Belding banner. (Belding, Mich.) 1889-1918, 1917-08-15
THE BELDING BANNER

some while we were on the road.
Changed cars at Greensboro, getting
on top of a box car this time, and
starting at $3.50 for Danville, Vir-
ginia; distance forty-eight miles. No
towns of note were on the route, and
the surrounding country was not near
as well cultivated as from Salisbury
to Greensboro. Arrived at Danville
at 1000 ". m, and after looking
around bit finally spread our blan,,
kets on the warehouse platform and
went to bed.
Tuesday, June ~, 1865.
We arose from our downy touches
at just daylight, SO as to have time
to get and eat breakfast. We rode
on the regular passenger train, hav-
ing coach all to ourselves, and start
ed at 1880, crossed the Dan river,
and followed down near it's left bank.
Crossed the Roanoke river, reached
Burkesville Junction at 400 p. m, a
distance of eighty-seven miles from
Danville. The last twelve miles OF
track were strap rails trails made by
fastening strips of iron or steel upon
woody which caused the train to move
slowly. Saw no towns of note. The
country is pretty level. All the har-
vesting is done here. Lots of black
berries by the roadside and had some
ripe apricots and pears to-day. No
train here so we had to wait until the
next afternoon, which we did not rel
ish extremely well, as we are in
hurry to get home. Pitched tent 20
sleep in.
Wednesday, June 20, 1865.
Reveille sounded at sunrise. In the
forenoon l cleaned my gun and wrote
in the diary. Very warm and pleas
ant. The trains are loaded with
rebel prisoners going home, but trav-
cling in the opposite direction from
what we are. At one o'clock we
struck tents, packed up, and marched
down to the depot, where we unloaded
some cars in which to ride. Started
on the same train. The train went
burg little after shutdown. Distance
from Burkesville fifty-two miles. The
train ran out about five miles toward
City Point and lay there all night.
They were afraid to take us to town
for fear we would do some mischief.
Thursday, June 20, 1865. /.
We were up early and cooked
breakfast, then colored the boys
whiskers until the train started,
which was at 8:15 a. m. Arrived at
City Point at nine o'clock. Distance
from Petersburg ten miles. Here we
got on board the Ella Knight, screw
wheel transport and at ten started
down the James river. In the after
noon we passed jamestown, the first
settlement in the United States
(1607. At five p. m. we passed
Newport News, where there was
prison filled with rebels. Passed
Hampton Roads where our little
Monitor gave the rebel Merrimac such
hard blow. At six we sailed be-
tween Fortress Monroe with its big
Lincoln gun, weighing twenty-five
tons, and many others; and the Rip
Raps with its perpendicular stone
walls, standing in the water. Went
to bed about twilight, sleeping below
Saw phosphorescent lights in the
water.
Friday, June 80, 1866.
Was up this morning at daylight,
after good nights rest over salt wa
ter on Chesapeake Bay. The boat
runs very steady. At 1000 a. m. we
passed in sight of Annapolis, Mary
land. At IL reached Baltimore, and
Immediately got of. Distance from
City Point to Baltimore $50 miles.
We stayed on the dock two hours,
then marched up through the city by
Battle Monument and Washington's
Monument to the North Central rail-
road depot, where we got into box
cars agin. We were in with the Of
ficers, the car was very leaky and it
rained hard, SO we got pretty wet,
and had to cut hole in the bottom
e - lo< Ia <a,. ont hafnra
we could sleep. Started 600 p. m.
and ran rather slow.
Saturday, July /, 1865.
We had poor nights rest, so were
up at sunrise, and found ourselves
just across the river from Harrisburg, !
distance from Harrisburg SO miles. !
Ran up to Marysville, where we stop |
ped for an hour to change engines,
and get on to the Pennsylvania Cen
trail railroad. Washed our hand and |
faces in the Susquehanna and prepar- |
ed breakfast. Started from Marys- |
vile at 700 a. m, following up the |
Junietta river, crossing it over twen-
ty times in the course of the day.
Passed through many nice towns, !
among which were Miffiin, Altoona,
and others which / have now forgot
ten. At Altoona we commenced TO /
ascend the Allegheny mountains, us
ing two engines and going up very
crooked road. 1t was eleven miles to
the summit, during which we ascend
about one hundred feet to the mile.
We passed through a tunnel seven
eighths of mile in length, then COM
menced defending, being 1900 feet
above Petersburg. Ran quite fast,
and at HOO p. m. reached Peters
burg, where we were treated to a
good supper and at one o'clock took
the cars for Cleveland. Distance
from Harrisburg to Petersburg 246
miles.
Sunday, July 2, 1865.
We were up at daylight and found
ourselves on the move and near the
Ohio river in the state Of Ohio. Ran
very quietly through Ohio, and at