The first thing in order was a general inspection to satisfy the officers, whose duty it was to see that regiments sent out from the Old Bay State were properly armed and equipped, that we were in a condition to begin active service. After all our belongings were packed on our saddles in the barracks, before we took them over to the stables to saddle up, the department commander with his inspecting officers examined our pack kits. As originally packed, the saddles of a majority of the troopers were loaded so heavily that it would have required four men to a saddle to get one of the packs on the horse's back. When the inspection was completed each trooper could handle his own saddle. [Illustration: 8053] The following articles were thrown out of my collection by the inspectors:-- Two boiled shirts; one pair calfskin shoes; two boxes paper collars; one vest; one big neck scarf; one bed quilt; one feather pillow; one soft felt hat; one tin wash basin; one cap--not regulation pattern; one camp stool--folding; one blacking brush--extra; two cans preserves; one bottle cologne; one pair slippers; one pair buckskin mittens; three fancy neckties; one pair saddle-bags--extra; one tin pan; one bottle hair oil; one looking-glass; one checker-board; one haversack--extra--filled with home victuals; one peck bag walnuts; one hammer. Some of the boys had packed up more extras than I had, and it went against the grain to part with them. But the inspectors knew their business--and ours, too, better than we, as we subsequently discovered--and we were made to understand that we were not going on a pleasure excursion. It is hardly necessary to say that there was scarcely an article thrown out by the inspectors that the soldiers would not have thrown away themselves on their first expedition into the enemy's country. After we had been inspected and trimmed down by the officers, we were reviewed by Governor John A. Andrew. He was attended by his staff, the department commander and other officers. Each company was drawn up in line in its barracks--it was sleeting outside. As the governor came into our quarters, the captain gave the command, “Uncover!” and the company stood at attention as the chief executive of the Old Bay State walked slowly down the line, scanning the faces of the men. I remember that the governor looked at me with a sort of “Where-did-you-come-from, Bub?” expression, and I began to fear that my time had come to go home. The governor said to a staff officer: “Some of the men seem rather young, Colonel!” “Yes, sir; the cavalry uniform makes a man look younger than he is.” “I see. They are a fine body of men, and I have no doubt we shall hear of their doing good service at the front.” A few words of encouragement were spoken by the governor, and he passed on to the barracks of the next company.