The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-03-31
A WARTIME EXPERIENCE.
An Old Soldier Recounts a Visit to
This City ia 1862.

At a reunion of the Fifteenth Pennsyl-
vania Cavalry in Pittsburg, Pa, last Sep
termer letter was read from former
member of the regiment, Rev. DR.. Charles
B. Newton, missionary in India, in which
reference is made to an experience he had
in Indianapolis as his regiment passed
through this city on its way South in Mo-
vember, 1862. The comrade Sharp, to whom
he refers, is now Rev. Dr. ]. II. Sharp, Of
Philadelphia Both were private soldiers.
is the part with local interest:
''As our train was entering the depot at
indianapolis en- route Tor LOUISVILLE an, ana
night, it being uncertain whether We would
go at 6 in the morning spend the day
town, in company with comrade sharp
We We're, accordingly. out and off before
tney aaa N to to the ea We dn
know a soul in the place, it Is true, but
there was man there named Dr; Ineopn-
Pa were my friends and whose sister
had known out here in India as boy SO
us sa especially as doctors We're used to being
didn't mind it.
look at a directory, begged a bit OF candle
and few matches and proceeded TO run
longing to the hofel directed us to the
street we wanted and then, lighting, our
candle, we read the =, numbers on the do LOOT.
one and then We rang the door bell, long
and loud. The Doctor no doubt thought
as he could He received us with amazing
courtesy, considering the hour. l a. m,
and the circumstances. He took US into
the drawing room and conversed affably for
half an hour or more, apologized for his
wife's not coming down to entertain us
and gave us cordial invitation to dine
with them the next day. 1t was against
our principles to decline an invitation to
dinner in those days and we accepted 1T on
condition our regiment remained through
Having shaken hands with. our friend
we started off to see the town. There
wasn't much to see in the dark. but we saw
what we could and used up the rest of the
candle and matches, after which we stuinb-
led ON the Statehouse.
There was a large open entrance and a
long nan d I'm dist gnlsi interior We recon-
noitered and found a watchman lazily pac-
ing up and down in front OF the building.
He had a pretty long beat, and when he
had passed the door and got some distance
off we slipped in behind him and ran for
the center, of the hall. where there was 81 an
way. Up this stairway we went and soon
found the Senate chamber As 1t was dark
alas there were no matches left. There
was that gaslight below, but 1t was too high
to be reached from the floor The situation
seemed a little uncertain for moment but
we belonged to the Anderson Cavalry and
were not to be beaten easily. So we made
III
paper. Comrade Sharp planted himself firm,
ly under the gas jet. climbed up and stood
on his shoulders and lit one of the twisted
chamber we lighted several gas burners.
got the place looking cheerful and pro-
ceeded to hold a. session of the Legislature.
Sharp took the Speakers chair while
made a speech on the conduct of the war.
After that took the chair while he made
a speech.
after the lapse of thirty-two years 1 will
not undertake to give you verbatim re-
port of those speeches. but ] can guarantee
their political orthodoxy and patriotic
flavor, being quite sure, without remember
ing it, that we accepted the basis of fact
that John Browns soul was marching on.
and built thereon the superstructure of
mighty resolve to .shang jeff Davis on
sour apple tree" Having enjoyed ourselves
as long as we desired in this dignified man
ncr We finally put out the lights, slipped
out past our sleepy Waterman and got back
to the depot about daybreak, to find the
regiment had gone off to the Soldiers Home,
where we followed in time to get some
Of the chickory coffee which had for
breakfast In due time. finding the regiment
was going to stay till evening, we dressed
for dinner; 1. e., washed our faces and pol
ished our boots up to the knees. etc.
I'VE were royalty entertained by Or.
and Mrs Parvin and afterwards inspected
the town by daylight. The only drawback
to our happiness was that We felt sorry for
the comrades who were patrolling the
streets and trying to catch MS. But every
time they said halt ii seemed as il they
said bolt and We boited