CHAPTER
XI
OUR
LAST NIGHT IN HARRISBURG
We had now been in Harrisburg two months and six days,
during which time we had made many firm friends, amongst whom we would mention
the Smalls, Boyers, and Reighards, and it was with feelings akin to sorrow
that we made arrangements for our final departure, but the many strange and
exciting events which our imagination pictured, lured us on, and when the order
came on the afternoon of the 20th of November, to pack up and march to the
depot where transportation would be furnished to take us to the regiment, we
had a number of regrets. We will never
forget our first experience at packing knapsacks for the march. We were compelled to discard many things
which we then thought we could hardly do without, and even then our knapsacks
had the appearance of over filled peddler packs.
When the company filed out of the gate at Camp Curtin
The company was marched to the N. C. Rwy. Depot, to
await the transportation. Our officers
had expected us to take the daily evening train, but owing to some
misunderstanding this was not done.
Information was received about dark that we would not leave until after
midnight , and the officers gave the men
permission to take a farewell stroll through the city, to report promptly at
the depot, no later than midnight .
A number of the boys started for the Gaiety, to take
in the sights for the last time for many a long day, which had become so
familiar to us, whilst others visited other points, just as their inclinations
led them.
After the performance we repaired to White Hall
Saloon, to partake of a farewell oyster stew, as well as to slake our thirst in
several glasses of Michael’s lager. Here
we were met by Serg’t F. H. Stuck who
acted door keeper, demanding a fee from all who sought admittance, we paid and
passed in. When once within the saloon,
a sight met our gaze, which we will not soon forget. About two dozen of the boys were in the back
room, whist fully that number were in the front or drinking department.
It was here that Sergeant Knight, assisted Jacob J.
Riegel to eat cabbage, using the handle of a small cracker mallet to help
Jacob swallow it. Serg’t I. D. Whitmer
furnished the cabbage from the dish handful at a time, greatly to the detriment
of the eater, whilst Serg’t Knight assisted in “rushing” it down, from which
circumstance Riegel obtained the name of pusher, which he went by among his
comrades to the day of his death.
Sergeant Stuck had collected a handful of stamps,
pennies and promise to a script of the day.
Bill McFall gave Stuck’s hand a knock which caused his collection to fly
in every direction, whereupon someone called out scramblings. The rush that followed beggars description,
and the way that furniture flew around was a caution. After quiet was restored and the money all recovered and
counted, it was discovered that enough had been raised to pay for a glass of
beer for any who wished to participate, and upon a count it was discovered that
but one of the number present refused to take a glass, and this was not upon
temperance bounds, but was mainly owing to the fact that a too liberal use of
the fluid had knocked his pins out from under him, and he was at the time
stretched out on a table in a side-room, covered over with a white spread and
exhibited to all who cared to have a peep at the “Sleeping Beauty,” and a
beauty he was.
We cannot recall the names of all who participated in
that “cantico” but we have no hesitancy in asserting that all who were there
and have occasion to visit Harrisburg will not
fail to call at “White Hall” in commemoration of that farewell banquet.
The clock on the State House tolled the hour of midnight , and we found it necessary to say “good-bye” and
hasten to the depot. We found that the
company had been removed to the Soldiers’ Rest and that a number of the most
trusty men in the company had been placed on guard to prevent the men from
leaving the building.
Three members of the company, D. W. Gross, U. P.
Hafley and the writer were transferred to the 14th U. S. I., but owing to a
Proclamation issued by the Government on the previous day, forbidding the
transfer, the “Regulars” were returned to the company, this probably gave rise
to the placing of guards at the Rest.
The boys however who knew the “ropes” had all the liberty they desired.
During the evening several knock-downs took place in
the company, in one of which George B. Townsend knocked Danny Herbster topsy
turvey, and which was settled by the interference of Lieut. Schroyer, who was
always on hand whenever the rights of any of the company demanded it, whilst
another took place between two of the company, both of whom are no more,
besides a number of mouth battles, a species of warfare in which the members of
Company G, were in, and for which the company was noted as long as it had an
official existence.
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