GOING TO THE FRONT.
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spoken of above, a Bible, a small volume of Shakspere , and writing utensils.To its top was strapped a double woolen blanket and a rubber one. Many otherthings were left behind because of lack of room in or about the knapsack. |)On our arrival in Boston we were marched through the streets — the firstmarch of any consequence we had taken with our knapsacks and equipments.Our dress consisted of a belt about the body, which held a cartridge-boxand bayonet, a cross-belt, also a haversack and tin drinking-cup, a canteen,and, last but not least, the knapsack strapped to the back. The straps ranover, around, and about one, in confusion most perplexing to our unsophisti-cated shoulders, the knapsack constantly giving the wearer the feeling that hewas being pulled over backward. My canteen banged against my bayonet,both tin cup and bayonet badly interfered with the butt of my musket, whilemy cartridge-box and haversack were constantly flopping up and down—thewhole jangling like loose harness and chains on a runaway horse. As wemarched into Boston Common, I involuntarily cast my eye about for a bench.But for a former experience in offering advice, I should have proposed to thecaptain to “ chip in ” and hire a team to carry our equipments. Such was myfirst experience in war harness. Afterward, with hardened muscles, renderedathletic by long marches and invigorated by hardships, I could look backupon those days and smile, while carrying a knapsack as lightly as my heart.That morning my heart was as heavy as my knapsack. At last the welcome
J) It is said by one of the “ Monticello Guards,” that most of its members started for Bull Run with atrunk and an abundant supply of fine linen shirts.— Editors.