The National tribune., 1892-06-16

Office, l found everything locked tight and fast,
and was informed that he would not be back
again that day. No one seemed to know
where he could be found. Invent with heavy
heart to the boys and told them the result.
1t is reported that the army swore terribly
in flanders" but l doubt whether it was a
circumstance to this occasion. My recollection
| is that the guests of Zollicof1er were fed by
contract, and of course loin steak, Vienna
rolls and Java coffee were scarce. huge cauI-
drons where conglomerations more mysterious
than boarding house hash were mixed ana
dshed ad nauseum, were in sight There were
many that couldn't eat at all. Chill Novem-
Der winds moaned through the vast building
and numbed the thiny-clad and thin blooded
victims. Most of them had lost everything on
| the battlefield and in the hospital they did
not need to draw new supplies and after ieaV-
ing they had no time. What clothing they had
was clean and well calculated for respectable
appearance at home, and now to be trapped IN
such vile den was too much. | had no
word of apology or comfort, so got Oil the pest
/ could and went back to the hotel.
Next morning | went early to see how the
poor fellows had Jared. and was met by q
glaring, scowling, almost frenzied crowd.
Scarcely any of them had slept wink, but mad
stood and walked the floor the entire night,
rather than soil their clothes with the filth OF
of the floors and walls.
] lost no time in demanding their release,
and, as good fortune would have it, a train was
soon To start for Louisville. The joy OF soon
seeing home and friends once more speedily
dispeled the horrors of the night before. L
again received orders to accompany them, TINS
time to Springfield, III. At Louisville the men
were nicely cared for: the medical officers, and
especially the Steward, were gentlemen.
As passed through the dispensary noticed
s. box of beautiful bandages. l suggested TO the
Il @I,,s I cd ~
he insisted on me helping myself, which did,
having nothing else in my haversack except a
case of instruments. We bad to walk to the
ferry and TO the Jacksonville Depot. No par
teuar incident took place, except the worry
and scramble for transportation. The boys
were congratulating themselves that they were
once more in Gods country, and were smacklng
their lips on the good things 10 eat they would
soon be enjoying. Alas, to many the happy
time never came. Our train was very large,
and gradually ran behind time, until near La
fayette Ind in rounding curve, we dashed
into heavy freight train that had started
without orders, hoping 10 make the next sta
ton. Our baggage car reared and slid almost
the entire length of the first passenger coach,
killing or wounding nearly every man in
It. Twenty-eight men were killed outright
or died soon after, numbers Of legs and arms
broken, besides almost every manner OF cut
and bruise was inflicted. had seen men torn
and mangled Gu many battlefield, but never
saw anything SO horrifying rs that nncalled-for
disaster Ny bandages came into good use.
had most of the injured fixed up in some shape
before they were ready to move US into La
fayette. The uninjured were willing workers.
The car-panels made good material for tenn
porary spints. Numerous fires were kindled,
as persons injured are always cold. After what
seemed long delay. we were finally on the
way to the city. The whole town seemed to
vie with each other in making the injured COM
Portable. The boys almost forgot their misfor-
tunes while reveling in the luxuries hesped
upon them-warm buttered biscuit, fruits and
ielles, and coffee with real cream. In due
time legs and arms were set, cuts and wounds
were plastered up, and all were on their way
home, except the poor fellows that were laid
away in the cemetery at Lafayette.
/ remained until the last man was cared Tor
or was on his way home, and when / reached
Springfield to turn over my charge was alone.
! went through the form, however, got my re-
turn transportation, slipped down home, cast
my vote for Abraham Lincoln, and was on my
way to the front in less than "a hours. Arriv-
ing at Nashville learned that the road bad
again been destroyed, and that Hood was NOV
ing in that direction with large force. My
week Of tribulatioa was holiday to what ex-
perienced from that time till the close Of the
war.-WM. II. CITIZENS, Assistant Surgeon,
7oth H., Hamilton, III.