The National tribune., 1884-04-17


fashioned S. b. coffee and hard tack, with the
old-time tin plate cup and iron spoon, TO assist
in reminding US of camp life. The oEEcers Of
the boat wished TO add such modern friyolities
and Injuries as pickles fruit cake. and silver
plated table ware but this was respectfully
declined, and how the iron spoons did clink
and chatter against the tin plates These ap-
petites, sharpened by hard walking through
the tangled brush, seorned the tid-hits Of
civilized life, and RECALLED their stemaehs on
helpings" upon helping Of the once
familiar food. After supper old army songs,
music by the bands, and perfect Babel Of con-
versation served to pass the heursuntil taps"
RELIC HUNTING.
Monday was spent in relic hunting and fare
we'll visits to familiar spots. Groups Of COM
rades passed over plowed fields and through old
camps in q STOPPING position looking for me-
mentoes Of the fierce battle. The spot where
Prensiss' forces surrendered was shorn of q score
or two Of cedar fence posts in a twinkling, and
each post viii turn up in Gods country in the
shape OF gavelss paper weights and knick knacks
OF all kinds The spot where Albert Sidney
Johnston died was marked By a large, dead
stump, but there is no stump there now. Some
two or three half rotten logs remained as relics
OF the old Shiloh church. Every vestige OF these
logs has vanished, only to turn up as relics Of
Shiloh in Northern homes. About O. eloek on
in from the battlefield and as they crossed the
gang planks of the steamers q curious scene
was presented Nearly everyone was loaded
down with the litter Of the battlefield Canes
by the dozen, cannon balls, shells, pieces Of
shiloh church, scraps of -JohnstOn's tree"
Prentis5 surrender fence posts, wood for gaveis,
bullets, buttons. epauiettes ramrOds by the
score, gun barrels partially decayed camp ket-
| ties and mess pans, bones and teeth Of horses
and harness trimmings came on board IN great
quantities. The.citizens, too, did lively BUSH
ness, selling choice varieties Of the above emu
merated articles to those who had not been so
fortunate as TO find enough on the field. Among
the specially noteworthy relics found are the
following:
FOUND on THE FIELD.
Several metal sutler checks of the 18th Iii
nois infantry, the works Of q watch. cedar c.
$. A. canteen, remains Of a Congress pocket
knife, several silver coins, a 62-pound she'll,
which the finder carried over mile, staple
and piece of halter Overgrown with wood, and
! several gun barrels, bent by Prentiss' men be-
fore they surrendered.
Previous articles have fully described the
appearance of the Shiloh battlefield and moth
ing new can be added. Its appearance now
strikes visitors differently. Some comrades
hardly recognized the place. while others easily
found every desired locality. Great discussion
arose as TO the exact place where Prenriss sur
that it was in an open field, near General
Hurlbuts headquarters. Some controversy was
also INDUCED In as to where Gen. W. H. l.
Wallace fell, but believe Judge Dickey sue
ceeded in locating the spot. One thing has
been definitely settled, at least IN the minds Of
I the members Of the excursion, and that is the
/ fact that the average map Of the field of Shi-
/ lob is snare and a delusi0n. On eaca of the
maps in possession of excursiOnists, the fields,
/ location Of troops and lines of battle we're
| dagrantly incorrect Another fact strikes the
visitor to Shiloh as aVparent-naIaely. that
I there have been more monumental lies told and
written about that battle than concerning any
( other battle of the war.
The visit of the veterans Of the Northwest to
Shiloh viii reopen with renewed vim the great
Shiloh question. Many glaring inaccuracies
will be brought TO light and in the end history
will be corrected.
At p. N. Monday the bell gave the signal
for departure. and the steamers turned their
/ prows down stream while the band PLAYED
| Home Again" Neither hunger nor the IA
| tigue of the fields all day could deter the COM
rades from holding love-feast on board the
! steamer Nisbet, where several boys IN grey
/ Joined the exeursiOnists IN songs. speeches and
/ interchange of warsreminiscences. On Thurs
/ day night the boats reached Evansville. where
I the veterans scattered IN the direction Of their
! homes, perhaps never again to meet
/ Thus ended one of the most remarkable and
enjoyable excursions ever organized. The aim
/ and object OF the trip, the perfect arrange
ments, the Splendid weather, and the character
/ of the party all combined TO render the occa-
/ sion memorable to those who participated and
I to leave a regret in the bosom of these who
/ failed TO participate. So smoothly and sasIsrAe-
/ torily did everything pass of that the mana
I gers have already been requested to organize
similar excursion next year 70 Flcks5RTg and
New Orleans. j. Ii. C.