a record for faithfulness as he. He has won the esteem of all with whom he has associated, and now that he is promoted we all seem to share in his good fortune. Captain Watson is promoted to Major. He has never been found wanting, though he has been often tried. I will be sorry to separate from many of these brave and good men. II. Sunday. The 108th O. V. I. and the 121st O. V. I. started for Ohio this morning. They have both done good service for their country. It is like parting with one's family to see the regiments of the old Second Brigade pulling out. The 34th Illinois is still with us, but we shall soon part from them also. General Mitchell left for home yesterday. Our brigade now con sists of the 35th Indiana Volunteers, 22d Indiana Volunteers, 34th Illinois Volunteers, and the 113th O. V. I. The brigade is commanded by Colonel Burton. We have some hopes of leaving Washington to-morrow. Chaplain Morris preached to us at three this afternoon. HOMEWARD BOUND. 12. The 113th remained in camp during the forenoon, waiting orders and expecting every minute to march. The order came at [1 A. M.. The men cheered a cheery cheer, down came the tents, and all was soon packed and ready. At 12:30 we marched toward the city, and halted near the gas works preparatory to embarking on the cars. Here we remained waiting, waiting, waiting, until our patience was well nigh exhausted. The sun beamed down upon us with an almost blistering heat, rendering our halt on the avenue very uncomfortable. Finally we boarded a train and began moving out of the city. Before the train got out of Washington a coupling broke, and the front part of the train went on, leaving several cars and their loads in the city. The men piled out and spent the time in the city till near midnight, when the engine returned, and, coupling on to the remaining part of the train, pulled ahead and joined the other part. Thirty-five men to a car gave plenty of room. Of course restless soldiers would prefer riding on the outside rather than the inside. We left Washington with pleasure; there is no place on earth but home where we would be satisfied to stay now. 13. Our train reached the Relay House, nine miles from Baltimore, some time in the night. Here we took the Baltimore and Ohio road for Harper's Ferry, which place we reached about 11 A. M. to-day. At four this afternoon we reached Cumberland, Maryland, where we are to remain till midnight. We have passed through cities, villages and stations; climbed mountains, crossed gorges, ravines, rivers and valleys, each possessing some item of interest; but the thought which most absorbed our minds is the thought of being soon at home, freed from military restraints and permitted to go out and come in at will. During last night a member of Company B fell from the train, and was probably killed NOTE. The following letter, found in the office of the Adjutant General of Ohio, gives further information in this case : HEADQUARTERS THIRD MARYLAND BATTALION, VET. VOLS, To His Excellency, the Governor of Ohio: YOUR EXCELLENCY:-I have the honor respectfully to report to you the following: About 12 M., on the 13th instant, a train passed the station above this, called White Oak Bottom, when a soldier fell from one of the cars, who died at six o'clock and thirty minutes the same morning. He was buried with proper cere monies by me near the Station His name seems to be Alexander Henry, Com pany B, 113th Ohio Volunteers, residing in Mechanicsburg: Ohio. From the loss of blood he was very weak when he gave us his name, and it remains doubtful if this is his full name and address. From a letter found on his person, signed by a lady who calls herself "Teets" and his sister, he lost two brothers in the war I take the liberty to communicate this sad news to your Excellency, in order that his family may obtain the information. His regiment was probably on the same train and on its way home. Your Excellency will greatly oblige me by a few lines informing me of his correct name, when I will see that a proper head-board is placed on his grave, I am, very respectfully, Your Excellency's obedient servant, ARTHUR O. BRICKMAN, Chaplain 3d Md. Vet. Vol. Infantry, 3d Brigade, 1st Division, 9th A. C. 14. Our train left Cumberland near midnight, and this morning found us at Piedmont, thirty-eight miles from Cumberland. Here we began to ascend the Alleghanies, reaching the top at two o'clock in the afternoon. Then for nearly twenty miles we ran on a level country, reaching Cranberry Summit, where our train was divided into four sections, with a locomotive to each. For four hours we descended a heavy grade, the scenery being of the wildest and most romantic character we have ever beheld. Reaching Grafton at six o'clock we took supper and were again moving on. 15. We ran through Clarksburg at dusk last evening and this morning at sun up we arrived at Parkersburg. Disembarking from the train, on which we had spent three nights and two days, we boarded the steamer Ella Faber. During last night we traveled one hundred and four miles, the distance from Grafton to Parkersburg. whole distance from Washington is very nearly five hundred miles. We are done with our weary car ride and will now have a change for something better, an Ohio river steamer. About the middle of the afternoon our bark backed out from the landing, and heading down stream moved for Louisville, our destination. As we pass Blannerhassett Island we recall the days of childhood, the school house, the old reader from which we first read of Aaron Burr and Harman