The National tribune., 1901-09-19

questions, decided that l was neither n
cripple nor helpless, 50 am under orders
to pack my traps and be gone.
RETURNING, TO THE FRONT.
Sept. % l babe good-by to my friends
at the hospital, and Boarded the steamer
Warsaw, bound for st. Louis, in com
pany with II others returning TO ther
commands. Ny outfit provided by the
Quartermaster consisted OF a new suit
of blue, a knapsack containing change OF
underclothing, al blanket rolled and
strapped to the top, hayersack, can
teen and a descriptive roll containing
record of my name, age, hight, color OF
eyes, hair and complexion, company, resi-
ment, and date of last payment; also, an
order for transportation and subsistence,
which authorized me to travel by boat
or rail and to eat and lodge at Uncle
Sans wayside inns, his hospitals and
convalescent camps, all at his expense.
The route was left to my own judgment,
as there was none to inform me IN what
part of the country my regiment could De
found.
Sept. 26, when our squad proceeded at
oLce to look for quarters where Uncle
Sam would foot the bill, task that con-
sumed the afternoon. We were directed
from one wrong place to another until, at
last, tired and hungry, we were admitted
to the transportation Office, where, ar
ter a rigid inspection of our descriptive
rolls. to make sure that we were not de-
scrters, our names were recorded and we
were escorted through side door across
a court and securely locked in slave
PEN" for such it proved to have been.
The blocks whereon many slave had
stood to be knocked down" to the highest
bidder still disfgured the courtyard. The
rooms assigned us opened into this court,
IL oil A.
BILE, we surveyed our surroundings with
uncOncealed disgust. 1t seemed absurd
that we should have hunted so persist
emily for a place Of Imprisonment.
We expressed our indignation in fitting
terms to the clerk in charge, who ex-
planned that this rule had become neces-
sary for the reason that returning sol
diers applying for transportation to their
commands frequently failed to appear at
ter arrangements were completed, so the
officer in charge decided to keep appii-
cants under lock and key until their boat
was ready to leave.
We escaped the oppressive hospitality
of our host of the slave pen next after
noon, and found quarters on the steamer
War Eagle, bound for Helena. Our boat
was not prepared to leave that evening,
being busily engaged in completing her
cargo.
Sunday morning, Sept %, was spent
in taking on board Gen. Curtiss mounted
escort, two howitzers and IA Paymasters,
with several million dollars in greenbacks
for the payment of Grants army in Mis-
sissippi.
While the church bells were ringing for
morning service our boat backed out and
turned her PROV southwark. We ran
without stopping until 8 p. m, when the
low water mark rendered further progress
unsafe. There was no Sunday on our
boat. The Paymasters and their clerks
had entire possession Of tn. cabin, and
devoted their whole time to gambling.
Every table had its group of card-players
rafting poker chips, drinking, swearing
and smoking. Gen. Curtiss cavalrymen,
with their howitzers and carbines, stood
guard on the hurricane roof, watching for
guerrillas, who might well covet such a
prize. Their horses occupied the lower
deck, and our little squad found room
as best we could on the cabin guards.
Resuming our course at daylight, Sept.
&c. we reached Columbus at 8 p. m,
where several of US were informed that
cur commands were near Louisville; so
we left the steamer, but my companions
were soon after told that their regiments
were distributed along the Tennessee
River in Mississippi. and took passage on
the NJ. & o. II. r. for Corinth. leaving
me alone to find my way to BuelPs army,
wherever IL might be. l applied for
transportation to Louisville, which was
promised by the packet leaving next day,
and found quarters at the Soldiers Home
-so-called, a frame building, furnished
only with four walls, bare floor and
roof
WOUNDED FROM IUKA.
After drawing rations and eating sup
per, l selected a corner, spread my blan-
ket, and with knapsack for pillow was
soon sleeping so soundly that the arrival
Of large number Of new guests did not
awaken me until the room was nearly
filled and / was completely surrounded
with acknowledges, who came limping or
carried on stretchers to drop or to be
dropped promiscuously on the floor for a
night Of rest or suffering.
whats the matter" / asked Of my
nearest neighbor. well, we had trouble
with old Price down at Iuka. He wanted
to come in, and we got hurt trying to
keep him out, and we did keep him out,
you bet"
My acknowledges were the wounded of
the battle of Iuka. who were loaded ut
TO await transportation by steamer to
Northern hospitals. Their wounds had
been dressed and bandaged by the field
Surgeons, but many of the poor fellows
required further attention, and we who
were able devoted the night to their care.
My quarters were not so attractive as
to induce me to prolong my stay in Co
lumbus, so | tried all day to get informa
ton as to when boat should arrive by
which l might go to Louisville. Only
boats in Government service had any
trade below Cairo, as the guerrilas who
infested the river banks rendered it very
unsafe for such as did not carry armed
guards. The army distributed at import
ant points as far down as Helena re-
food and haA IN ha