the new dominions unprovided with a pass. The following is a copy of one of the latter, issued to a prominent citizen here : -
Major-general Gosselin, commanding all his Britannic Majesty's Land Forces on the Eastern Side of the Penobscot River, and all the Country lying between the same River and the Boundary Line of New Brunswick, &c., &c., &c.
License is hereby granted to Mr. John Angier, of Belfast, to re- main in Castine for the period of one Month from the date hereof.
1 Whipple's View, 103; Locke's Camden, 138. In 1856, Congress refunded to the survivors of the crew, and the representatives of those who had deceased, $33,000, being the moiety wrongfully retained by government at the time of the sale.
2 General Gosselin died at Mount Ospringe, Kent Co., England, June 11, 1859, aged ninety years.
:
443
MILITARY HISTORY FROM 1784 TO 1815.
He is not to feel himself authoriz'd to Travel over any other part of the Territory of the Penobscot, or of the British Dominions, without a special permission so to do.
Given under my hand at Castine, this eighth day of February 1815.
& Gopatra Dali
A treaty of peace was signed at Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814. The news reached New York on the eleventh day of February, and was received here four days later with great demonstrations of joy. Whittier's tavern was illuminated ; and, the field-pieces being brought from their place of concealment, a salute was fired at Nesmith's Corner. The British remained in possession of Castine until April 25, 1815.
444
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
CHAPTER XXX.
MILITARY HISTORY : CONTINUED.
Review by Governor Brooks. - Militia System reorganized. - Belfast Light Infantry. - Governor Lincoln here. - Military Excursions. - Militia Trainings. - Lieutenant Asa Day. - Frolic. - Gun-house. - Salute to Joseph P. Martin. - Aroostook War. - Drafted Men from Belfast. - Requisition for Supplies. - Measures to fortify Penob- scot River. - Steam Frigate "Missouri." - Musters. - Mexican War. - Company raised here. - Rifle Company. - Convention of Soldiers of War of 1812. - Revival of Military Spirit. - Colonel James W. Webster appointed Adjutant-general. - City Greys. - Artillery. - Officers. - Encampment. - General Webster's Account. - Metrical Version. - Brigade Muster of 1858. - Distinguished Guests. - Governor Morrill. - Jefferson Davis reviews the Troops. - Banquet- - Adjutant-general's Report in Prose and Verse.
G OVERNOR JOHN BROOKS was here in 1818, and reviewed the troops at their annual muster. The exercises took place in a field on the upper bridge road.
In 1820, after the separation of Maine from Massachusetts, a new arrangement of the militia was made. Belfast became in- cluded in the Third Division, First Brigade, and Second Regi- ment. The regimental officers were Thomas Cunningham, Colonel; Ebenezer Williams, Lieutenant-colonel ; Phillip Morrill, Major; William Salmond, Adjutant; Benjamin Monroe, Quartermaster ; Benjamin Eells, Paymaster ; C. C. Chandler, Surgeon ; Hollis Monroe, Surgeon's Mate ; and Alfred Johuson, Chaplain. The first muster, under the new system, was held October 12.
In April, 1822, the Belfast Light Infantry was organized, and the following officers chosen : Oshea Page, Captain ; Joel Hills, Lieutenant ; and Dudley Griffin, Ensign. This company, composed entirely of young men, maintained for twenty years a high mili- tary discipline. By unremitted drills at the academy and town halls, they acquired a distinguished reputation in this section of the State.
In 1824, the town voted "to furnish money to the militia in
1
445
MILITARY HISTORY.
lieu of rations," and also authorized the selectmen "to purchase a piece of land as a site for a gun-house, if one can be procured for ten dollars within a mile of the village."
" Yesterday, at twelve o'clock," says the "Gazette " of Sept. 19, 1827, "Governor Lincoln and suite arrived in town to review the troops this day to be mustered. A cavalcade of our citizens es- corted him to town, and his approach was announced by a salute proper for such an occasion. He alighted at the Eagle Hotel, where a large and respectable number of citizens greeted his arrival." The governor found but few soldiers to review. Out of fifteen companies attached to the regiment, only two hundred and nineteen privates were on the rolls. The review was held on the east side of the river. Major-general Hodsdon afterwards filed charges against the officers for neglect of duty ; and at a court-martial, presided over by General Jedediah Herrick, the colonel commanding was found guilty of the smallest specification preferred, but the other officers were acquitted.
The 4th of July, 1831, was celebrated by the Light Infantry by an excursion to Castine in the schooner " Mechanic." On the 24th of August, the Bangor Independent Volunteers were the guests of this company and entertained by a dinner at the Eagle Hotel.
About this time, strong prejudices began to exist against militia musters and trainings, which culminated in 1833 by the election of Asa Day - who is still remembered as an inoffensive, weak-minded old man - as lieutenant of the village company. He was chosen for the purpose of rendering the organization ridiculous, - a method which succeeded. In attempting to exer- cise his command, a frolic ensued, and general insubordination prevailed. From that date, the militia system in this locality ceased to be held in respect, and speedily declined, leaving the uniformed disciplined companies to maintain the dignity of the soldier.
