The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1901-08-29

home, after being released from long cap
tivity. Poor fellows, they little dreamed
of what awaited them. We at camp al
most envied them the pleasure of going
home.
About midnight the Sultana left her
moorings, and steamed up the broad Mis-
sissippi. About seven miles above Mem
phis, when all We're quiet and still in
sleep, except those in charge of the boat
! the boilers of the boat exploded, and
about 900 human beings, without warn
ing, were ushered into eternity. Among
that number were eight or nine of the
9TH Ind. Cav.-three of my own company
| went down to the wharf the next morn
ing and saw many bodies taken out of the
river that had fioated down TO Memphis,
seven miles below the explosion.
Following the Sultana disaster came
news Of the assassination of President
Lincoln. The news was a shock to the
whole army. For little while that was
the darkest period of the rebellion. Flags
were at half-mast, and the city of Mem
phis was completely draped in mourning.
The streets presented one mass of black
Grape. Part of it may have been only
pretence, yet l believe that a portion of
the citizens were really sorry because such
great calamity had befallen the country.
on RED RIVER.
On the 18th of June, 1865, the 9TH Ind.
Cav. was ordered to the wharf at Mem
phis. As so many regiments had been
mustered out, many of the boys supposed
we were soon to see home and friends
When we were all on board the boats
were lOOsed from the wharf and pushed
out into the broad Mississippi The boys
almost held their breath, knowing if we
headed up stream it meant that we were
soon TO be with loved ones, but if our
IL ,i,,kt l.,
long time before we would see home |
assure you that many of us felt a little
blue as we turned down stream, for in
stead of going home we were going far
Their away-where, we did not know. We
steamed down the river past Vicksburg to
the mouth of Red River, and went up
that stream. The river was out of its
banks, so that there was no land in sight
for miles, and the boats were often out
among the trees and bushes. Every now
and then we could see an old, rusty ALI
gator summing himself on a log.
We landed at Alexandria, La, June 23
1860. Alexandria had been before the
war; fine little city, but at that time
was in ruins. The country around Alex
andria was as beautiful as any in the
State, and contained many sugar and cot
ton plantations. Before the war the own
ers Of these plantations had scores Of
slaves.
] VISITED large sugar plantation a few
miles from Alexandria. The negro-quar-
ters looked like town or village The
oVerseer's dwelling was so arranged that
he could see all over the plantation. There
was room made especially for the pun
ishment of unruly slaves. saw q cross
piece, a little higher than q mans head,
with hooks fastened in it to hook over the
thumbs; in this position, with their arms
stretched out, and so their feet would
barely touch the ground, they were pre-
pared for fOgging. Many poor negro
had been taken down from that rack with
his body lacerated and bleeding
About three miles from Alexandria was
located the Military Academy. AT the
outbreak of the war Gen. w. T. Sherman
was President of the institution.
TYRANNY OF GEN. CUSTER.
At Alexandria we were under the com
mand of Gen. George A Custer. Gen.
Custer was brave soldier, and believe
a good commander in time of battle. At
Alexandria, and while on our way to
Texas, he acted the despot. His wife was
with him, and he had dogs and race
horses. With few exceptions, we never
suffered so for rations as we did at this
time, and what we received was not fit to
eat. This was after the war, and every
soldier knew that 1t was no fault of the
Government that we did not have plenty
and that good.
Gen. Custer would allow no foraging,
and those who did forage and were found
out, were arrested and whipped with mule
whips and their heads shaved. Two of
the 18th Ind. Cav (Gerue and Arnold)
were whipped and their heads shaved,
and then at dress parade Gen. Custer