h had figured in the hall over our heads, as representatives
of the sovereign people, it indicated a very marked change of
circumstances.

Among other tokens of the confidence reposed in our patriotism and
prowess, a heavy cavalry revolver was bestowed upon each of the field
and staff officers. As these could not be conveniently carried, on the
return march, by those who had been made the happy recipients of these
bulky favors, they were bundled together and consigned for safe-keeping
to the Chaplain, to be borne on the line of march back to Boylston Hall.
Why that functionary should have been chosen to carry a whole armory of
weapons, in the sight of the admiring crowds that lined the streets of
Boston remains a question. Opinions are equally divided as to whether,
_as chaplain_ he would be most likely to prevent a hasty and rash
use of fire-arms; or whether, he was _de facto_ a "common carrier,"
on the ground that ministers were made and designed for "bearing
burdens."

Early in the afternoon, the regiments entered the cars of the Worcester
Railroad, and the march to Washington was fairly begun. So long as
daylight permitted, tokens of the uprising of the people of the
commonwealth were everywhere visible; and when darkness had settled down
around us, we caught glimpses of excited multitudes as the cars dashed
on without stopping, by the brilliantly illuminated depots and
settlements along the route. Our reception at Springfield was of a truly
jubilant character. Refreshments in great profusion, and of the most
appetizing kind were furnished and received a most cordial welcome
within our hungry ranks. The streets were illuminated, and cannon
thundered in every direction. Our stay was a short one; and we rattled
on and on until the morning revealed the fact that we were in
Connecticut and not far from New York.

It will require a more gifted pen than the one that traces these lines
to picture the march of the "Old Sixth" through the city of New York.
Never before had so _deep_ because so _peculiar_ an enthusiasm
pervaded the people of that vast metropolis. Patriotism, under its
normal and customary forms, had, on many previous occasions, been
wrought up to an intense height; but now it was not to celebrate their
national independence, but to secure their national existence, or
rather, to settle the question whether the American people were, or were
not a Nation.

At the St. Nicholas and other places, the wants of