The National tribune., 1888-04-12

Hood. Gen. A. J. Smiths tSixteeuth) Corps
went into camp at PASSPORT, Miss, on the Ten
ncssee River, jan. Z, 1863 They landed short
CT rations and had TO subsist q long time on
shelled corn. which gradually dwindled down
to enc pound per ration, and finally stopped,
the supply giving out.
Just about this time boats arrived with thou
sands OF Tatirus, but they were not for such as
as mistake had been made somehow, and
horse feed had been sent. and now piles Of baled
lav. oats and corn were there 10 " bad dun care
BECOME Corn IS undoubtedly good feed but
for steady diet il grows monotonous. Ia spite
Of bulliug, p2rching and pounding - 1t went
back on the boys and the soldiers sc0urge-
diarrhea-set in. The sick list grew feariully,
raHv died and many of those who survived
have cause TO remember Passport 20 their latest
dav. But no situation could wholly dampen
the spirits of the boys. and fun was continually
extracted from their WrctChed condition.
One day as Gen. Smith was riding his PAGER
along The ridge road that led through the camp,
De was brought suddenly TO a halt by rope
stretched across The road attached TO man
down on ali-lCurs.
.What IL - are ycu doing with that
rnauE" tho General sternly demanded.
The soldier. with a broad grin. saluted, and
answered, I've given him his hay and corn,
General. and now
Isl LEADING HTM TO WATER:
and the General joining in the laugh, rode on.
At another time q c0mrade who had just
drawn bis ration of corn was passing mule,
that forthwith began 10 bray. Turning sud
denly on him Of the long ears, he vented his
Indignation st length. concluding his remarks
with. y on needn't feel so - big because
vCu draw seven pounds Of corn TO my one. /
expect 20 hc promoted 70 a mule soon myself
We had in camp many excellent mimics, and
any amount Of amateurs. 1t only needed the
presence Of q C0mmissary Sergeant TO set all
the birds Of The air and all the beasts Of the
field going in full chorus, including tho big pig,
little Dig. horse. ass, goose, rooster aud go1icr.
Amid the din our friend OF the big cheyron
would beat a hasty retreat. closely followed by
his noisy retinue. So each day to the end Of
cur stay some unique joke or pleasantly was
Matched TO aid our digestion.
"TLe Winter Of our discomfort" ended on
Feb. s. 1855, BY tie arrival Of transports. upon
which we embarked. Nc1Iillau's First Bri-
cade First Division. consisting Of the I'D aud
95th Ohio, SGD Ind. llsth III. and 10th Mimi,
went on board the City Of Memphis. Swinging
cut into the stream, she took her place in that
long line Of river steamers. From each arose
dense columns Of smoke uniting overhead IN
one vast canopy that stretched away for miles
ID their wake. Amid the sounds Of the deep
toned b0at-Whistlcs and the inspiring strains OF
martial music, we steamed swiftly down the
II
care very much where SO long as our beloved
leader was with rs; then down the Ohio
But before entering the Mississippi we tied up
~ Cairo for a few hours, during which the boys
had The biggest picnic on record.
I'm those days no arrau Cemcuts were made on
the river transports for cooking the food Of sol
Ciers. SO by force OF circumstances they had to
s1bsist while on board on raw pork (sowbeily),
frequently rusty, and Inhabited bareback ;
this with little cold river water 10 wash It
down. formed the almost unvaTying bill Of fare
Tor tile enlisted men. Rather hard diet for
C0uyaIe scents. YOU may remark. All, yes; but
LITE WAS cHEAP THEE,
End the volunteer seldom, II ever, complained.
Passing familiar scenes each day on our way
down the Father Of Waters, we arrived at his
t0-ic Nick5bgrg. and went into camp near the
old fo-iifcati0n east Of the city After few
days Of much-necccd washing and cleaning up,
the expedition again dreaded down stream.
J. a. Wheeler an old chum Of the writer,
had taken 2 commission iu the Goth L. s Col
cred, stationed at M0rgaaza, but we had con-
suited the maps and boats crew in vain 70
locate ii. Coming down one stormy evening
from nly watch on the hua icaue deck, ] turned
IN for the night but had Scarcely got settled in
EEy berth before q heavy tLud and jar from the
next room brought me 20 my feet. Upon investi-
cation found a soldier .an0ther victim Of East
port lying dead on the floor lie had evidently
fallen from the bed in his death thrOes. Again
] sought the embrace Of Morpheus, and must
have found il, for the first ] knew my rather
CjmiHUtive proportions were Tudely pulled oct
cf bed. aud ] found myself in the hands Of that
Vermont giant, John Wheeler.
e. bow are r0u. old boy? Let's shake Gel
O. your duGs quick. The boats tied up Vel
have time 70 run up to the suffers I'll Get
him Up in q harry, was what ] heard. Then
making straight coat-tails for the suffers by
way OF the sang-qlauk, we briefly sandwiched
IL a years experience between the canned
goods.
The sailor sings
There's sweet Iittle cherlb that sits up aloft
TO keep watch O er TIE life o. poor Jack.
We'll, there is one soldier at least who think
s sweet cherub or some unseen power causeS
that DID, st2id City Of Memphis 10 leave be
place ju line against orders and run into tn
river bank that dark st5Gzly night rigL
under the tent 81 Dis old c0mrade al Ngrgauzs
Arriving at Sew Orleans the command wen
into camp on the old battle-ground below Ia
city. ON March J. after 2 few days wallowinI
81 thc mud, We again ular6cd on board th
ocean steamer LIFirc City and steamed ava.
fCT DalEhiH Island. Mobile Bay.
Jonah must have felt glad when he lande
attlr las famous voyage. but we doubt i be be
gan 90 feel - thankful as the boys did on th
evening o. March 3 when their feet presses
the sandy shore IF that barren island.
Tie Sixteenth Corps wcat into camp orc Ii
beach and if we mistake not the Thirteenth
Corps occupied the interior An iutervcuiu
slHc ridge ram around the island, on which
ta flagstaff was planted. This became q favor
Sc slo, Tor tie boys Of either command 20 s.
fI- guiz each other ora dress parade, etc.
One day 8arcl I5I q thunder storm sud
ccEtg dispersed All In tie vicinity ten
Ec-r tile flagstaff on the interior side wa
quickly l-.e4 20 It5 utmost capacity. 4 las
II lightning and dealaaiag peal Of thunder
followed tE an OutcEr, sent rs in hurry owe
tie ridge from that tent. al had received
severe shock. Eve or six had been struck al
Jay unconscious. aud one was killed Reuben J
hhiie, Of tEe 45,h lll. A small burnt Lol
about the SIZE 81 q half dollar marked the spC
OF tie tent where bis head pressed it, an
where the lightning entered.
= soldier belonging 80 CO. 7. - Mimi. was
reduced 81 flesh 10y chronic diarrhea that
coula hardly cast respectable shadow. TIL
sharp angles % lis tai skeleton were a
ways prominently outlined on the win,
ward side Of his thin clothing while the
E-aCk GultcEe3 loosely ia his rear The gr
rescue attitudes he used 70 strike in ord
70 show 70 advantage ais emacated for
was lDiulltalle, aud never failed 10 briT
down the house" Being one Of those iovis
hopeful fellows, the doctors retained him
camp when the last lot was sent 10 h0spits
Halch was a grave mistake; bat he liked 10
with the boys. SO he did not complain. lie b.
been sick ever since his Eastrort experieuC
f1 had