Ladies of New Orleans presented the 13th Conn. Vols, with a
beautiful flag. Many of the rebel army paroled at Fort Jackson and St. Philip
came into the city of New Orleans and were there without means of support, no
alternative was open to them but to enlist in the Union armies. So General
Butler issued an order to any of the Northern troops that wanted to go home to
put in an application for a discharge and it would be granted, their places to
be filled with paroled rebel prisoners. Recruiting offices were also opened for
two new regiments of infantry and one of cavalry. I did not see any very early
opportunity for promotion in the 13th, and there was a possible chance in one
of the new regiments, so I put in an application for a discharge.
SOURCE: George G. Smith, Leaves from a Soldier's
Diary, p. 24-5
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