The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-11-29

above the roaring of the storm: Come this
way"
Back into the vault, boys" whispered
one of the first party, land we will have
some fun"
Suting the action to the word, four boys
stepped into and behind the door of the
vault, Just as several comrades rushed in
under. the protection of the covered way
leading to it. One of the boys in the vault
now commenced a series of such long
drawn-out, blood-curdling and terrifying
shriekS and groans as never before came
from an abode of the dead, which were
heard above the wild fury of the storm.
Then it was that the boys who had sought
he protection of the covered way rushed
)ut into the binding storm. The door was
how thrown open and the first fash of
lightning disclosed to those in the vault
that the covered way was vacant. The
boys could lead a forlorn hope or charge
an enemy's line up to the lannon's mouth,
but the groans and shrieks that emanated
from that vault they could not stand.
l have said previously our comrades
were great letter writers, even in response
TO ads found in Northern papers mailed
US, viz, "Inciose 10 cents, color of hair
and eyes, and receive beautiful picture
of your future wife"
We, of course, were anxious to learn
what the future had in store for us, so we
invested 10 cents. But, oh, how kindly
disposed was the future to u.s. as the reply
to those letters of inquiry brought to our
hands photos of the biggest, latest and
ugliest of females. The boys, however,
were too bashful to press their suit.
Friday, Nov. 13, there took place a
grand review of the army in camp around
Ficksburg. After the review Maj.-Gen.
Logan delivered farewell address to the
men of his old Third Division, he being
assigned to the command of the Fifteenth
Corps, Army of the Tennessee.
About Nov. IS the Both ILL., with which
we had been associated since the Summer
Of 1862, was taken out of our brigade, and
the 32d Ohio put in its place, Col. Potts,
Sd Ohio, commanding the brigade. Our
brigade now was composed wholly of Ohio
regiments, which military composition we
maintained until about July 10, 1864,
when the SD Ohio was transferred to the
Fourth Division, Seventeenth Corps, and
the 18th Wis. assigned in its place.
referring to my diary, | find that U.
5. Paymaster made us q visit the previous
September, and upon Nov. % we were
again made happy by his presence. The
meantime the cOmings and goings of the
boys on furlough and the occasional ar
rival of new recruits was all that occurred
, to break the dull mOnotOny of the camp.
Dec. D, fuel getting scarce about us, we
were ordered to move camp TO near the
old Confederate lines, in order to be bet
| ter prepared for the rigors of a Mississippi
Winter. The weather was very cold, with
now and then rain and sleet, that added
| not little to our general discomfort.
WITHDRAWING AT VICKSBURG.
About this time Uncle Sam began to
think it a wise plan TO get as many as pos
sible of his good nephews to enlist for
another term of service He knew that
the boys who had already served two
years would make much better soldiers
than those fresh from civil life He also
realized that the time spent in drilling new
regiments would be saved if the cid ones
could be induced to remain in the service.
Accordingly Uncle Sam agreed to paw a
| bounty of S402 to each one who would re-
enlist for three years or during the war.
! Besides this bounty we would be given a
furlough for 80 days, and if three-fourths
of the regiment would re-enlist we could
go home together.
Upon this question Col. Welles gave us
short talk, about as follows: Comrades
of the 6Sth Ohio: Taking into earnest CON
| sideration all the trials and sufferings YOU
have undergone, and without single MUIR
| muir of complaint, yet l am unable to
speak for you, but whatever course you
| may pursue In this matter, your Colonel will
go with you. And now, In order to get an
expression upon this question, I ask that
all who have given the question of re-en-