The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1883-04-19

pride! The Builder.
HOME ON FURL0UGH.
The Best Streak Of Sunshine in the
Life of the Union Soldier.
BY the Rev. b. T. Hutchins, formerly
Captain Sixth United States Cavalry, Brevet
Ma or United States Army.
War Annals ia Phil. Times.
Among the incidents that will bring
back to tie mind of the soldier some oil
pleasant phases of army life, and which
went far to make bright the toiling, suf.
tering and sometimes weary life of the
soldier, l know of none that has hap
pier feature than the soldiers furlough.
Let us try and recall our first furlough,
and see if it was not the experience OF
thousands who may read these remin-
iscences. As the term ofenlistment had
nearly expired, and when the soldier
could honorably be relieved of further
campaigning and longer privations,
the president of the United States
called for more troops and most
earnestly invited those who had "borne
the brunt Of the battle" to re-enlist for a
term, called "during the war; Those
soldiers who accepted this invitation
were given a furlough of thirty days.
And what days those were! 1t did not
take much pleading anu urging for a
brave man to re-enlist. 1t was at that time
that regiments were sifted and the
drones and the hangers on and the in
variably sick soldier were allowed to
turn in their equipments and go home to
stay. But the roll was called and each
company had representa- Ion Of veter-
ans, whose pledge Of loyalty and devo-
ton was as sincere as the government
for which they fought.
The first news the soldier received of
his furlough was in camp. Perhaps it
was after retreat, while sitting around
the campfire, partaking of his evening
rations, talking Of camp life or the pleas
anter story of home and those SO far
away. An orderly from headquarters
rides into camp and gives the Colonel a
furlough for his regiment or portion of
his command for thirty days. Tin cups
and tin plates, caps and coats, are flung
high into the air and wild, hearty and
enthusiastic cheer goes up. The hospi-
tai is visited and those who are able to
join their comrades are discharged,
while the sick or wounded one, who can
not bear the excitement Of the Journey,
bravely contents himself. Every soldier
who was unable to 60 with those fur
Laughed had some message of love and
loyalty to send to those at home.
knapsacks and haversacks were emp
tied cleaned and reflled. Guns or sabfes
and side-arlns were taken from the rack
and made to shine brighter than ever.
Pocket books were opened and every
cent counted. for the paymaster had
been around and settled Uncle Sans
little delinquencies. A new pocket was
made in the undershirt for the govern
ment bounty money, which they were
to take home. During the night they
visit other friends in the brigade and tell
them the glad news. During the great
er part of the night there are some of
the boys awake, smoking their pipes or
perhaps INDUCING in just wee drop of
the "commissary," for their joy drives
away all WEAKNESS. And at last morn
ing dawns and the reveille is sounded.
is found in his company line. Very few
men are absent from the roll call. All
those on detached service" have heard
the news and have come struggling in
during the night to partake of their
share in the grand furlough. Breakfast
is speedily served and eaten, the regi-
ment forms and the column Of brave
men take up the march for the cars.
Cheers are given by other regiments as
they pass and the shout is heard: "Our
turn is coming SOON"
Each was obliged to have his own
ticket as the entire state was represent
ted in his regiment, and in some cases as
soon as the boundary line of the COM
monweal th was reached the men became
scattered. Therefore, some of the
scenes at the ticket office were very
amusing. The troops of the Army of the
Potonac were generally first Transport
ted to Washington and at that great ma
tional post the soldier on furlough re-
ceived from the Quartermaster his trans
portation papers. Then the rush at the
ticket office began. The railroad ticket
agent had no easy task in those busting,
crOwding days of twenty years ago, but
as general thing they were always po-
lite and pleasant to the soldier. Fifty of
these jubilant fellows would rush pell
nell togethersinto the Office and shout:
"Give me ticket to 60 home!" as if the
agent knew where was his home. "Show
me your papers," was the reply. "Here
they are, sir" was the response, land
hurry up, if you please"
The next time we meet the furlOuch.
ed soldier it is on the cars. These trainG
that conveyed the soldiers home on fur
Tough were generally specials, made up
for the occasion, and the soldiers was
very apt to make his condition as COM
Portable as possible. Let us take walk
through the cars as they, are swiftly
speeding towards home. Some of the
men, from loss of sleep during the pre-
vious night, others tired out from little
too much excitement Gas the boys used
to call certain imprudence), we find
fast asleep. Their three years expert
ence in the field of Virginia and their
experience of sleeping on the
sharn side of fence rail came into good
service as they improvised beds in the
cars and took position, which was any
thing than that of soldier,
A great many were assembled in little
knots and were cracking many joke,
which seemed more clever than ever.
Here and there was soldier, with
moistened eye and sad countenance.
These were thinking of a dear one in
the family group that had passed away
since he marched out of the village for
the seat of war. Others are looking
through their luggage and showing some
relic picked up from off some prominent
battle field that they were going to pres
ent to their Town Library Association.
In one corner of the car / see the old
battle flags of the regiment, now soiled
and riddled with the enemy's bullets.
One of the stats is broken, having been
shot away at Fredericksburg as the reg
iment was crossing the railroad. Still
this was more precious than the others,
for their brave color sergeant lost his
life bearing aloft the old flag, and never
relaxed his hold until the colors were
seized by another sergeant equally q