The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1900-12-13


During our absence about 100 recruits
for our regiment arrived from the North
The most of our recruits were old friends
i'll some cases relatives of the old mem
bers, and many were the glad greetings.
| / will add that upon our return to Nicks-
| burg we were accompanied by an army OF
| colorcd people, who seemed TO think that
| to go with us meant to be free. There
were bright young darby boys, bashful
girls and middle-agcd men and women.
These poor people were going with Massa
| LinkumS soldiers, to be free They left
the old plantation to go with us. with lit
tie thought as to how they would live.
They, however, had an abiding faith that
somehow everything would be made right
A great many found employment as cooks,
but NEST of them shifted for themselves,
and followed us from day to day, with
only the desire to be free beings to urge
them on. No fear of Massa's dogs or lash
while with us; and if we should ask one
of the new recruits to our army of contra
bands. Where is you gwine, SamboP an
answer was ready, Use gwine to be free,
ya-ya-yap
We have heard it said that the colored
people in the South were satisfied with
their former condition of servitude, but We
are prepared to say that they cheerfully
accepted n chance to exchange it for any
thing else, even death. Large numbers of
raised at Vicksburg, and not few of them
were brutally murdered at Fort Pillow.
VETERAN FURLoUGH.
For some days following the Meridian
raid we remained idle in camp. We were
rejoiced to get back to Vicksburg after
3UU-mile tramp, and we now commenced
to speculate concerning our veteran fur
Tough.
The Meridian raid had prevented our
going home as soon as we otherwise would
have done, but Thursday, March IL, Or
ders were received to be in readiness to
move any moment. 1t is not necessary to
say that we were ready, and to our I'M
limited joy the assembly was sounded. We
babe adieu to the scenes of many days of
trials and pleasure and marched to the
landing, where we embarked on board a
steamboat for our far-away Ohio homes.
Our nOn-vcts and new men, except two
comrades from each company, remained in
camp at Nicksburg. We crossed the gang
plank, the bell rang, the great wheels be-
gan to rcvOlve, and we We're moving. 1t
was about 10 o'clock at night, under q
bright full moon, when Vicksburg faded
from our sight. We never saw the city
again.
Our boat was crowded, there being, be-
sides our regiment, the 4Jth Ill. and 10th
Iowa, also going home Oh furlough.
Nothing occurred to mar the pleasure of
our trip. About o o'clock the morning of
the 2lst we reached Memphis, where we
remained until about o'clock in the after
noon. In the meantime a number of the
boys fastened away to the hospitals in the
city, i'll search for an absent friend or rela
tive.
Our boat made much better time the
succeeding night and following day, owing
to the coal taken on at Memphis. The
.f nf m "a nf f
Grams, who were returning from a visit
to their Northern homes.
About 8 O'Clock in the morning of the
23d we passed Columbus, KY, and about
o'clock in the afternoon landed at Cairo,
ILL.,, six days from Vicksburg. Just after
our arrival at Cairo a fire broke out and
ragged with the widest fury in a block of
frame buildings fronting the Ohio Levee.
Here it was that our grand old regiment
showed its mettle and the material of
which it was composed.
We were cold and hungry, not having
eaten good meal since leaving Vicks-
Durg. Instead of standing idly by, watch
ing the fire, we cheerfully furnished relays
of men to work the hand fire-engines, as
The firemen were nearly exhausted, and
Dy our timely help much was done toward
checking the fire.
A Cairo paper, in speaking OF the fire,
made mention of boat-lOad of troops that
mad OPPORTUNITY arrived from below, who
proved to be ready and willing to face
danger in defense of Northern homes.
After the hrc was under control a train
was made up, and during the night of the
I'D we were moving through Illinois via
Centralla and dillingham;. The morning of
che 18th found US at indianapolis, Ind,
where we remained until nearly noon.
Upon reaching indianapolis we were es-
corted to the Soldiers Home" a large
adj nt nI ffV.
side we shouted, GLORY" OH what
sight met our eyes! There were long TIA
Dies grooming under all the good things
that heart could wish, and there was room
ut the tables for the whole regiment Then
came the cFowning glory of the scene.
Ladies i'll pink and blue came swarming
around us with pitchers. and with their
beautiful hands filled our cups with cof-
zee and our hearts with joy, then passed
the cream and sugar, and served us in
every way they could, the meantime act
Tally talking and chatting with us, until
We hardly knew whether we were in In
dianapOlis or in Paradise.
Too soon Col. Welles shouted, "Battal-
ION, fall in" We returned TO our train
and were soon speeding on our way. About
) o clock in the afternoon we reached Mum
lie, Ind. Here it was that we met with
another grand reception from dear Deo-
Die whose hearts were full and running
over with patriotism. No sooner had oIIr
cram come to stop than we were Sur-
tounded and captured by the good citizens.
There was nothing during our long service
that exceeded the kindness showered upOn
us by the good people, who seemed to vie
win each other III some expression of
friendship toward us.
After the wants of the inner man were
supplied we were right royalty entertained
by glee club of many voices, who rem
dered several patriotic songs, one of which
was Babylon Has Fallen" The music
and words being new to us, it nearly lifted
us off our feet, and brought forth loud and
prolonged applause. Our martial band
of which the Army of the Tennessee could
furnish no superior, was now heard from,
and gave our friends several favorite Sc
lections. The evening shadows began to
iengthen, when, with many Il sigh of re-
greet, we parted with those who were so
kind to u.s.
March % found us on the soil of orr
own loved Buckeye State We passed
through Bellefontaine and Marion, and
about o'clock in the afternoon arrived at
Cleveland. Soon after our arrival we
Formed IN line and marched out to Camp
Taylor, two miles south of the city, where
we remained until April g.
The morning after reaching Camp Tay-
Tor heavy guard was placed around us.
of a slick-looking lot of fellows
with the letters S. s. on their hats. What
the letters signified we were unable to saw,
so we dubbed them sap suckers"
This action by the commander of the
camp aroused Indignation among us, which
found vent in notification to the com
mander of the camp that we had been
the past two years in battling for
Ir Hnt tpxrfst hnunr. IN IL