Cairo, Ill., June 10th, 1863.
We are now three
hundred and sixty-six miles from Lebanon, which place we left at 3 p. m. of
Sunday, and reached Louisville about seven. The ladies had prepared supper and
we partook of it with many thanks to the generous doners. After supper we
crossed over to Jefferson and took cars for this place. Here we missed the
executive ability of General Poe. In all our journeying from Newport News
everything was arranged with care and precision. Here all was disorder and
confusion. The cars assigned to our regiment were partly filled with men and
baggage of other regiments. Colonel Luce requested the officer who seemed to be
in charge to remove them. This he refused to do, swearing they would have a
fight first. The Colonel looked in vain for someone to bring order out of this
chaos. Finally he assumed the responsibility himself; told the officer in
charge if a fight was what he wanted, a fight he should have; ordered us to
throw them out, and we did it with a will. About daylight we took possession
and were soon under way.
Our trip through
Indiana and Illinois caused an ovation. It seemed that the entire population
turned out to encourage and cheer us on our way. Women and children, with
bright smiles and waving handkerchiefs, thronged the way, and at every station
fruit, cakes, bread and butter, newspapers, and, better than all, warm,
friendly greetings, were literally showered upon us.
At Washington,
Indiana, we halted for supper. It was midnight, but, as usual, the station was
thronged with people of both sexes and all ages. Some ladies came to our car—food
was served in the cars—and · requested that all who were asleep might be
awakened, for, as they had been cooking until that time of night, and had then
walked nearly a mile to see us, they would like to see us all. So we aroused
the sleepers, and had a lively time during our short stay.
They presented us
with bouquets, cards, mottoes, etc., and took their leave with many kind wishes
for our success and safe return to our families and friends. God bless the
loyal people of America, is the soldier's prayer.
We reached Cairo
about twelve o'clock last night, and immediately went on board of transports.
SOURCE: David Lane,
A Soldier's Diary: The Story of a Volunteer, 1862-1865, p. 45-7
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