The National tribune., 1900-02-22
TRYING TO GET HOME.
The Tribulations of Two Privates in Seeking
the Rear After Muster-Out.

to greater extent than any other regl-
ment from Ohio. On account of broken
health and other causes | declined to re-
enlist.
The regiment then as veterans returned
to their homes to enjoy a 30-days' fur
Tough, leaving detachmentS of non-veterans
to hold the fort" until their return. Al
the expiration of their furlough they joined
us in February, 1864, and we began to
make preparations for the Atlanta cam
paign.
My term of service expired Sept. 2, 1854,
the day Atlanta capitulated, and a few
days after the army fell back to East Point
for rest and reorganization.
BY this time Twas about "tuckered out,
and began to think seriously of home and
how to get there Ifound one other comrade
in the regiment who was situated like
myself; viz, La Fetra, of Co. III, now OF
Washington City.
We agreed to journey together, and after
u great deal of trouble and vexatious de-
lays, succeeded in securing our discharge
papers, and on the evening of Sept. 8, after
bidding "a last farewell to the men and Off
GERS with whom we had been so long asso-
cated, we shouldered our knapsacks and
started down the railroad for Atlanta,
some six miles distant 1t was a beautI.
ful evening, the moon at its full, and all
surroundings pleasant.
In due time we arrived in the city, but 10
pur surprise were Immediately arrested and
marched to the guard-house. Our yehe-
ment protests Were OF no avail. The Ser
geant of the Guard examined our dis
charge papers, and after Questioning us TO
his satisfaction ordered our release. We
thanked him. and resumed our way IN the
direction of the railroad depot. But the
fates were against us, for we had pro-
ceeded but a few squares when we were
matted again and. Notwithstanding pro
tests and explanations, conducted back to
he guard house. The Sergeant SIN lied as
we entered, and Immediately ordered our
release.
Our next venture was more successful,
and we reached the depot unmoleSted.
Here we found a train of boX-cars, with To-
comotive attached waiting for orders TO go.
The train was conveying home Ken
lucky regiment whose term of service had
expired. We tried in vain to secure passage
in any of the cars, the men positively re-
insing to admit us. We appealed to the
Colonel, but he, too, refused. Here was
an unlooked-for dilemma. so We held a
council of war;" and watching till the
train was about to move, clambered up
and took our seats on top. We rode thus
all night, and about noon the next day
arrived at Chattanooga, hungry and sleepy.
We repaired to the Soldiers Home, and
secured some food and a bunk for the night.
The next day we intended to renew our
Journey, but Gen. Joe Wheeler with his
'critter" companies had torn up the rail
road north for some distance, and travel i'll
that direction had been interrupted for some
lays. However, by evening word was given
that travel had been resumed, and the first
train in the direction of Nashville would
leave about SundoWn.
We accordingly gathered up our belong
ingS, and repaired to the depot. Here,
sure enough, was the train, having the
members of an Ohio battery on board, also
bound for home; but TO our dismay the train
was surrounded by guard, who were
determined not to allow any one not a
member Of the battery to enter. There
were many soldiers present who seemed
10 he situated as we We're, and quite Il con-
troversy arose between them and the guards;
but the guards were not TO be Swerved
from the discharge Of their duty, and it
began 10 look like we were to be detained
for another day.
However. by using little strategy
acquired under Shermam We succeeded
IN slipping quietly 10 the top of car, and
by keeping out of sight until the train was
IN motion, We're able 20 congratulate our
selves on the success of our flank move
ment and rejoice to find we were once
more on our journey home.
Another sleepless night was thus spent,
and without incident worthy of note lex
cept that lost my hat sometime during the
night we arrived in Nashville about noon
the following day.
We Immediately repaired to the Soldiers
Home, but to our diSmay We're refused
admission or even anything to eat. Fortu-
nately, nv comrade had "A little money.
and kindly loaned me So, over two-thirds
of which | invested in hat; the balance
in commissary supplies To say that was
discouraged would be "a mild form of eX-
preston. l was sick, dirty, and alto
gether disgruntled.
That evening the city was gaily illumi-
v,..tA Ill hold ut tI,,
Capitol, where Andrew johnson and other
worthless were to deliver addresses in honor
of the late victories; but was in no condi
ton to celebrate, and early in the evening
spread my blanket on the stone floor of the
portico of "a large Catholic church, and
was soon sound asleep. However. during
the latter part of the day, La Fetra had met
an officer of the Both Ohio, which regiment
was then on its return home for muster
out, and had been informed by that officer
that if we would be at the depot by sunrise
he would give us transportation in company
with his own men.
Therefore, it was with alacrity that we
made our way the following morning to the
depot Here we found Il train of passenger
cars already occupied by the men of the
Goth, and every door guarded against
intruderS. In vain did we make inquiries
and search for our friend the officer; our
earnest appeals for admission were met with
emphatic refusal. Twice did we essay 10
enter. and as often met with a rebuff with
bayonet accompaniment. The guards
were ineXorable.
We were not TO be so easily bluffed. We
walked up and down the platform III hope
something would turn up TO lead TO sue
cess, and it did. One of the guards be-
came hotiy engaged in a war of words with
persistent fellow, who had sought TO gain
atmttance from the other side, and while
the controversy waXed warm we quietly
topped on the platform and entered the
car.
This We found nearly filed with the
boys of the :i0th, and as they had lately
been paid, and were homeward bound,
they We're correspondingly happy. and on
account of the circulating canteen Were
rather noisy. We took seats, but were still
uneasy, for fear of discovery. Knowing the
power of comradeShip among old soldiers,
we concluded the best way would be To
secure the friendship of our fellow-pas-
sengers.
The seat in our front was occupied by
two hilarious fellows. La Fetra tapped
one of them on the shoulder to attract his
attention, and stated to him our situation
recounting ont trials and tribulations, and
our fear of now being elected from the
train. To this the fellow listened, and at
its close said:
'See here, comrade, don't you fret you
belong to the "0'h Ohio now, and - the
man that tries to put you off," empha
sizing his assertion by a violent thump