pork, coffee and sugar-for we are not through with our old rations yet. Our coffee tastes as well as ever, and now we have plenty of time to cook and drink it. The times have changed, too, in some other respects, for we are very saving of fence rails. We try and leave the poor people what little they have left, and favor them all we can. CHAPTER LVI. OUR MARCH RESUMED-A BLUE MONDAY-GO OUT OF OUR On Monday morning, the 8th of May, we resume our march and after going ten or fifteen miles, are lost in the wilderness of Old Virginia. As we are not in a very great hurry, we camp for the night. The day has turned out to be a blue Monday, but the next morning we get out of the wilderness and on the right road that leads to Washington. Crossing the Ny river we camp once more about twelve miles from Fredericksburg, and an easy march will bring us to that place. On the 10th we resume our weary pilgrimage and while marching by Mesopotamia Church are met by a wonder of wonders in the shape of some ladies who actually are waving their handkerchiefs at us and singing patriotic songs, the first treatment of the kind we met with in Old Virginia. No wonder we are struck with amazement at the sight, and we all cheer them as we go by. We are shaking off the sacred soil from our government pontoons as fast as we can, and a few days. more will end our most weary marches. Tramp, tramp, tramp, we go, and pull up at the bloody city of Fredericksburg. Around here we feel quite at home, for we see old familiar places. We roam over the heights where so many brave men fell trying to dislodge the enemy from them. The old battle ground looks dreary and desolate. Here and there can be seen skulls and bones protruding above the ground, while around are seen the evidences of a fiercely contested battle. Old pieces of muskets and cannon are strewn about. Places and positions held by the different corps and divisions are pointed out by those who think they know. But we find that time has changed the looks of the battle ground to a great extent. Brush and wild shrubbery have grown all around and everything now about the battle ground of December 13th, 1862, looks sad and still. Peaceful be thy rest, oh, fallen comrades. We leave thee in sorrow and get back to our camp to prepare our frugal meal, and rest from the fatigues of the day. It has been raining for a few days, making the roads very muddy and difficult for artillery trains and ambulances to cross over them. On the 11th we had to build roads so as to move over our trains, but are still pushing our way for Washington. We have changed now the cry from "On to Richmond," to "Back to Washington." We halt for the night after a sixteen miles' hard march. we have a nice day but it is very muddy soil seems loth to leave our army shoes. shake it off and get through fifteen miles more of muddy roads and encamp again. On the 13th we resume our march and pass through swamps and creeks, cross the Orange and Alexandria railroad at Burk's Station and pull up On the 12th and the sacred But we try to near Annonsdale and again go into camp where we remain over Sunday, the 14th, and have religious services. Our good Dominie thanks the Lord for bringing us like the children of Israel over the Red Sea, safe and sound, under the protecting wing of the American Eagle at Washington. On Monday, the 15th, we brake camp, and after an easy march pull up about six miles from Washington and go into camp. This ends our weary marching in Dixie. CHAPTER LVII. CAPTURE OF JEFF DAVIS-CAMP LIFE AGAIN -VISITING OUR FRIENDS GAY TIMES-TROOPS GOING HOME-WHAT -BEAUTIFUL ILLUMINATIONS-THE GRAND REVIEW. While in camp we receive news of the capture of the defunct President of the late Southern Confederacy. He was captured disguised as a woman. His number twelves caused his capture, for while crossing a fence his pursuers saw such large feet on that woman, they guessed right away that it must be Jeff, and told him to surrender, which he did, with very poor grace. It was a shame to the sex he tried to impersonate, for to have such a great big homely fellow try to palm himself off for one of the tender sex. An exact painting of him at the time of his capture must be a great curiosity, and it was too bad that a special artist from Frank Leslie's establishment was not on the spot. We have now the same routine of camp life as of yore, but picket and fatigue duties are abolished, as there is no more need for them now, the soldier's heavy work is done. We try to pass away the time by visiting our friends, and seeing the sights in Washington and Alexandria. We are having gay times and feel happy. There are a great many troops going home, and other regiments go to see them off and bid them good-bye. Now that the soldiers are going home a great many ask, what they will do when they get home? I will try and answer. Always take notice in your own vicinity, that when an old soldier settles down, is industrious, keeps sober and makes a good citizen, almost invariably put him down as a good soldier in the field. But let all good people deal lightly with a soldier's faults, for they have been through the mill for the past four years, and will be always glad to see their old comrades and talk over their campaigns and battles, and for a while after they get home very few will blame them for having their time out. The scenes in camp every night are beautiful. Thousands of candles and lamps are seen as far as the eye can reach. Dancing and music is the order of the night, and every man enjoys the sports that is going on all around. Sherman's army has joined our own, and there is talk of one more great review of the whole army-infantry, cavalry and artillery. The order comes to get ready for our last review. On the 23d of May our army takes up its line of march and cross the Long Bridge. Our corps takes a position on Capitol Hill, stack arms, and wait for the whole army to get into position. Great preparations have been made in the city for this, the grandest pageant that ever took place in modern times. Standing room, in a prominent place, where can be seen the army as it passes, is rented at fabulous prices, and the city is one vast sea of hu manity. About nine o'clock we commence our march down Pennsylvania Avenue. The buildings are beautifully decorated with all kinds of mottos, evergreens and flags. Thousands flock to the streets to welcome the conquering armiesthe grand army of the Potomac, who first made their adversaries succumb to their power, and the great army under the indomitable Sherman, that marched to the sea, and followed close to their brother army, and likewise captured their adversaries. The sight before our eyes as we pass the Capitol building, is grand in the extreme. As far as the eye can reach along the beautiful Avenue a solid mass of men are seen moving, and all keeping step to the numerous bands that lead the different regiments. One would think that the whole avenue was covered with one vast sheet of burnished steel, for the bayonets glitter in the sunlight, and throw their bright lustre on all around. Cheer from the crowds as the old tatgoes up upon cheer tered flags pass by. There are people present from all parts of the civilized world, to see what no other country on the face of the earth can produce-a conquering army of citizen soldiers, numbering nearly three hundred thousand. Every available spot is taken up-from the cellars of buildings to the giddy height of fifth story roofs. The lamp posts, trees and telegraph poles have their share of humanity clinging to them. As we pass the grand stand we observe the President, Andrew Johnson, the members of his Cabinet, Lieutenant General Grant and Staff, Ambassadors from foreign nations, and others of distiction. We salute by dropping our colors, and pass on to camp, hoping it will be our last review. It took all of this day for the Army of the Potomac to pass the reviewing stand, and on the twenty-fourth ended the great review, for on |