The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-07-07
NATIONAL ENCAMPMENT.
A Comrade Who Wishes to Again See the
Old Vets March in Washington.


Old Vets March in Washington.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE: have been
much interested in reading from time 70 time
in your valuable paper of the coming National
Encampment which is TO be held in Washing
| ton in September next, and as the time Ia
drawing near | feel more interested than ever,
and intend to be there if possible. No doubt
the comrades from all parts of this great coun-
try are feeling interested, and intend 10 be in
Washington at that time 1t fell to my lot TO
be in Washington during the early and dark
days of 1861, when Abraham Lincoln called for
$4,000 men. / was then bell-boy at Willard's
Hotel
Had the time, and could write a book, I
could relate many stirring incidents which
took place then; but unfortunately I am not
an author and cannot write a book How
wildly / can recall to mind, after the lapse Of
so many years, that great and good man, Abrs-
ham Lincoln, as / saw him az he left Wizards
Hotel on that bright and sunny day, March 4,
1861, to be inaugurated President of the United
States.
Those were eventful days-days never to bs
forgotten. 1t is hardly necessary for me 10 say
that after 30 much excitement, and many
young men, and / might say boys, too, vera
offering their services to the Government,
took the war-feYer too. did not want TO be q
bell-boy any longer. So on Monday, April %,
1861 right after the riot in Baltimore. I went
to Mr.. Willard and asked to be paid of, stating
that was going to enlist. But Mr.. Willard
tried to persuade me not to do 80, saying that
had better wait. That did not suit me- for I
was determined on going, so / was paid of and
started down Pennsylvania avenue to the Balti-
more Depot.
/ will state here that wanted TO go TO Phiia-
delphia to enlist, az had lived there the Sum-
mer before, and there were parties living there
that wished to see before l enlisted. This In
why ! did not enlist in Washington.
1t was about o'clock in the afternoon when
reached the Baltimore Depot, only TO be told
that there was no trains running as the track
had been torn up between Baltimore and
Washington; but the delay would only be-
temporary, as the trains would probably run
through to Baltimore the next day. However,
/ was too impatient to wait, so started on foot
to Baltimore, where / arrived on the afternoon
of the next day. Tuesday, April "a, 1861. Here
I remained all night. / shall never forget the
scenes and incidents of that night. I strolled
from one part of the city TO the other sll night
long and wherever the crowd was the thickest
and the most excitement going on there would
I hasten, to see what had turned up.
The streets of Baltimore were crowded with
excited people all that night. When morning
dawned, and as / was strolling along the
wharves, read a notice stating that steamer
would leave that morning at 8 o'clock for
Chestertown, Md. Well, / did not know then
where Chestertown was, but thought it would
be getting nearer Philadelphia, SO l took pas-
sage on that steamer. 1t seemed to me that
nearly all the passengers on that steamer were
Union people who wished to get away from
Baltimore I can never forget, as we steamed
past Fort McHeury on that bright and sunny
April morning, when the passengers caught
sight of that noble emblem of liberty, the
Stars and Stripes, what cheers after cheers went
up for the old flag. They were not cheers that
came from the lips only, but from the heart,
and many tear of joy was visible trickling
down the cheeks of that crowd, who were glad
that there was one American flag flying so
near the city of Baltimore, and which con-
tinued to float so bravely through the four
wears of war that followed in spite of all the
threats made that it would be torn down.
The steamer reached Chestertown during the
afternoon. / then walked to MiddletOwn, Del,
some 80 miles, where / took the train for Phila-
delphia where l arrived on Thursday evening,
April g. Not many days after / enlisted. AS
/ knew very little about the different branches
of the service, it was my lot to enlist in the
Marine Corps for four years. / was soon sent
away from Philadelphia, and spent nesrly the
whole of my four years enlistment along the
Southern COast-up creeks and riSers-from
Kew West to Fortress Monroe.
Not long after Lees surrender was on board
the Pontoosuc, double-ender, lying at Fort
ress Monroe When JEFF Davis was brought
there prisoner his Private Secretary was put
ON hoard the POntoosuc and taken to Washing
ton. where we arrived on the afternoon Of the
23d of May, 1865. As my four years enlist
ment was to expire on the 10Th was trans
ferred to the Marine Barracks that same after
noon, and on the next day was out on liberty
and witnessed one of the grandest reviews that
have ever seen or ever expect to see again. 1t
will be remembered that May "a, 1865, Ia the
date of the grand review of Sherman's army.
The Army of the Potomac having passed In re-
view the day previous was IN hopes that we
would reach Washington in time to see that
grand army also; but the POntOosuc was de.
Famed some hours when we reached the mouth
of the Potomac River, so / lost that grand
sioht sight which is only seen once in . life
time. For six long hours l stood &C Sixth
street and Pennsylvania avenue and saw Sner-
mans veterans pass in review. Noble men
the heroes of 100 battles-who had marched
triumphantly from Atlanta to the Sea- Inere
was no gaudy dress or holiday appearance
abnut the men, such as is generally seen sc
military reviews, but the marching was per-
foot and as eazed at those noble men as they
nassed in solid ranks. with firm step, felt and
knew that / was looking at men who mad seen
war in all its horrOrS-men VINO mad on many
a battlefield marched up to the lannon's mouth.
And now after over q qusrter OF century
has passed away, and as / am writing these
lines. the thought occurred to me: Can this
Government ever repay those noble men who
did so much that "This Government OF the
people and by the people should not perish from
the earth? After the review was over re-
turned to the barracks, and on the next day,
Nav 26. 1865, received my discharge, and soon
after took the train and reached Philadelphia,
the City of Brotherly Love, where four years
previous / had enlisted to defend the nag OF
my adopted country.
You will not wonder why I feel such desire
In 90 to Washington. There are thousands or
comrades throughout the land who feel Ike s;,,
desire to see the place once more. Iney WIZ
find many changes have taken place IN sn9
years that have passed since they were .nelo' 3
bona that &c will be tie greatest gathering or
old veterans since the war. The years are
passing rapidly away, and the men who tooS
mart in t:lat long aud bloody coat!et are grow
ing Old and gray, and their sep Is rot so nrm
and ,raaAy as i'll yeas gone hy' ana ere many
ZOOS liz, isst snrvi4cr shsli have passed away.
= 3. E<E e. = NaxiGa Corps, SUS r lie