The National tribune., 1900-06-28

It Is quite common to read or to hear
related how We went to the army, tne
breaking up Of hGms om des Psre tc Tead m
ones experiences in getting home, espeei-
ally II he's a non-veteran, as the comrade
and myself were. You must remember,
or understand, that discharged or non nom
combatant soldier of the army IN the
enemy's country is nobodys darling, put
Is a cumberer, a dead weight rubbish-in
the way.
IF the publishers and readers of my article
will allow me to digress and make snort
story long, and thus to explain how came
to be a non-veteran, would be glad to call
In to my aid some outside or collateral
circumstances and experiences leading up
to the subject matter of getting home after
my time was up.
l will therefore choose Vicksburg. Miss,
as the post of departure for my little air
shin on its homeward- bound trip for God 9
country" All YOU old Western boys who
were in that great, unsurpassed, unequaied
romantic Vicksburg campaign, remember
that upon the fall or surrender OF thal
American Gibraltar, July 4, 1868, or
shortly thereafter, Grant issued an order
furloUghing for 30 days certain per cent
of his victorious army, but including only
those who had been faithful to ranks during
the siege and who had not been home so lar
during the war.
Possessing these qualifications to an
eligible degree, and being accessible, ETC.,
was one of the lucky number to receive a
30-days' furlough. and about the latter
part of August landed in Crawford CO., Ill,
a handsome young Sergeant 1ootloose
among the pretty girls.
Yum, Yum! How it makes my mouth
water even yet to think of 1t, and IN the
language of poor Maud Muller, or some one
else, heave huge sigh. and say, Back
ward, turn backward, oh time! in your
flight" and give me a furlough again, If
fits but for tonight" Comparatively speak
ing, my 30 DAYS passed by about as rapidly
as do the telegraph-poles TO passenger
gliding along a railroad on lightning
express. and upon the last day, IN the morn
ing, of my allotted time at home l received
an order from my Colonel, at Vicksburg,
detailing me upon detached service IN my
County, to go along with company OF the
5th Ill. Cav. to De sent into the County after
deSerterS, for the purpose OF pointing out
or recognizing deserter from my COM
pany, who had taken refuge in locality
in the northwestern part OF the County,
intensely disloyal, called Devils Neck,
and situated in a curve of the EmbarraS
River, generally known as "the Dark Bend
Of the Ambraw."
0mitting the details Of this, one of the
most thrilling episodes of my army life,
will only say further OF it that this order
made me safe at home until ordered back
by the same authority that detached me.
While thus killing time pleasantly on
detached duty, the War Department, or some
Dne else, issued an order to regimental
commanders ordering them to send back
home to their respective Counties stipu-
lated number of recruiting officers for the
purpose Of raising volunteer recruits with
which to replenish the vacant ranks of
pid companies; the order also provided
that said recruiting officers be of those
who stood next in the line of promotion.
In compliance with this order, about
Dec. 1, '63, / received a communication
from my Colonel, still at Vicksburg, reliev-
Ing me from one detail and assigning me
10 duty as recruiting officer in my County
until further orders. Without stopping
here, In this connection, to write up my
career in this capacity, | will start off again
by saying 1t was more brief than brilliant,
30 far as recruits were concerned. And
upon one of the last days of December /
received a letter from Capt. Wesley Martin,
Go. OF my regiment, to whom were as
signed all recruiting officers from his regi-
ment, saying, IAN officers and men belong
Ing to the Both H. regiment, and assigned TO
duty under me as recruiting officers, are
hereby relieved from duty, and will rejoin
their regiment at Nicksburg, Miss, or
wherever it may be found, Immediately,
or be considered de5erters."
was at Hutsonville, Crawford County;
Capt. Martin was at Marshall, Clark
County, % miles away / had been in
and about this remote village on the Wa
bash, without railroad connection with
money in any way nor drawn any pay
during that time from the Government;
therefore, was financially embarrassed,
the only visible funds being a one-dollar
greenback cut IN two in the middle, each
end OF which passed currently in the army
AT the SutIer S, for 80 cents, but was no go at
home. The only means of mail and pas
senger transit then between Terre Eaute
and Vineennes and intermediate towns
was the old-timer four-in-hand stage
uhlph .ft1 Ill.
and down between those points. and it was
upon It's down trip that received the above
mentioned letter or order from my Captain
at Marshall. With over 600 miles OF rail
and river travel between me and my regi-
nent, an order 10 reyoin it Immediately,
or be considered deSerter, with only a
cut-ln-two one dollar bill in my pocket. set
my nerves all on edge and made me feel
shaky all over. If / could make con-
nectons; however. with Capt. Martin at
Marshall, he held a requisition on the
Government for transportation clear
through for all his men. But the stage
coach would not be back up on its return
trip for two days, and of course Capt
Martin would be gone; which would make
10 Clference, you know, if | only had the
wherewlth 10 pay my way, as the Govern
ment would refund all my travelling ex-
penses.
Now, in Hutsonville town. that evening.
Dec. 81, '63, there lived a friend in need
my case be known to him, he proved to be
my friend indeed, by saying to me that |
could have one Of his Swiftest and best
horses to ride TO Marshall next morning:
that i could leave it at the stage lines
stable, and the stage driver would bring il
home on his return trip, and that | could
send him his charges for use of horse first
pay day after my return to camp. This,
Of course, gladly and solemnly agreed 10,
Ihat night, however a northwest blizzard
Prom ITS Icy throne, struck the country q
blow, knocking the thermometers through.
out the country almost out of sight. the
mercury at Hutsonyiile falling 2So below
zero, New Years morning 1864. Rut
ReJoln your regiment Immediately. or be
considered deserter." So, mounting
my faithful steed that memorable morning
with the cape OF an old army blue over.
coat buttoned tightly and closely over NV
head and face leaving only a peep-hoie
Tor one eye, III out on my chilly ride 10
Marshall, 25 miles away. | stuck to my
morse, at ini speed, until forced off by ex.
treme cold; then. dismounting and taking
TIE end Of the hitch-strap in one hand
would run, making the horse trot along
nntii animal heat was raised To liz highest
point, and, perspiring freely, would moLnt
him and go flying on again. Thus alter
nately riding and running, the heay,
woods Of the Wabash bottoms We're passed
Big Raccoon crossed, the town II York lef
behind, and had entered Walnut prairi,