Various jokes and

upon, and corn-cake and popped corn were the only dishes afforded at the mess tables. hits were perpetrated by the boys thority, and they often wanted to

upon those in auknow "when ‘Old

A. J.' was going to issue rations of hay, and draw halters for them." It is but just to state here, however, that neither General Smith, nor any one else at Eastport, was blamable for the scarcity of provisions, though there must have been a great fault somewhere in the commissary department of the army. There was no excuse for the uncomfortable condition of affairs, as ever since the arrival of troops at this point the line of communication had been constantly open to Nashville, the depot of supplies for the Army and Department of the Cumberland.

There is nothing about which a soldier is more sensitive than his appetite, and he very much dislikes to have it restrained or interfered with, unless under some great and pressing military necessity. He will go months without receiving a dime of pay, without a murmur, but place him upon short rations for a day even, and you will hear from him immediately. If you expect him to march, fight, or perform well in any manner, you must keep his haversack well supplied with at least hard cracker and coffee, or give a good explanation why it cannot be done. He never expects

luxuries to be dealt out to him, but always insists that his regular rations, under ordinary circumstances, shall be, and if they are not forthcoming, he is liable to indulge in some of the most emphatic, caustic and often irreverent remarks concerning those in authority, which can be found in the soldier's vocabulary.

Finally, boats reached Eastport bringing large supplies of commissary stores, removing all fears on the subject of starvation, and thereafter the men had plenty to eat. It may be remarked here, that the story which appeared about this time in a Northern paper, representing that a transport having arrived at Eastport heavily laden with corn, the half-starved soldiers rushed violently on board and devoured the entire cargo, was wholly fictitious, having no foundation in fact.

While the Ninety-fifth was in camp at Eastport, Company "K," which, for a long time had been performing garrison duty at the mouth of White river, Arkansas, having been left there in the fall previous, rejoined its command. It had endeavored to report to the regiment at Nashville, but on its passage up the Cumberland river, had been obliged to disembark at Clarksville on account of the blockade, and was unable to meet the regiment in time to participate in the battles around Nashville, and the subsequent pursuit of Hood's army to the Tennessee river.

The troops remained in winter quarters at Eastport until the fore part of February, 1865, when a large fleet of transports came up the river for the purpose of conveying General Smith's command thence to New Orleans, where an expedition was then collecting and preparing, under General Canby, for a general movement against Mobile city.

CHAPTER IX.

The Ninety-fifth embarks on the "Adam Jacobs" for New Orleans -Fleet proceeds down the Tennessee River - Arrival at Cairo Depredations committed there by the Troops - Voyage down the Mississippi-General Smith's forces disembark at Vicksburg Afterward proceed to New Orleans - Disagreeable Camp below the City on the old Battle-fields-Regiment goes to Dauphine Island by way of Lake Pontchartrain - Arrival at the Island Expedition of Colonel Moore's Brigade to Cedar Point, and up the west side of the Bay toward Mobile - Oysters and Musquitoes at Cedar Point - Advance up the Country - How the Music was used to deceive the Enemy - The 44th Missouri Band-Return of the Brigade to Cedar Point- Crosses the Bay, and rejoins 16th Army Corps at Dauley's Landing, on Fish River - General Canby's Army advances on Spanish Fort and Blakely — Investment of both Places - The part performed by the Ninety-fifth in the Reduction of Spanish Fort-Both Strongholds taken by Assault-Fall of Mobile.

ON the 6th day of February, 1865, the Ninety-fifth embarked at Eastport on the steamer "Adam Jacobs," for the long journey to New Orleans. All the troops were aboard their respective transports by evening, and 6 o'clock the following morning was the hour set for

departing. Promptly at the time ordered, the long whistle sounded from the general's flag boat, the boats swung out into the stream, and following each other in the order assigned, steamed down the Tennessee for their place of destination. The fleet arrived safely at Paducah, Ky., on the morning of the 8th, and proceeded down the Ohio to Cairo, where the transports remained until the 10th, taking on coal. The first division, under General McArthur, and the third, under Colonel Moore, arrived here nearly at the same time.

Regimental, brigade and division commanders now experienced much difficulty in keeping their commands on the boats, and were unable to prevent the commission of depredations on the private property of citizens, by a few mischievous and unruly soldiers. It is believed, however, that the Ninety-fifth had nothing to do with these troubles, and that its men conducted themselves while at Cairo as good soldiers. The same may be said of the 81st Illinois, and the 44th Missouri infantry, the other regiments of Colonel Blanden's brigade, whose men were likewise free from participation in the misconduct which may have occurred while the boats were stopping at that point.

At five o'clock A. M., February 10th, the fleet was again under way, and moved down the Mississippi,