About the first of
June we leave Washington by rail, taking the Baltimore & Ohio Railroad, and
while passing by Harper's Ferry the men make the welkin ring by singing
"John Brown's soul is marching on." Upon arriving at Parkensburg,
Va., we embark on Government steamer and are soon floating down the Ohio.
Sitting upon the
deck of the proud steamer, Lieutenant Flint, ever full of his poetical genius,
writes:
The weather is
pleasant and the boys seem happy as they remember that blood has ceased to
flow, and that a conquered peace is drawing nigh. As we stand upon the steamer
moving so queenly, we cast our eyes towards the Kentucky shore; the hills are
green and our feelings tell us they never were so beautiful before. Years ago,
one could not help thinking of the many sad hearts that throbbed over there.
But now the song of freedom is sung on that side of the river as well as on
this side. Yet there are memories associated with those hills that will make us
sad years to come, for many brave hearts are stilled in death over there. Over
and around their graves the green grass is growing, and the freedman will weave
chaplets of flowers and spread over the graves of the lone soldiers; and may be
he will sing a song in grateful remembrance of his fallen benefactor. Arriving
at Louisville we pass through the city and go into camp about five miles up the
river.
We now notice that
Colonel Rowett wears the well merited stars, which are honors fitly bestowed,
and which should have fallen upon his shoulder long ere this. But as it
happened he was no sycophant, and never crawled at the feet of power. After
remaining in camp here a short time the Seventh is ordered to proceed to
Louisville and report to the post commander for provost guard duty. We go into
camp upon one of the vacant lots in the city where we remain performing the
aforesaid duty, until we receive orders to prepare to be mustered out and
discharged from the United States service.
SOURCE: abstracted
from Daniel Leib Ambrose, History of the Seventh Regiment Illinois
Volunteer Infantry, p. 311-13
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