Chapter 59 (Antics of the soldiers)

CHAPTER LIX

After laying in the city for a little over an hour, we again proceed on our journey.  As we passed the Penitentiary we had the satisfaction of seeing a large number of the prisoners in their striped suits under guard doing police duty.  We continued our journey during the day passing through a number of flourishing towns and villages.  At Dayton, which was the home of the arch rebel Vallandigham, we remained for some time.  Considerable excitement existed in the city owing to the action of part of our advance Division who had gutted the office of the Valandigham organ, the Ohio STATESMEN.  The feeling in the city was intense and if the butternuts wol’d have dared, they would have made short work of us.  The political excitement was very high, the Democrats had nominated Vallandigham, whilst the Union men, irrespective of part rallied around that staunch old Union hero John Brough, and we could at all time hear the shouts of “Liberty and Vallandigham,” and “Union and Brough.”

At a little station a few miles from Dayton, a large number of kegs of ale were piled up on the platform, and as the cars started a number of the boys threw several kegs into the car and the result was, as might be expected, a number of the boys became tipsy and a high old time was the result.

At our last stopping place before we reached Centreville, Ind., a young girl was walking along the railroad track and as the cars were running very slow, several of our boys jumped out of the cars and started after the young lady for a Kiss.  One of our Sergeants succeeded in snatching a “Kiss,” when to his great chagrin, he discovered that, the young lady was crazy.  It was a joke at the Sergeants expense and one which he has not yet heard the last of.  At Centreville, Ind., we were kindly received.  The Citizens had been notified at our arrival, and had prepared breakfast for us.  We remained in the town about five hours, which time was spent in walking around and in seeing the sights.  Several of the boys had succeeded in getting a small cannon, which they were firing off at a rapid rate, greatly to the detriment of the window glasses.  A string band consisting of Hoosier Ladies and Gentlemen assembled at the depot and favored us with a number of excellent songs, accompanied with instrumental Music.  Several farmers came to town with barrels of cider and bushels of apples which they gave to us free of charge.  At 10 o’clock, a. m., we again started, and proceeded our journey ‘til we reached Indianapolis, which we did at 5 o’clock, p. m.  Here we were taken to the Soldiers Rest, where we were treated to an excellent Supper, consisting of Soda Crackers, dried beef tongue, coffee, &c., which was given to us by special orders of Governor Morton.  The State Fair was in session, and we had the satisfaction of seeing several very fine specimens of cattle, which were being driven from the grounds to various parts of the city.  Several of the boys started out in town to see the SIGHTS and as future developments revealed they no doubt did SEE them.

Quite an interesting little episode occurred whilst we were laying here and awaiting the train which was being gotten ready for us.  An old farmer came to where we were laying, with a barrel of cider, which he was selling at five cents a glass.  The boys were dry but had no money, and so they began to pick a fuss with the old man.  Some calling him “butter-nut” others trying to drive his old horse, and as he started off, the countrymen seized his lines, whilst one of the boys jumped into the wagon and rolled the barrel out, whilst they drove the horse off in full speed.  The head of the barrel was knocked in and then the cof­fee cups were brought into requisi­tion and in less time than one could say Jack Robinson, the barrel was emptied of its contents.  At nine o’clock, or after a stay of about 4 hours we were again ordered on to the cars and the journey was again commenced, we continued on our travel the entire night, and by noon next day, October 3^rd, we reached Jeffersonville, Ind., here we again got out of the cars and marched through the town for the riv­er, where we embarked upon Steam Ferry boats to cross the river.  As we passed several large Government Cracker Bakeries the girls and men employed in them threw crackers down at us, and they tasted quite different from what they would have several years afterwards.

At one o’clock we left the boats and marched into Louisville, Ky.  Here we soon found that we were leaving the “Freelands of the North,” and were again entering ‘Dixie,’ our Bri­gade was marched into the city, and the men ordered to take off their Knapsacks, and take it easy.  Our officers were ordered to allow none of the men to get any whisky. Several guards were placed at both corners of the square.  Asa B. Churchill of our company was on guard.  Capt. Laven­burg of Co. E, who was unfortunate­ly given to the use of the Liquor, determined to go out in search of it.  He came to where Asa was and tried to go through, but was halted, but not being in a mood to listen, be made up his mind to go through.  Asa brought down his gun to a charge, and Laven­burg found that the guard was not to be trifled with, and he silently turned back.  Now we were marched to the depot, where we remained until nearly dusk, getting our meals in the depot, after which we again started forward.  The train thundered on at full speed, and when the morning dawned we found ourselves running along the Cumberland river, every mile of the way giving indication of having once been occupied by a hostile army.  Fort after fort, alternated with earth works, met our eager gaze and we soon began to feel that we were moving up on the territory made memorable by the heroic deeds of the gallant old Ar­my of the Cumberland, under the lead of Buell and Rosencranz.  By noon we reached Nashville, the Capital of Tennessee.  Here we lay upon the trestle work for several hours, in sight of the State Capitol, which is a magnificent building built of Tennessee marble, and which at the time was enclosed within a line of entrenchments.  Here we were joined by General Hooker and Staff and again started onward.  From this point the trains moved much slower than they had up to this point.  After due time we reached Murfresboro and from the entrenchments which surrounded the place we could see a number of heavy guns placed in position.  Here we were informed that the rebel cavalry general, Wheeler, was threatening to make a raid upon the road.  We were ordered to load our guns, without priming, and we were ready for an at­tack at any moment.  The train moved on slowly during the night, and at daylight on the 5^th, we came to a halt at Duck River Bridge, near Normandy station, Tenn., and were ordered to get out of the cars, when we received the joyful intelligence that our long ride of over eleven hundred miles was over.  We fell in and moved to the right of the rail-road, where we were drawn up in line of battle.  A detail was at once sent out on picket to prevent a surprise, after which we spread our blankets upon the ground behind the stacks, thankful for the opportunity to stretch out our cramped up limbs, as we had not been able to stretch ourselves out full length while sleeping during the eight nights we were on the cars.