The record-union., 1893-09-23

little regard for harmony. One party
shouted at the full capacity of their
lungs a Farewell to my old Vir-
ginny Shore" whilst another affirmed
with equal vigor, This is the way we
long have sought and mourned because
we found it not" And so we went our
way, all in the best of spirits and bub-
bling over with good humor.
The wind was blowing a perfect gale
and fierce storm of snow impeded our
progress; little did we care for wind or
weather. Above the bowling of the
storm and the clatter of the wheels arose
the refrain, I'VE are going home, we are
going home, we are going home to San
duskee."
From Martinsburg to Wheeling I rode
In The headquarters car with the Colonel
and two or three other officers OF my
regiment. AT one OF our many stopping
places one of the party secured bottle OF
IS. L. 1860 X Plantation Bitters." L DO
not know that the article called "Planta-
ton Bltters' is made or sold now; nor
can | recall for which of the many Ills
that flesh is heir to it was offered as
sovereign remedy, but l do most dis
tinctly remember that its exhilarating
properties were fully equal to any native
distilled Apple jack" ana that its 80
be joyfuP' powers were not surpassed by
the article that in the soldiers vocabulary
was Familiarity known as ''commissary":
and as truthful historian l must record
the fact that the quiet game of whist with
which we had been Willing away the
time soon became very spirited contest.
The delays in transit are frequent and
very wearisome, but finally on the 18th of
January, after being on the road for
seven day, we arrived at Sandusky.
-Four regiments of the brigade were at
once transferred to the island, and there
General Shaler established his headquar-
ters and assumed commend of the post
My regiment was Quartered in the town.
There was a general disposition shown
by the citizens to make the stay of the
soldiers as pleasant as possible. Numer-
Gus entertainments were gotten up for
their amusement and the homes OF the
citizens were open to the deserving ones.
Rank counted for but little; shoulder
straps were not necessarily prerequisites
to social recognition. We did not at any
time, paint the town red," yet doubt if
the staid and sober town of Sandusky was
never so gay as during the time that the
troops from the Army of the Potomac
were quartered there.
Time passed rapidly away and we scarce
noted its flight until the spring days were
upon US, and one day III April the Hotf-
man Battalion from Cleveland marched
down the street in magnificent array, and
after giving dress parade that aston
tonished the natives, and excited the adj
miration if not envy of the old soldiers,
they were transferred to the island and
relieved part of our brigade.
The arrival of these troops was looked
upon as sure indication that we would
soon have marching orders, and leave for
the front Then farewell to the gay scenes
that had enlivened our stay upon Lake
Erie's shore.
No more should we mingle in the maze
of the giddy dance with Sandusky's fair
daughters, or whisper sweet tritles into
willing ears. No more should we quench
our thirst with the foaming lager, Quatf
Sandusky native wine,,' or feast upon
the toothsome pretzel. Full soon it would
be our lot to dwell upon the tented field,
renew our acquaintance with our old
friend bareback. and instead of listening
TO music from flute, and viol, and bas-
soon, our ears would be greeted with the
plaintive note of the sweet songSter, the
army mule.
On the 18th of April, after sojourn at
Sahdusky of exactly three months, we
took train to return to the front; there
were many sorrowful hearts in the regi-
ment and also among the citizens; the
parting with our friends was sad and try
ing. The poet (?) of the brigade struck
his tuneful Tyre and in q "B flat" minor
key INDUCED in the following double
barreled doleful wall, as being express
i've OF our feelings upon that OCCASION:
How beautiful the ladies who in Sandusky
dwell,
How mournfuI every heart is for we've
learned to love them well,
The veterans round their fires at night, fond
tales of thee shall tell,
Oh! scene of such short-lived delight, San
dusky, fare thee well.
Cleveland Leader,