Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1886-03-20
LEAVES FROM AN OLD DIARY.
ECHOEs OF THE TfMEs THAT sEvsRE
LY TRIED MEMS SOULS.
Mustered Out Of Service. hut Unable 10 Got
uome--A Glorious Nap Disturbed by
Bushwhackers-saved by = womsn's
wit and . Band of shermsns
Angels--lIome sweet Home


| Sherman's army, and my three years SER
vice having expired, | called upon Lieut.
| Tracy, commissary of musters, to muster me
| out Of service, on the 80 OF October, 1864. He
began TO do so but before the blanks were
half filed up a squad Of men belonging To
my regiment drew up in front OF the com.
| missary's tent for the same purpose. / told
Lieut. Tracy was In no hurry, and at once
waived my claim to priority In favor Of the
dozen or more Of my comrades In waiting.
These were mustered out in due form, and
the commissary was about to finish my
papers when an order from eadquarters was
received to "pack up everything, instantly,
and prepare to move TO the rear"
There were rumors day or two before
that the rebel general Hood, had moved his
army around Atlanta and was tearing up the
railroad at Big Shanty, north OF Marietta,
with view OF cutting Off Sherman's sup
plies The rumor proved to be true. How
Sherman pursued the rebels until they had
crossed the Tennessee river on their great
dash at Nashville, and how, after they had
crossed that stream, he left them to the ten
der mercies Of Gen. Thomas, while he
wheeled about and made his march to the
sea, IL history, with which have nothing to
do here. 1t is sufficient to say that after a
lanta we reached Rome, Ga, where / re-
ceived my final muster-out and discharge
from the army but Gen. Hood still being
in our rear, was requested by Gen. Carlin
10 remain on duty and assist in the transpor-
tation. This did for five days more, when
we camped on the 18th on the Lafayette road
near the little town of Villanow.
Here IL was that Sherman ordered all dis
charged soldiers, all onvalescents-men,
mules and horses-all unnecessary or unser-
viceable commlssary and quartermaster
stores, to be removed to Chattanooga, while
he made his grand march through the very
centre of the Confederacy.
Our army of discharged and convalescent
soldiers was not so large as Sherman's, by
long odds, and yet we were caravan OF no
mean dimensions, and i suppose occupied a
mile or more in length, marching in az close
order as the officer in charge could Keep so
Heterogeneous a command.
Being no longer soldier, ] did not care
to carry my sword SO had it locked up in
one of the feed-boxes and there being, pre-
sunlably, no enemies in the vicintty-anu II
there were any the boys were all armed-l
had disposed of my revolver by locking il
in my mess-chest, which was taking home
with me as a souvenir OF the war.
The days march was tiresome one, and
it was near sunset before we reached the
farm of Henry Mack and parked.
FoRAGING AT HENRY MACK's FARM.
The farm appeared to be well stocked, and
"the boys" at once helped themselves TO
whatever they wanted. Chickens, ducks,
geese and turkeys were confscated by who
ever could catch them; pigs, sheep and
calves were shot, and slaughtered and cook
ed; the mules and horses were fed from Mr..
Mack's stacks and everyone connected with
the caravan appeared to be gay and happy.
\ 3 hal 40 avAf to httt
reached it in time to see that the boys were
max ing themselves comfortable.
Mr.. Mack's house was on the south side OF
the road and stood back from it more than a
hundred yards, and was reached by lane
leading to it from the road. i strolled down
the lane towards tie house and met Mr..
Mack, tall lean elderly man, with rather
wo-begone expression OF face.
"Colonel," said he. (nobody down south
at that time was supposed to rank lower
little there is left of my property; your
soldiers have taken almost everything own.
| am a Union man and have protection
paper signed by Gen. Thomas" and he
pulled 1t from his pocket and showed ii to
me. 1t was genuine
| told Mr. Mack that was not colonel,
nor even a soldier; that had been discharg
cd and although 1 wore an officers uniform
1 had no more authority over the men who
had appropriated his property than he had
ders, belonging to many different regiments,
and were probably without officers to re-
strain them. About the only consolation l
could give Mr.. Mack, was to hold on to his
"protection papers" and if he was a good
Union man, Uncle Sam would some day
make good his losses-perhaps. In the
meantime ifmy shoulder-straps could be OF
any service to him In keeping the boys out
of the house, would give him the benefit
of them.
lie thanked me, invited me into the house
and introduced me to two or three of his
daughters, who were as lean and almost as
tall as himself.
He told me all he had left was his beds and
bedding, some cooking utensils, table cut
lery and queensware, and barrel OF sorghum
syrup.
asked him If he could give me bed, and
| he said he would be only too glad to do so
MIR. MACK's FARM HOUSE.
Mr. Mack's house was a peculiar structure
unlike any have seen North, though saw
| number of them down in Dixie. 1t was
double two-story frame, about forty fee
front, without cellar, and there was wagon
drive right through the middle of it. 1t hac
windows, but no doors either front or back
but on either side of the wagon-drive wer'
| doors leading into the respective apartments
Mr.. Mack's few remaining valuables were
| soon stored in the room on the west side o
| the wagon-driye and was given charge o
| them. The room had good bed in 1t, ant
| three or tour chairs. l talked with MIR
| Mack and his family until it was quite late
| though orders had been issued that th
troops and train would move at 3 a. III.
MY COMFORTABLE BEDROOM.
1t was not until the family had bade IN
good night and retired to the other side o