The National tribune., 1900-08-23

Ga, and the regiments that had served
two years were canyaSSed for men TO re-
enlist for three more years. The Govern
ment had offered a liberal bounty and 80
DAYS furlough TO all those who would ac-
cept, and it was not long before many
of the old veterans had signed the agree
ment and were preparing to go home to
greet their loved ones again. CHE first
regiment, | believe, to re-enlist, and who
claims that honor, was the 29th Pa.)
On Jan. 20 we turned in our tents, etc,
and started for home, the few who refused
to re-enlist of the 109th Pa. turning out
and giving US royal send-off.
We passed through Nashville and Lou
isville, and as we drew near our own
homes our enthusiasm knew no bounds.
The loyal people on our route greeted us
everywhere with cheers and good things
to eat and drink, and on our arrival at
Philadelphia our friends, brothers, sisters,
wives, uncleS. auntS and cousins We'd with
each other to do US honor. Our sweet
hearts had a Thousand and one questions
to ask us, and SO did everybody else.
The stories we told of our adventures,
the battles we fought over again and the
questions we tried to answer made us
very weary, and fatigued us more than
campaign in the field, but we survived
and our 80 days soon ended.
We had opened recruiting stations and
our regiment grew considerably in
selves of the opportunity to take the
money offered by the Wards, City and the
Government and skip away to New York
or other towns to ply their trade. Men
would enlist in my regiment, then get
away, join the 99th Pa, recruiting at the
same time in the city, and try the same
game as often as they could without be-
ing caught. Regularly organized gangs of
men did this repeatedly and robbed not
only the Government, but honest soldiers
and everybody else. The larger cities
were overrun with them, and they ap
officials high in power. If our Govern
ment had caught, tried and, if found
guilty, shot few of those rascals at the
time it would have been good for the SER
vice.
BACK TO THE FRONT.
1t was 60 days before we took our
departure for the front, and l must say
we were very 10th to go. How well l re-
member our friends gathering to bid us
good-by. The tears would come to our
eyes in spite of all we could do. All, what
a scene, 1t was much harder to leave
our loved ones then than when we first
went to war, but our patriotism was not
diminished in the least, but made firmer
by our sacrifices.
We were presented with q new set of
colors at Pittsburg and were soon on our
way TO Louisville, KY, where we arrived
late in March, "a. From there we went to
Bridgeport, Ala, and took our place again
in the old White Star Division, part of
which was already on the march toward
Atlanta.
We soon overlook them, arriving in
time to take part in fight with the Con-
federates at Buzzard's Roost, Ga. This
occurred on Sunday, April 8 (my birth
day., and our new recruits were some
what astonished to find that we did fight
ing on Sunday; but they got over that
quickly enough, and by the time we got
10 Atlanta were nearly as good as the
best of us.
Then came the battle of Resaca, and a
hot time it was. Our regiment supported
the 33d n. j., and advanced up to and
under the rebel-works, where we were
made to hug the ground so closely that
our noses made holes in it.
At this fight was my first acquaintance
with (afterward PresidenD Benjamin
Harrison, who led his regiment over our
regiment as we were lying down. Harri-
sons regiment came up in our rear. He
advanced and asked:
What regiment is this|
''109th Pa" we answered.
"All right; stay where you are, and l
will go over you"
Turning to his regiment he said: "For-
ward"'
l remember noticing his sword which
WAS VI dH Ouu SHdDe anu very
looking, much different from those car
ried by our officers.
HOT FOR THE CoLoRs.
Previous TO our re-enlistment had been
promoted a Corporal in the color guard,
and had been given the blue, or State
color, 10 carry, and this was the first bat
tie it had been in. 1t was struck repeat
edly and | did think the whole firing line
of the Confederates were shooting at me,
and my Color-Sergeant carrying the Stars
and Stripes thought he was getting more
than his share.
A bullet struck my cap and passing
through burned the hair from my scalp,
and it felt as if some one had laid hot
rod of iron on my head.
In this fight four guns were captured,
and l see that they have been fought over
in your columns by those who claim to
have taken them from the rebs on that
day. Yet remember it said at that time
they were 4ard to get, and many brave
men lost their lives in the attempt.
The enemy fell back from Resaca and
our advance guard a few DAYS after
caught up TO them and had a spirited
hight IN which we captured several thou
sand prisoners, number Of guns and
large wagon train. 1t was march, fight
and outfank continuously with our army,
and we had very little rest. Woe unto the
regiment acting as rear guard. They
regiments were starting on their days
march, eat a hurried breakfast, and fol
low.
We had to take our turn Mt this and did
not like it. Neither did we like to guard
the wagon train. 1t was at times hard
work, such as building corduroy roads
and helping wagons out of the mud etc;
but with all the hardships we saw / would
not have missed it for the world and now
as look back to that time it seems like
a dream.
AT ALLATooNA PASS.
We again found the Confederates in
trenched at Allatoona Pass and had a
sharp contest with them on April %.
Bundy with two pieces of his 18th n. Y.
Battery kept up with us as we advanced
and drove the enemy's skirnishers into
their works. How he handled those guns
all of our boys know. lie would run them
close TO the line fire and cxclaim:
Cook yer coffee on that, Johnnyv'
He could fight his battery better in the
estimation of many than any other officer
In the division and was never known to
be any other place during q fight but up
In the farthest front.
Our advance was somewhat checked Mt
Allatoona Pass and we built works one
after the other until we were so close to
the enemy that loud conversations could
be distinctly heard at the short distance
we were from each other. Immediately