As a better gun-house was needed, in 1834 the town appro- priated $150 for the purpose ; and the building, which still re- mains on Bridge Street, was erected in 1836 on land purchased by the State of John Doyle.
In September, 1836, the Light Infantry marched to Bucksport, eighteen miles, on an excursion, leaving here at one o'clock P.M., and arriving at six. In passing through Prospect, now Stockton,
446
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
they honored Joseph P. Martin,1 a hero of the Revolution, by firing a salute in front of his house.
Owing to some military difficulty, the Light Infantry did not parade at the annual muster in 1837. The officers appeared on the field, " armed and equipped as the law directs," but without a company. At this time, the most prominent young men here were members.2
THE AROOSTOOK WAR.
Information that the British government claimed exclusive jurisdiction over lands on the north-eastern frontier of Maine, known as "the disputed territory," was received in February, 1839, and created intense excitement. Vigorous measures for maintaining our rights were immediately taken by the Legisla- ture ; and orders followed for a force of ten thousand men, to be raised by draft, from the militia, to repair to the scene of alleged hostilities. As Governor Harvey, of New Brunswick, had troops already on the spot, our military movements were made with remarkable activity for days when railroads and telegraphs did not exist. In less than a week the whole force was on its way to Aroostook. The quota from Belfast was thirty men, taken from the three companies then organized here, as fol- lows : 8-
1 Mr. Martin was the son of a minister of Berkshire County, Mass. He enlisted in the Revolutionary army in 1776, when sixteen years old, and with the interval of a few months served until the close of the war, being present at the surrender of Cornwallis. In 1784, he settled in Prospect, where he passed the remainder of his life. He died May 2, 1850, aged about ninety. About 1830, he published a hook entitled "Nar- rative of a Revolutionary Soldier." He held various offices of trust in Prospect, being repeatedly town clerk, selectman, and for over a quarter of a century town clerk.
2 On the 26th of August, 1870, a reunion of the Light Infantry took place at the house of H. N. Palmer, to welcome Captain Benjamin P. Swan, of Natchez, Miss., a former commander, who left in 1837. There were present, besides Captain Swan, Lieutenants H. N. Palmer and William T. Colburn, Privates Oakes Angier, B. F. Barker, Joseph Bean, William H. Conner, Daniel Haraden, William Holt, H. N. Lan- caster, Daniel Lane, Jr., Alfred J. Libby, Thomas W. Lothrop, William O. Poor, Wil- liam A. Swift, S. G. Thurlow, John Wales, and John W. White. Four others living here were unable to attend, - viz., Daniel G. Hinds, Sherburn Sleeper, Robert Thompson, and John Wilson, - making twenty-two out of the thirty-six members of 1837 who, after a lapse of thirty-three years, answered to roll-call.
8 Only twenty-four hours after the draft was allowed to obey orders, or procure a substitute.
447
MILITARY HISTORY.
List of Men from Belfast who served in the Aroostook Expedition, in 1839.1 Time : From February 20 to April 23, 1839.
Officers. DANIEL DORITY, Captain, Light Infantry, 3d Division.
JOHN P. WOOD, 1st Lieut., ,, "
JOSEPH EATON, 2d ,,
" "
Name of Soldier.
Rank.
Drafted from
Charles U. Burkmar
Capt. B. P. Swan's Co., Lt. Inf., Ist Regt., 2d Brig., 3d Div.
William A. Swift
Henry Noyes .
,,
,,
"
"
"
",
"
"
"
Hiram Chase .
Mus'n. |Capt. S. C. Nickerson's ·
Spencer Hopkins
James Clayton
Priv'te.
"
"
,,
Albert Hanson
Simeon H. Larabee.
"
,-
"
"
=
Henry L. Swett .
Amasa T. Patterson
Corp. Priv'te.
=
"
"
=
Robert Maker
Capt. Almond Dickey's Co., Inf.
Calvin Emerson .
Jonathan Knowles .
Daniel Calef
"
"
"
"
James O. Cunningham
"
"
"
Elias Whittier
Robert P. Pote
"
"
=
"
"
"
Frederick A. Patterson
"
Theophilus Colson .
Capt. David Dow's Co., Lt. Inf.2
"
Robert Brier, Jr.
