Chapter 98

CHAPTER XCVIII

In another part of the building we found a young man about 26 years of age who said that he was confined in the Asylum by his father, simply because he was a Union man, and that he was not insane.

He reasoned well, and if his brain was affected, his was the most systematic madness we ever beheld.

A committee was appointed and the young man was examined before them and having no difficulty to establish his sanity, and he was consequently given his liberty.

We had the satisfaction of witnessing an entertainment given by the Blind and Mutes, and were very much pleased with the programme.  Among the inmates of the Asylum was the sister of the rebel General Fisher, who at the time was in command in the vicinity of Charleston.

The Capitol was a neat pleasant building surrounded by a large number of beautiful shade trees, which at the time were luxuriant with their rich green spring foliage, making a picture never to be effaced from the eye of the beholder.

About this time a large number of the Confederate soldiers from the paroled Army of Northern Virginia arrived in Raleigh, and the Confederate uniform was about as common upon the street as was the Union blue.

April 20^th, Thursday.  Our Division was out on review and was highly complimented by a number of General Officers from a number of the Corps who graced the occasion with their presence.

On the following Tuesday, April 25th, we moved at daylight upon what was destined to be our final aggressive campaign.  We marched to Jones’ X roads, here we went into camp near Holly Springs, having marched about 12 miles.

The next day we remained in camp.  Rumors of all kinds were current, the principal ones pointing towards the capitulation of General Johnston’s rebel army.  During the day we witnessed a foot race between a member of the 29^th Pennsylvania of the 2^nd Brigade, and of the 5^th Ohio of our Brigade, which was won by the Ohioan, this gave our Brigade the championship, and which ended in a knockdown with a similar result.

On the 27^th the rumors of the previous day were set at rest by the announcement at regimental head-quarter’s that Johnston’s army had capitulated to General Sherman upon the terms that Lee had surrendered to Grant.  Strange as it may appear the announcement that the Rebel Army had surrendered, did not call forth a single cheer from the men of our regiment.

Friday, 28^th.  Moved back to our old camp, near Raleigh, making the 12 miles in a little less than four and a half hours.

After we returned to camp a ration of whisky was issued and a merry time was the result.

On the afternoon of the 29^th, inst. at dress parade, orders were read announcing to the troops, that on the following day the line of march would be taken up for Washington, via Richmond, where the army would be disbanded just as soon as the necessary arrangements could be completed.

Accordingly on the following morning, Sunday, April 30^th, we started on the homeward march.  Never had we slung knapsacks with lighter hearts than we did upon that bright April Sabbath morning.  As we moved to the northward of the city, the bells of several of the churches rang out their sweet music, calling the followers of the meek and lowly Galilean, to assemble for worship.  During the day we crossed the Neuse River, encamped after a fifteen mile march.  Our supper we succeeded in gathering up during the day, and consisted of chicken and potatoes.  As we stretched our tired limbs upon a blanket covered over old mother earth, we gazed into the stars above us and, felt a secret joy in realizing that our friends in or far-off Northern homes were gazing into the same orbs with their eyes and whilst at the same time they were thinking of us.  Thus we mused until we fell asleep.

Monday, May 1^st, 1865.  We were aroused early in the morning by the well-known blasts of the Division bugle and getting up and hastily preparing our breakfast, we were soon in motion again.

During the day we passed through a fine farming country, the land was rolling, not much unlike some parts of our county.  We crossed Tar River and after a long march of at least 22 miles, we went into camp.

May 2^nd.  We started out on the march at an early hour and moved along briskly until about 5 o’clock, we went into camp, after making fully 20 miles.

Wednesday, May 3^rd.  We passed through Williams Borough, crossed the State line about 4 miles from the Roanoke River and went into camp after a march of about 10 miles.

Up to the present time we had done some heavy marching.  We were at the time informed that from a given point near the Virginia line Sherman’s Army would all move over one route and that the troops that would first strike the road would have the advance, a consideration of considerable importance to the men as well as the animals, since the advance always gets into camp several hours before the rear and the men and animals have the advantage of the forage near the line of march.

Our corps struck the road second and would have been first, had it not been for a little strategy on the part of the commander of the successful corps, the 17^th, we think, who ordered one of his Brigades to move in light marching order, that is with haversack, canteen and arms, having loaded their knapsacks upon the wagons, and thus gaining the road several hours in advance of us.

At the juncture of the road where the 17^th came upon the coveted road, some member of the successful command had executed a charcoal sketch upon the lid of a cracker box and nailed it on the trunk of a tree, which was a decided hit and would have done credit to a Nast.  Before describing the sketch, the following explanation in reference to the Corps Badges will be necessary, in order that the point of the picture may be readily seen.

The badge of the 14^th was the Acorn, the 15^th the Cartridge-box, the 17^th the Arrow and the 20^th Corps being designated by the Star.

The picture caricatured the four Army Corps, in the following manner:- The central figure consisted of a large oak tree, the ground under the tree was covered with acorns, (the 14^th Corps) while from one of the extended branches of the tree hung suspended a cartridge-box, (the 15^th Corps) under the tree a hog while in the act of eating acorns was pierced with an arrow (the 17^th Corps) apparently fired from the tree, while stars (the 20^th Corps) were “dropping” freely.  Although the joke was on the “stars” and the left wing, our boys were always able to enjoy a good thing, even if it was at their own expense.  The picture, like those coming from the hands of the old masters, had to be SEEN to be appreciated.