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.
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