The National tribune., 1900-09-06

ably kept. The 109th Pa. was part of
the safeguard that remained on duty.
The Catawba and other rivers were
crossed, and on the 23d. after a rest of
few days. an advance was made, crossing
Lynch's Creek March 1.
On the Sd the regiment had skirmish
with the rebels, driving them through the
town of Chesterfield. The Great Pedee
River was crossed at Swedesboro, n. c.,
on the 9th, and the march TO Fayetteville
begun, that city being occupied on the
18th and 18th. The march to Bentonville,
Goldsboro and on to Raleigh occupied
nearly month.
The 1O9th was now consolidated with
the 111th Pa.
SURRENDER OF JOHNSTON.
On April 26 Gen. Johnston surrendered.
On the 2Sth the regiment returned to
Goldsboro, where for two days everybody
was busy setting things to rights, fixing
| accounts, etc, and getting ready to take
up their hOmeward march.
The enthusiasm of the men cannot be
well described by the pen nor told by the
| tongue. The boys gave vent TO their feel
ings in all manner OF ways and acted like
wild Indians.
At Z o'clock on the morning of the Both
they were assembled in line to start their
march for home. General Order was read
forbidding foraging or entering dwelling
houses ON pain of severe punishment.
The boys were in high spirits, and
played pranks on the colored population
of the country through which they passed.
By noon, May 3, the regiment crossed
the boundary line into Virginia, and there
was much fun among the men leaping and
| jumping an imaginary line. They were
then 65 miles from Raleigh, n. G., and
| ITO from Richmond. A board was nailed
on a tree growing directly on the State
line, which bore the inscription, State
Line. Carry me back to Old Nirginny,"
and when the band struck up the old tune
the regiment cheered and others took it
up along the line and kept it up for many
minutes.
On the 9th the regiment went into camp
within seven miles of Richmond, the city
| that had cost so many lives of our coun-
| trymen, there resting for n day and draw
ing rations. The men, after fixing them
selves to appear presentable, entered the
rebel Capital on the 11th, passing by the
famous Libby Prison and Castle Thunder,
where SO many Of our brave boys had
suffered and died.
OVER OLD BATTLEFIELDs.
Leaving the city they biyouacked for the
night three miles outside on the Freder-
icksburg Pike, and on the spot where the
| rebel Gen. j. Il. i. Stuart had been killed
| by Sheridan's men one year before.
The next day, after crossing the Pa
munky River the regiment passed through
| the pretty little village of Ashland, -
miles from Richmond; on the 18th crossed
| the South Anna River, and on the 18th
came to and passed through the town of
Spottsylvania, where the buildings showed
| unmistakable evidence of the severity Of
the battle at that place. Thousands OF
human bones, skulls, etc, were seen by
our men. and Capt. Climber, of our regi-
ment, picked up the skull OF man and
sent il home as relic.
On the 18th the regiment passed over
| the old battlefield of Charlottesville, and
a halt was made to enable the men to ram
bic over the ground where they had
, fought so well n few years before. The
earthworks they had made then were
crumbled TO pieces, but enough was left to
see the line held i'll front of the Chancel-
| lor House.
| Leaving the battlefield behind them, the
regiment once more marched over the same
route toward the Rappahannock River,
crossed 1t at the United States Ford, and
after climbing up the steep hill on the
north side encamped for the night
On the 18th Cedar Run was crossed
near the battlefield of Cedar Mountain,
where the regiment first saw and received
the enemy's fire in '62. On the 18th the
regiment arrived at Bull Run and crossed
| the stream near the outer line of Confed-
crate works. On the 18th, after a most
tedious march over muddy roads, it hav-
ing rained for two days, the regiment ar
rived at Alexandria and remained there
for time to prepare for the Grand Re-
view in Washington, which took place ON
the Oath.
When that was over our regiment pro-
ceeded to the place assigned them on Cap
itoi Hill, and pitched tents to make them
selves as comfortable as the circumstances
would allow, and there remained until
mustered out, July 10, 1866, after con.
tinuous service of three years and seven
months.
Nearly one-third of the regiment had