Evansville weekly journal. [volume] (Evansville, Ind.) 184?-18??, 1848-01-14
From the New Orleans Delta.

SCENEs IN THE QUARTERMASTERs DEPART
MENr OF New ORLEANs.-Those who wish to
see the effects of war, should visit the Quar-
termaster's Office, which is now SO ably con-
Quoted under the superintendent of Major
Tompkins. Early in the morning soldiers will
be seen around the porch of the New CONNER
cal Exchange, eagerly waiting for the arrival
OF the officials connected with the dAaaAment.
When the doors are opened they aEf0sEuP, to
have their accounts adjudIcated.
Here you will see a colonel, who has lust
returned from Mexico. His epaulets are faded
and his countenance is bronzed with exposure.
He has mounted the heights of Monterey
served at Churubusco, Chapultapec, and, like a
lion, sprung through the gates of the city of
Mexico. With his martial cloak thrown care
-lessly around him, he does not seem to think
that he has done anything, but only comes 10
get the accounts of his regiment settled. He
thinks of his home, where his loved ones are.
1t may be that for months he has not received
IA single letter from his friends, and be longs to
meet them. After having sought the s.bubble
reputation cen in the lannon's mouth" he re-
turns to his homestead-and who can tell the
egreetihg that he viii receive? His friends will
cling around him, andlook upon him as the oak
that has scared, though not blasted, by the
lightnings of war. Who would not envy his
49, - y tC 4ANt IlAA1SA AL bAO OQSOll VI
his family?
Again: here enters a stalwart captain, with
an air that shows that he is bravery itself. He
too has been to the wars, and bears the marks Of
honorable wounds. His company to him, have
been like a family, and he is as careful of their
wants as though they Were his own children.
When he gets their accounts settled, and fur
nisles them with transportation totheir homes,
scenes will take place that none but those who
can dive into the depths of human nature can
imagine. sCaptain!" one soldier will say, 81
bid you good byell I'm going home to the West,
for I've got enough ofthe war. When ldeser-
we'd it, sir, you treated me purity hard, as |
thought then, but | don't think so now, sir,
God bless you, sir" Another soldier will come
up-may be with too much brandy in his brain
-s'Captain," says he, how are you, old boss?
We'll, I'VE got through it all, didn't we? You
wouldn't let me have my ticker down thar at
Vera Cruz; but now In discharged, and Pm go
in, on a reglar bender!' Then, again, a staid,
81 per young man, with an almost healed wound
upon his cheek, andhis arm in a sling, approach
es his Captain. His officer, turning around and
seeing his face, grasps his hand. civilian,
my dear fellow, you saved my life at Molin0
del Rey. | shall never forget when a swarthy
Mexican brought his escopeta to bear upon my
breast, you rushed in between us, and received
the pail IN your arm. AND then, fNIillanl,
when | was wounded by a lance; and you were
sabred, you crept up to me, whilst the blood
was gushing from your cheek. and endeavored
to take me off the field. William, we are both
going to our ~homes-perhaps never to meet
again-what can | do for your
Captain" answers the young soldier, as he
wipes his eyes with his u%nwounded hand, 'as
you say, | did do all | could for you. When /
enlisted | swore in my heart that l would new
er desert you. When the balls were coming
on in showers, | didn't care for myself, but
thought of you. Death was nothing, then, sir,
but | thought of one who was far away. !
promised her when | left my hons in Dayton,
Ohio, that | would never desert the banner of
the Stripes and Stars. Captain, give me a line
to my old, dear mother, and in it please say ]
have done my duty
Although the utmost order prevails, such
scenes daily occur in the Quartermaster's De-
partment. What a series of novels might be
founded on the conversations that occur be-
tween soldiers and their captains when the
''fray of battle is over!'