The National tribune., 1901-09-19

IHE 1lLOI IL
The tents here are rapidly being depop-
ulated by death and shipment North: In
my ward four have died and six nave been
sent to the river, while II remain, all able
to move about, only three taking medi-
cine.
Paroled Confederate soldiers are en-
gagged in a thriving trade by selling cakes
and pies to hungry conyalescents. L
bought half a pie for 10 cents when the
attendants were out, but could not eat 1t.
If it had only been pegged or sewed like
the ordinary army pie | might have torn
it asunder, but it was double riveted and
l had no cold chisel. The plums were
hard and green, and altogether it was
about as edible as an army shoe loaded
with grapeshot.
June 81 my turn came to be shipped,
SO / climbed into an army wagon with a
scanty outfit and a cheerful mind. There
was plenty of company, as our wagon
train contained so convalescents. The
tents were almost entirely deserted, as
every man able to be moved was brought
along. During our numbering ride of 10
miles over corduroy roads there were sew
eral refreshing showers, which cooled the
air and made the trip pleasant one. At
: D. IN. we reached Hamburg, town OF
40 dwellings,, one hotel and several stores,
on the river bank, four miles from Pitts
burg Landing. Deserted by its inhabi-
tants, the buildings had been used for
two months as hospitals. l was quar-
tered with II others in a large, clean tent
furnished with good cots, and an excel
lent supper was served by the attendants
detailed for this service.
a good nights rest in my new quar-
tiers dissipated the fatigue Of the journey,
and next morning, after q comfortable
breakfast. / walked about to make OBJ
servations The first objects of interest
were two steamboats, lying at the wharf
fitted up as hospital boats, one for m
diana troops destined for Evansville, the
other for Kentuckians for Louisville.
There were not enough invalids for these
two States to fill the boats, SO passage
was given to Ohio, Michigan and Penn
sylyania men to go as far as they could
in the direction OF their homes, after
which the boats backed out and proceed
ed down the river.
The steamer Sunnyside, chartered by
the State of Ohio, arrived June 80, but
only 80 Ohio men were here, so passage
was offered to men from other States, as
she was fitted for 300 sick men. She de-
parted for Cincinnati with a light load
and the Decatur arrived from st. Louis
EN- ROUTE FOR HOME.
A wagon train of 100 invalids, mostly
Illinoisans, arrived June 2, and were
our party was taken aboard. We
were numbered and labeled like packages
of freight, and the clerk of the boat gave
receipt for US to the hospital officials.
We filed back into the engine room on
the lower deck, and were directed to our
several cots, which had previously been
marked with our names and regiments and
also with the medical term describing the
nature of our sickness. a tag dangling
from the cot assigned to me bore my
name, regiment, and a long Latin word,
which would have finished me entirely il
it had been brought to my notice before
was able to stand the shock of the dis
coYery.
1t was amusing to hear the comments
Of the boys when the various and I'M
heard-of diseases were thus presented for
the first time. 4 lively controversy be-
gan as 10 whether those dreadful things
were ''varmints'' or snakes, and each en-
deavored to describe his pet" as the most
dreadful to look upon and the most dan
gerous to handle. We would gladly have
cut loose from them. but found they were
as closely connected with our identity az
our names were on the hospital records.
A sufficient number Of attendants was
provided for our wants, and a good
breakfast served, but very limited in
quantity, in accordance with specific or
ders from the Surgeons. AT 10 a. m. our
boat backed out and ran to Pittsburg
Landing, where it lay two hours, during
which time a telegram was handed the
Captain directing him to unload at Pa
ducah and return for another load. Pro-
ceeding on our course down the river, we
passed Forts IIindman and Henry.
which saiuted us with their guns. and in
response we gave q cheer earnest but
rather weak.
At 10 p. m. we tied up for the night,
and sleep ere long overcame busy tongues
and restless spirits with dreams of home.
Our boat backed out at daylight next
morning. and with flags flying in honor
OF Independence day we sped swiftly
down the stream between a double row
of green cottonwoods and willows dipping
into the water and hiding the low banks
from sight.
Reaching Paducah, where the Tennes-