Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1888-10-05

done so, signed the parole papers and gon
home on my name.
Snow, Ynnks, go pack and wait for th
boats tomorrow"
The morning came, and with IL the bon
that carried one hundred fifty of us TO tn,
Union vessel Mt Charleston, over which
waved proudly tho stars and stripes
which l had not seen for nearly TIVE
years.
We were carried on this vessel, the City
OF Baltimore, TO Annapolis. My compnn.
ions were Captain Swayzc, of tho Third
Ohio; Lieutenant Ritche Of the same
regiment, and Captain Westlnkc, of the
Seventy third Indiana. II was in Dccem-
Der that wo landed at Annapolis. Our
long Imprisonment had greatly reduced
our wardrobe, We wero bare-footed, and
our trousers were worn Off half way to our
knees; our blouses were gono TO the elbows,
and the rest of our wardrobe WINS in sim
liar state OF dilapidation. From Annapolis
we were at once given transportation to
| Washington. On our way we consulted
anxiously as to where wo should go and
what we should do when we reached the
National capital. or course we had no
money, but wo expected to be paid In
Washington for nll the time we had bccn
prisoners; but what we were to do until
we got our money we did not know, and
we saw before us very gloomy prospect.
At length Captain Swayze said:
isn't there Metropolitan Hotel there?
l think I've heard of such place. l
think 1t is quiet, cheap place, and just
what we want"
When wo reached Washington IL was
after dark, and none of us knew where
the Metropolitan was. Said Captain
Swayzc:
al have just about money enough to pay
our bus fare to the hotel, so we will ride.
If they turn us out we will thon think
what is to be done next"
We found the right bus and were driven
directly TO the Metropolitan, In our bare,
frost-bitten feet we walked up tho long
mnrble-paved hall to the clerks desk. We
were greatly dismayed to find the house
brilliantly lighted up with gas and filed
with people in rich clothing, and evidently
of the first grade Of society. We saw that
the hotel was the leading one in tho city,
and not what we had imagined at all. We
four ragged, dirty, half-clad released
looking clerk, and as we did so the first
thing saw filled me with dismay.' 1t was
a sign just over the clerks head:
"Gentlemen without baggage will please
pay in advance"
We had neither baggage nor money.
The prospect did not look encouraging.
We had tacitly agreed that Captain Sway
20 should he our spokesman, and he stated
our case truthfully to the clerk, who did
not seem In tho least disgustod or aston
ished He smiled cordially as he shook
Captain Swayze's hand, saying:
81 am very glad that your troubles are
over, gentlemen. We will try to make you
com Portable. VIII you please TO regis
ter 2"
II he had tapped his bell for police
man and said: "Remove these unsavory
ruflians" l should not have been aston
ished at all, but his welcoming speech and
manner surprised me beyond measure. A
crowd had gathered around us, and we
were the center of group of eager spec
tators. A stranger who had been silently
listening TO our tale of woe, liberal MS he
was patriotic, stepped up to Captain
Swayze and handed him twenty dollar
bill, saying:
Take this. You will have use for
it."
OF course IL wns thankfully accepted. !
The kind-hearted stranger quietly stepped |
out of the crowd and was gone before we |
could learn his name.
"Have you had support" kindly inquired |
the clerk.
mo, sir" answered Captain Swayze.
"Then step right into the dining.
room"
Without further ceremony a waiter ush.
cred us into the brilliantly lighted dining.
room, where another took charge of US
nnd seated us at n table, which he at once
loaded with every thing we could desire
and much more than we could possibly eat
Before we had time to commence our meal
n tall and handsome officer, with kindly
smile upon his face, left his table and the
with whom he was taking supper,
and came over to us. As he shook hands
he said:
81 am General Hancock, and it gives me
n sincere pleasure to welcome you back tc
freedom. If there is any thing that car
do for you or any information / can givo
you, l hope you will let me know without
the least hesitation"
After supper tho General came out to u.s.
where wo were holding n little levee in
The reading-ro He told us how to
lraw our pay, and gave us note to the
proper officer. After breakfast we went
with him, and, after visiting bath.
iouse and barber-shop, we came back
ooking something less like disreputable
ramps. That afternoon we all went to
,he paymaster, who made out our rolls for
Is and gave us our money, and the Wai
Department gave us thirty days leave OF
absence, ut the end of which time report
ID at Camp Chase, Columbus, o.. and went
through to the close of the war,-Lieuten-
mt j. d. Chandler, IN Nelcark MI } Sun
tau CuH.