Blannerhassett. How unreined ambition sometimes supplants every nobler feeling of our nature, turns our heaven to hell and leaves us full of disappointment and sorrow. On our right are the grand, green hills of our native Ohio. The trees sway to and fro and seem to offer us a welcome to the land we love the best. How the sight quickens our pulses and how we long shores and with the poet sing the language of our to stand on her happy hearts: "I'm with you once again, my friends, No more my footsteps roam; Amid the scenes of home "Since last, with spirits wild and free, I've wandered many miles at sea, And many miles on land; I've seen fair regions of the earth, With rude commotion torn, Which taught me how to prize the worth 16. Our boat ran cautiously during the night, and this morning we halted at Gallipolis on the Ohio shore to let some one off. Reached Cincinnati at one o'clock in the night and after a halt of thirty minutes we again moved on. The day has been pleasant and the people of the town's and cities through which we have passed have greeted us with shouts of welcome, waving of hats and handkerchiefs and with other demonstrations of joy. At Portsmouth, Gallipolis, Ripley and Maysville salutes were fired as we passed. Many of our men are hoarse from continued shouting in answer to the greetings from the shore. 17. At Louisville, Ky. Our trip down the Ohio ended at four o'clock this evening. It has been a very pleasant one to most of us, for we felt that every revolution of the wheels of the boat brought us that much nearer the end. Schellhorn's band enlivened the trip with good music, and the constantly changing scenery on either hand combined to make the time pass pleasantly. The distance from Washington to Louisville is 850 miles. Disembarking from the Ella Faber the 113th marched through Louisville and went into camp late in the evening on the "Owl Creek Farm," in the vicinity of the fair grounds, and four miles from the city. Our passage through Louisville did not elicit a bit of enthusiasm from the citizens. This was in cool contrast with the joyous greetings we have been receiving since we left Washington. But, then, Louisville is in Kentucky. 18. Sunday. The weather is hot, but a shower to-day gave some relief. The 113th re-pitched its tents, going to a more desirable spot half a mile distant. The three other regiments of our brigade are camped near us. 19. Camp is very quiet. The men begin to talk about getting paid and are planning what they will do with their wages. Wages are due us for ten months, and when we are paid it will pile up amazingly. Many soldiers fare as well without money as with it, some do much better; but for myself, I like to have a little on hand for emergencies. 20. We have struck and pitched tents only twice to-day, and the site we now occupy is in dispute. This is a big country and there is certainly room for each of us to spread our dog tent where it will not interfere with some one else. The officers who were recently promoted were mustered to-day. 21. The troops of other commands have been paid off and the men are buying new clothes of the civilian pattern. Government brogans are being laid aside, the slouch hat has been abandoned, and a new watch and chain adorns each lad you meet. The faro-banker is doing a live business and the chuckalucker is full of business in many places. Some of these discharged men will have only the clothes on their backs to show for their wages when they get home. 22. Ten per cent. of the men are being furloughed for ten days. Work on the final papers and muster rolls has begun, and the company officers are too busy to go to the theater at night. How unlucky. Getting paid and getting home are the leading topics now. 23. To-day the one-year men were mustered out by special order. They numbered about forty in the regiment. These and our furloughed men started homeward in a body. We have no duty to perform and the monotony of camp is becoming oppressive. 25. Sunday. We are now getting a better supply of rations than at any time in the past two years. We get hard bread, soft bread, soap, candles, beans, pickles, sugar, coffee, salt and pepper. We are told that the paymaster began paying the men of the first brigade of our division to-day. At five o'clock this evening we had dress-parade -the first since we were at Goldsboro, N. C. A roll-call this morning and inspection to day. Getting back to first principles. Several of the commissioned officers visited a certain German garden, two miles from camp. I suspect that the Teuton keeps something in his garden besides vegetables. 27. A year ago to-day we fought, bled and fled at Kenesaw. Who can ever forget that 27th day of June, 1864? What a record we have made since that day. Now all is over and friend and foe go home to fight no more. 28. Eighty men have been furloughed in the proper way, and nearly as many have frenched on their own account. The authorities in the city use every effort to prevent our men from getting liquor, but it is not successful. They will get it and many disgraceful riots and melees ensue. The women peddlers of pies and cakes are closely watched and often searched on account of the fact that they bring whisky into camp and sell it to the men. An old Dutch lady and her two daughters came into camp and gave us a serenade with several instruments. After playing a few pieces they take a collection of the crowd around them. One of the girls made an unsuccessful effort to cross the creek to collect something of a number of officers who stood on the opposite side. An |