Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-12-09

SEVERAL N. P. BANKs-From Portrait in
 Harpers History of the War
 extended one. Quinine was standard, and necessarily so, as nearly the whole terrI- :ory embraced in the theater of war was especially liable to malaria, often of a most serious type. Opiates in several forms, as morphine, Dover's powder, laudanum and paregoric were most useful to allay pain, check discharges, etc.
 Rhubarb, castor oil and a few other ca thartics were always on hand.
 Ether and chloroform for surgical cases were never out of stock.
 Whisky, brandy, alcohol and wines of various kinds were supplied freely for medicinal uses In war-times opiates were about the only means in use for producing sleep. The many bromides and hydrate of chloral now used for that purpose were not then in vogue.
 The great amount of sickness from which the regiment suffered during the winter of 1S62-3 while on duty at Memphis, Tenn, has before been spoken of But as soon as the field was taken at the beginning of the Vicksburg campaign in April 1863, the health of the organization became excel lent and substantially remained so till the war closed. Soldiers in active campaign duty are healthier and happier than whom comparatively idle. It was strange some one in high authority did not issue some SuCh OEuSE tue 1Ol1OWluSs ''h06D your men busy, keep them busy fighting the enemy if possible, but at any rate keep them 6uSyl" Under Grant, however, such an or. der would have been useless, as he always had his men at something, and at the same time gave his enemy matters enough to look after. It was said above that a sol. dier on active duty is healthier and happier. Activity, too, enforces discipline, it gives no time for the breeding of discontent, homesickness and a spirit of insubordina- tion.
 For part of the time the hospital de- partment was quartered in house, but in November the regiment moved it's location, and then all, including the hospital, went into tents. This mode of living became uncomfortably cool as winter approached.
 About the first of December orders came for the command to report at New Orleans. For some cause not now remembered it became necessary for the writer to ac- company one of the surgeons in a night ride back to Franklin, about fifteen miles distant on the bayou within the Federal lnes Two horses were procured and the trip started upon about eight O clock p. m.
 It was lonely ride and toward mid night every fence post seemed O rebel soldier and every bush a mounted Confed- crate cavalryman. The way seemed long and tiresome but at last it was known that our lines at Franklin could not be much farther off, By and by voice called out "Halt; who comes there2" "Friend with out the countersign" was answered. Then an officer came out, asked some questions and the two tired and lonely horsemen were passed within the Federal lines, just as streaks of daylight began showing in the eastern sky.
 Thanksgiving Day of 1868 was duly kept by many of the troops at New Iberia. Per haps the dinner eaten that day was but little better than ordinary, but public serv- ices were held in which most of the troops of the 4th Division of the 18th Corps partic- ipated. A platform had been erected in an open field for the speakers and about this all gathered. Excellent instrumental music for the occasion was furnished by one of the brass bands of the division. All who spoke expressed full confidence in the triumph of the Union cause. At the close all joined in singing the Doxology and the air rang with full chorus made up of thousands of male voices.
 Carrying out orders received, the com mand marched back along the Teche to Brashear City and went from there by rail to Algiers opposite New Orleans when 8 Gulf steamer was taken for Texas
 Here before IS was a new experience salt water The steamer left the Algiers landing one forenoon and at night salt wa ter was reached. Very few of the men had ever been on this before and the experi- ence was to most of them any thing but agreeable. The writer for the greater