Thomas J. Knox
"
Thomas H. Henderson
Charles Day
"
Wm. F. Wilson
"
Josiah H. Emerson
=
Valentine R.Lancaster
Albert Durham
"
"
=
John Edwards
"
",
Jobn M. Shuman
"
"
John Patterson
"
„
,,
"
"
"
"
The Belfast soldiers were ordered to report at Bangor, and left here by stage on the 19th of February. Proceeding to Oldtown by rail, they marched through the snow from there to Madawaska. By act of the Legislature, the selectmen of each town were re- quired to furnish rations, camp equipage, and transportation for their respective quotas. This was promptly done here to the amount of $598.40.3 The disbursements were afterwards par-
1 From official files, Adjutant-general's office.
2 West Prospect Company.
8 The items were: To paid Herbert R. Sargent, 21 barrels bread, $116.77; B. Hazeltine, beef and pork, $94 ; John Haraden & Son, do., $75.50; W. T. Colburn, provisions, $33.80; George Woods, molasses, tea, &c., $9.72 ; H. O. Alden, tents and camp-kettles, $49.07; Plummer & Mosman, axes, $14.06; S. Lunt, tin-ware, $6.44; William Tilden, knapsacks, $12; John T. Patterson, for himself and horse-team, six- teen days transporting provisions, $3 per day and expenses, $74.02; John Walton, transporting provisions, $40.14; H. N. Lancaster, transporting seventeen men from Belfast to Bangor, and thirteen men from Belfast to Sunkhaze, to overtake detachment,
=
Corp. ořá. Priv'te.
„,
=
448
HISTORY OF BELFAST.
tially repaid by the State. Early in the spring, a peaceful settle- ment of the territorial difficulties was agreed upon, followed by the withdrawal of the troops. The Belfast men, with a few exceptions,1 returned home in good health.
In 1841, apprehensions of a difficulty with England concerning the north-eastern boundary question induced measures for fortify- ing Penobscot River. At a public meeting held April 20, a com- mittee was chosen to petition Congress for immediate action upon the subject. The result of efforts here and elsewhere secured an appropriation for building the military work at Bucks- port Narrows, called Fort Knox.
The United States steam frigate "Missouri," commander John T. Newton, arrived in our harbor on Wednesday forenoon, Aug. 24, 1842, from New York, via Castine, and anchored near the monument. During her stay of two days, she was visited by five thousand persons. The steamer "Jefferson," of Frankfort, from the Steamboat Wharf, and row-boats from the foot of Condon Street, made constant trips to and from the ship. The "Mis- souri " measured two thousand tons, and at that time was the largest steamship in the world. In just a year from the day of leaving our bay, she was destroyed by fire at Gibraltar. Among the lieutenants attached to her while here were John A. Winslow, afterwards distinguished for capturing the Confederate privateer " Alabama," and Simon B. Bissell, afterwards Commodore.
From 1802 until 1843, a muster of all the troops belonging to the local regiment was held here almost every year consecutively. The companies assembled early in the morning of a day desig- nated, usually in September, and marched to the old muster-field on the east side of the river, where they were reviewed by the general of the division or brigade. As the village increased, the musters were held on this side : occasionally in fields on the upper bridge road and on Waldo Avenue; generally in the Salmond field at the head of Salmond Street. The line was formed on the Common, and usually extended from Miller Street to the westerly
$37.25; Edwin Ellis, transportation, $17; N. H. Bradbury, services and expenses, $17; D. D. Pinkham, freight of camp equipage, $1.25.
1 A resolve of the Legislature in 1842 gave a pension of four dollars per month to Albert Hanson, for disability incurred in the Aroostook expedition, and another resolve the same year gave a pension of six dollars per month to Charles U. Burkmar. The latter resolve was repeated in 1863. The " Journal " of March 21, 1839, contains the following : "Died in the Aroostook army, David Houston, a volunteer from Belfast, aged about forty-eight."
449
MILITARY HISTORY.
side of the meeting-honse lot. When the ranks were full, the companies made quite an imposing appearance as they marched down Church Street to inspiriting music. The last regimental muster was Sept. 8, 1843, and to the youthful mind formed a sad contrast to the glory of former occasions, the Belfast militia, num- bering thirty men, being the only company on parade. Thus passed away in this section the most prominent of New England holidays, an occasion which was always anticipated and enjoyed by old and young. In the days when almost every town had its company, the militia captain was one of the dignitaries of the vil- lage. A field officer had more than local reputation, and not to know the colonel of the regiment argued one's own insiguificance. He was a man to be respected for his office, which was more desir- able, so far as honor goes, than many a position of larger useful- ness. The glories of the tented field were resplendent in the eyes of young Americans, whose fathers fought in the Revolution. The forming of the line, the marching to drum and fife, the ma- nænvres and sham fights, the cider and gingerbread, the epaulets and the plumes, the side-shows and the rural spectators, were sub- jects of wonder and amusement for months. In the march across the field of the gandily-uniformed column, with the colonel, or perhaps the general, at its head, the imagination beheld the Con- tinental army led by Washington, or Napoleon crossing the Alps. The two or three iron four-pounders were token of all the sieges recorded in history. Patriotism and the desire of fame were kindled in the rustic breast. To parade on horseback, sword in hand, for one's country, seemed then to be a sweet and decorous service. What if fathers and brothers did come home more inspired with hard cider and New England rum than with the spirit of peace? Something must be excused to the valor that conld sleep in a tent and carry a musket bravely. To belong to the militia was a kind of heroic dissipation, and going to muster was the favorite relief from the monotonous round of daily toil. "These were the days when simple pleasures satisfied, and when war seemed so far off from actual experience that playing soldier flattered vanity, withont suggesting dangers." 1
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