undoubtedly need of some military force in that section to preserve order in society, but it was thought that one company would have performed all the necessary duties at this post, and answered fully as well as a whole regiment. Beside, it was claimed that there were plenty of veteran troops in the corps, who could be sent to relieve those whose term of service would expire before October 1st, 1865. The commanding officer of the department, however, knew best what forces he needed to retain in his command for the military government of the State, and doubtless forwarded the regiments to the rendezvous appointed for mustering troops out of the service, as soon as their services could be spared.

On the 15th day of July, orders finally came for the regiment, on being relieved by three companies from the 52nd Regiment Indiana Infantry Volunteers, to return "by land" to Montgomery. The new force arrived on the 17th, took charge of the place, and on the following day the Ninety-fifth bade adieu to Opelika, and started on their homeward journey. It had been hoped that the regiment would be sent by railroad from Opelika directly to Louisville, Ky., a much cheaper route for the Government and far easier for the soldiers, as by this route there would be no marching. It was ordered otherwise, and the course

of the regiment from Montgomery was destined to be across the country to Vicksburg, the place designated for muster-out.

Instead of returning to Montgomery entirely "by land," as directed in the order from superior headquarters, the soldiers determined they would make some of that distance "by rail," at the risk of being reprimanded for disobedience of orders. A train was chartered, which carried the command twenty-five miles to Chehaw Station, thus saving the men a tedious and sultry march. The weather was so excessively hot that the troops could only move a short distance during the day, and most of the marching had to be done very early in the morning. From Chehaw Station, the regiment, under command of Major Loop, marched to Tuskegee, where it was joined by the 44th Missouri and 33rd Wisconsin, belonging to the same brigade. From this place the three regiments moved forward, July 19th, and on the following day were joined by the 72nd Illinois Infantry near Line Creek, which regiment had just been relieved from duty at Union Springs. The brigade arrived at Montgomery July 21st, and the regiments resumed the respective camping grounds which they had left in the latter part of May previous.

The troops were now sent forward for muster-out at

Vicksburg as fast as transportation could be furnished down the Alabama river.

The Ninety-fifth was delayed several days at Montgomery, and meanwhile the company commanders employed the time profitably in preparing their musterout rolls. A large number of recruits whose terms of service did not expire with the organization, were here formed into a detachment and left in charge of Lieuts. Ellsworth, of Co. F., and Wilkie, of Co. G., for transfer to some veteran command. This detachment numbered one hundred and sixty-two enlisted men, and was subsequently assigned to the 47th Illinois Infantry. On the 28th day of July, transportation being in readiness, the regiment embarked at Montgomery, on the small steamers "Red Chief" and "Coquette,' and proceeded down the Alabama river to Selma, where it arrived on the following morning. Disembarking here, it proceeded thence by railroad through Demopolis and Meridian, to Jackson, Miss., reaching this point July 31st. The railroad between Jackson and Vicksburg having been thoroughly destroyed by the Federal armies during the campaign against the latter place, had not been repaired, and the regiment was obliged to march from Jackson to the Big Black, a distance of about forty miles. It started from Jackson on the evening of August 1st, and came out ten

miles to Clinton, where it camped at 11 o'clock P. M. Resuming the march early on the following morning, the regiment moved forward August 2nd, twenty-two miles, over the old battle-fields at Champion Hills, and camped the same night within a short distance of the Big Black bridge. It took the cars at this place in the afternoon of the 3rd, and arrived at Vicksburg safely that evening. It was expected the command would remain at this rendezvous, and be mustered out of the service before being sent to the State for final payment. Such orders were received from Maj. Gen. Smith, by the regimental commander on leaving Montgomery, but Maj. Gen. Slocum, in command at Vicksburg, deeming it for the interest of the Government to send the troops immediately up the river, ordered the Ninety-fifth to proceed to St. Louis, Mo., and report to the chief mustering officer at that post for musterout. The regiment accordingly embarked at Vicksburg, August 5th, on the steamer "Mollie Able," and after a pleasant trip up the Mississippi, arrived at St. Louis on the 10th. It did not remain here, however, to muster out, and soon received orders from Maj. Gen. Pope, commanding the Department of Missouri, to proceed to Springfield, Ill., for final payment and discharge from the service.

The organization reached Springfield, August 11th,

on a common freight train, generously provided for the occasion, was enthusiastically received at the dêpot by a delegation of Jewish clothing merchants, and after paying for its own transportation on the cars from the city to "Camp Butler," was assigned good quarters in the barracks at that encampment.

The company commanders now applied themselves diligently, day and night, to the completion of the muster-out rolls, which had been begun at Montgomery. This was a lengthy and tedious work for them, as several of these rolls had to be made out, in which it was necessary to properly account for all men who had ever belonged to the organization, and give an accurate report of their pay, clothing, and other accounts with the Government; also blank discharges were filled up and furnished to each soldier mustered out with the command.

Through extraordinary efforts on the part of the officers, all the necessary papers for final discharge were completed by the 15th of August, pronounced perfect by the mustering officer, and on the day following, the regiment was formally mustered out of the United States service by Captain James A. Hall, of the 1st U. S. Cavalry.

On the 21st day of August the officers and enlisted men received full and final payment, and in a body