Springfield 1636-1886, History of Town and City, by Mason A. Green ...

534 SPRINGFIELD, 1GS6-ISS6.
outpouring of their meaus to help carry on tlie great worlc of caring
for the soldiers' needs. Jn this connection it may be mentioned that
during the entire period of the war no body of soldiers was allowed
to pass through the city, no matter whence they came, or what their
destination, without receiving sucli food and care as their circum-
stances might require. An especiall}'^ notable incident of this nature
was the passing through the city, on the 8th of October, 1861, late in
the evening, of the troops under command of Senator Wilson, con-
sisting of the Twenty-second Regiment, of which he was colonel, the
Third Batter}^, and the Second Company of Sharpshooters, — all of
which had been recruited at Ileadville under his personal supervision.
Tlie enlisted men were fed in the cars, the officers at the Massasoit
Hotel, and from the balcony there Colonel Wilson, introduced by
jMa3'or Bemis, addressed the immense gathering of people, after
which the train proceeded on its way.
The home demonstrations were many of them notable. On Wash-
ington's birthday, 1802, Mayor Bemis, in the City Hall, produced the
rebel flags captured hy Colonel Lee's regiment at Koanoke Island.
Then Judge Chapman read Washington's farewell address.
But tlie most memorable days were those when Springfield wel-
comed back from the field of war her broken regiments.
The first to return was the Forty-sixth Regiment, which after its nine
mouths' service came back to Springfield on the 21st of July, 18G3.
It was welcomed by Mayor Henry Alexander, Jr., Colonel Shurtleff
responding, and a collation was served at City Hall, the regiment
being mustered out a week later at Hampden park. It was almost a
year before the shattered remnant of the Tenth Regiment arrived, June
25, 1864, its three years of service having been honorablv filled. It
received a very enthusiastic reception at Court square, being welcomed
by Mayor Alexander, Colonel Parsons responding, and the usual col-
lation being furnished in City Hall. The Twenty-seventh came on
the 26th of September following, and its reception was of a simi-
lar nature. General Lee and Lieutenant Colonel Bartholomew re-