The National tribune., 1901-07-25

ders. Conflicting messages name Wash
ington, st. Louis and Louisville as our
destination. The question as to which
point our chances will be best for distiD-
gushing ourselves, is hotly discussed. We
are afraid the boys at the front will end
the war before we get away from Camp
Butler.
Sept. %, 1S61.-Long after taps last
night, when all lights were eXtinguished,
the hum of voices could be heard within
our canvas walls discussing the alleged
marching orders. Suddenly the stentorian
voice of 3. interrupted the hum with a
deep bass echo OF ''On to JimtOwn," which
expressed our feelings so accurately that
we at once adopted it as our watch
word.
Jimtown is the little railroad station
near our camp where we will necessarily
go to board the train, wherever may be
our destination. Cur camp this morning
was like a beehive, and we moved about
busy as bees, eagerly slipping each morsel
Of news indicating marching orders, as
sweet TO our taste as honey, but as the
day wore on and no orders came for US to
get ready, we settled down to our ordinary
duties.
Oct /, 1S61.-At last we have received
orders to prepare to march, and have been
kept in state of suspense all day, await
ing the word to pack up and be off. The
grapevine has been heavily laden with dis
patches relating chiefly TO our destination
Some Of them are bound to come true
as every probable point on the map of our
country has been named.
Our preference appears to be Wash
ington, where young Mcclellan, the Ma
poleon of our army, has reOTganized the
shattered army, turned over to him after
the battle Of Bull Run, into a compact
body Of soldiers anxious to meet the en-
emy and confident of success.
Gen. John c. Fremont in the West, with
headquarters at st. Louis, has long ex-
cited the admiration Of all who have read
of his explorations in the Far West, which
gained him the title Of Pathfinder"
Gen. Robert Anderson, the hero of Fort
Sumter, is stationed at Louisville. One
Of these three points will be our destina-
tion.
DEPARTURE FOR THE FRONT.
Oct. 2, 1S61.-"On to Jimtown," echoed
In camp so often, became a reality today.
The long-expected and much-desired
marching orders came at 2 p. m., and two
hours later we had formed in line
equipped with knapsacks, cartridge boxes
and belts, hayersacks, canteens, and our
trusty butcher knives, but no muskets,
ready for the COlOnels command, For
ward-March"
The drums tapped, the ffes started a
lively air, we stepped off, and cur move
ment "On to Jimtown" had begun.
The march Of two miles to the station
was pleasure trip. There we waited for
the train until 10 p. m, when we boarded
1t and started east on the Great Western
Railroad, our destination a mystery to
company officers as well as to priyates:
indeed, it was asserted that the Coloners
orders were sealed beyond some point on
the railroad, at least half way 10 our final
destination. This question, however, did
not trouble us greatly, so long as we were
IN motion, bound for the front somewhere,
Oct 3, 1S61.-We arrived at Indianap-
Oils this evening, disembarked and ate
supper provided in advance OF our arrival,
consisting Of soda biscuit, cold meat and
hot coffee.
The citizens treated us with great con-
sIderatlOn and many came to the deDot TO
speak words Of sympathy and encourage
meIt. Cut OFF as we were at Camp But
Ter from intercourse with any civilians, we
needed some such assurance that our
people are sustaining us.
AZ d =. m. We embarked for Cincinnati.
We reached Cincinnati at O'Clock Fri
day morning, Oct. /, and left the cars TO
march through some of the principal
streets TO the grounds Of an orphan asy-
lun, occupied as quarters by some cav
airy and artillery. We found ourselves
prisoners behind the high walls of the in
closure, but We're not neglected by the
citizens outside, who provided us with cof-
fee for breakfast and dinner. while some
ladies distributed bread and butter. Others
threw baskets of apples over the walls.
which we picked up in short order
Late in the afternoon we were released
from our prison, much to our satisfaction,