The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1882-07-08
AN INTERESTING REMENIgcENcE

To the Editor NATIONAL tribune:
Noticing by the press sometime since that
! Colonel Albert E. Hoyt, of Boston, former edi-
tor Of the american Historical and Genealogical
Magazine, had accepted the chair of history
and literature in Cincinnati college, reminds
US of a pcrilous nights journey with the Colo
mel when we were stationed in the Department
/ of the Gulf BY the way Colonel HOyt was
one of the most popular paymasters OF the
army. Hundreds of soldiers will testify to his
/ kindness in having mistakes corrected on
muster-rolls, made through carccssness, and
many times by the detailing of soldiers away
/ from their regiments, which prevented their
! being paid. Many young officers who went
months without their pay, by the non-receipt
! of their commissions, were put right by the
/ Colonel. All this extra labor made many trips
for the Colonel TO the headquarters of the army,
where he was always a welcome visitor. For
many months the Twelfth Connecticut rcgi-
ment had been on the march from place to
place. 1t had received no pay for a long time.
The families of the men at home were suffering
for the want Of their pay. The muster rolls of
| the regiment had been IN the hands of num-
! Der of different paymasterS to be paid, none
of whom could seem to get to it. Colonel HOyt,
learning of the distress Of the families of the
brave soldiers went TO the Chief Paymaster Of
the Department and requested that the regi-
mcnt might be assigned to him for payment,
which was done. Learning late one evening
that the regiment was to stop over night at
Brashear City, Colonel Hoyt went as once to
the Chief Quartermastcr of the Department and
applied for transportation over the New Orleans
and Opelousas Railroad. A special train was
soon in readiness, and we went speeding
| through swampS on our way TO Brashear City,
distance from the Crescent City of eighty
miles. We had safely passed over ffty-two
miles of the road when we came to a sudden
halt at Latourche. Here we got out and found
that the bridge over the bayou had been burned
by the rebels but a short time before, who had
beat hasty retreat. There was a telegraph
Office here, and we sent a message to the COM
mandant OF the post at Brashear City to send
a train for us. But as no reply coud be got, it
was supposed the wire had been cut by the
rebels. The Twelfth Connecticut regiment was
TO move the next afternoon up the bayou, and
Colonel Hoyt, that indeiatgablc officer and sol
dierS true friend, was bound that the boys
should be paid before they left. A fatboat was
soon i1nprovised, hand-car with men 20 run
it and ourselves put aboard. We were soon
landed safely on the other bank of the stream
Tho hand-car, which was a very heavy one, had
to he carried up a steep and high bank before
the track was reached; this required half hours
hard Labor Of our whole force 10 do the Colo
mel being the hardest worker of the small party.
The car was put on the rails, the Colonel's black
walnut chest, containing $4,000, loaded, and
the order AL aboard" quickly obcycd, and we
were soon passing over the rails at good speed
We had passed about One-haf the distance
when the writer seeing a light lit was a dark
night and there were lights shining from negro
shanties along the sides OF the track gradually
approaching on the track sang out train
coming. jump for your Hves." The hand-car
was vacated in two seconds. The light proved
to be on a fat car which was being backed
down to us by an engine at a high speed Our
telegram had bccH received and the train sent
for us. Chaplain Bradford, of the Twelfth
Connecticut regiment, was aboard and armed
with a lantern, which was very useful in find
ing what had become Of us and our money and
hand-car. The fiat car passed over our hand
car directly we vacated it. Colonel Hoyt, in
jumping spraincd his ankle. One Of the men
who was working the crank to our car was hit
by it the crank and had two ribs broken.
After gathering our wounded and party, we
looked for the cash box and found ii was stove
in several pieces and the $4,000 strewn upon
the track. We gathered up the money, Colonel
Hoyt, hopping around on one leg as lively as
cricket, helping Chaplain Bradford helped us
aboard his train, and we soon found ourselves
at the headquarters OF the regiment where we
were very kindly cared for. The men were all
paid the next morning, it taking over 100000.
After paying the regiment, the Colonel, in look
ing over his cash account, found he was short
Just fifty cents. Considering the condition his
money wa in the night before he thought him
self very lucky. Chaplain Bradford started
the next night for the North, taking greater
part of the money, which he delivered to the
soldiers families. This is but one of the many
incidents that Colonel Albert II. Hoyt took
part in during his arduous services III the late
war of the rebellion. Many of your readers
will remember him as
Statesman, yet friend to truth! OF soul sin
cere
In action faithful, and i'll homo: clear;
Who broke no promise, scrv'd no private end,
Who gain'd title, and who lost 10 friend
NATHAN r. GARDNER,
Brev.-NIaj. & Com. Sub, U. S. Vols.