ns scattered throughout the country. When danger
threatened us it became manifest at once, that every peaceful village
was a garrison, and every city a fortified camp. It was often a subject
of merriment while we, like Christopher North were "under canvas," to
relate the particular circumstances of time, place, and occupation at
the moment when each of us found himself suddenly transformed into a
soldier. Each had his story to tell of his numerous "hair's breadth
escapes," as through mud, snow and darkness he made his way to the
appointed rendezvous, on the morning of April 16th.

In Lowell the regiment paraded in Huntington Hall, and there received a
cordial welcome from the people of that city. Taking the cars we arrived
in Boston about noon, and were assigned quarters in one of the armories
in Faneuil Hall. With a view to better accomodations, the regiment in
the afternoon marched to Boylston Hall, and there prepared for as
comfortable a bivouac as circumstances permitted.

Up to this time the weather had been as gloomy as war and dripping
clouds could make it. Having (figuratively) pitched our tents in
Boylston Hall, the discipline of camp-life was at once established, and
communication with the world outside, was largely cut off. This however
did not interfere with the free admission of many tokens of regard from
friends outside, in the form of refreshments of various kinds.

Two memorable incidents of the evening will long be remembered. The
pretty and graceful daughter of Col. Jones was adopted, with all the
honors, as "Daughter of the Regiment"; and secondly the comfortable and
becoming overcoats prepared with wise forethought for the regiment were
issued. The motley outer-garments, in which, up to this moment, we had
found shelter from the storm, were at once discarded. In our new
garments we not only found great comfort;--we also felt that the inner
as well as the outer man could boast a resemblance to "regular" troops.

On the morning of the 17th we were marched to the State House, then and
there to receive the salutations of the Governor, and also to receive,
what at the moment struck some of us as a pretty forcible reminder that
we were now occupying positions that were entirely new to us.

Drawn up in military array in Doric Hall we were each of us "donated"
two blue flannel shirts and some corresponding under garments. This
gratuitous equipment implied _service_. To those of us who within a
twelvemont