CHAPTER XVII.
On the morning of May 11th, 1865, we received marching orders and at seven a. m. we marched down to the river. We boarded the “Joab Lawrence” and started down the river. On the morning of the 12th we met several transports going after the remainder of our brigade.
On the morning of the 13th we landed at the city of Mobile. We marched out three miles, near the Mobile and Atlanta railroad. On the 15th we drew six months’ pay and one installment of bounty. May 18th we received an official report of the capture of Jeff Davis.
On the 25th one of the greatest explosions of the war took place in Mobile. One hundred tons of loose powder and all of the fixed shell and ammunition that had been turned over to the government was stored in the warehouses at the wharf. The colored troops were there on guard duty, but no one was left to tell how it was set off.
The explosion shook the ground for several miles. The loss was terrible. One thousand, two hundred people were killed and wounded. The most of them were colored troops and citizens. Several large boats, loaded with ammunition, went up with the explosion, or were set on fire and went down.
The buildings in eight blocks were leveled to the ground, and windows were jarred out for several blocks back in the city. The loss was estimated at five million dollars’ damage. Many of the dead and wounded were covered up in the ruins and burned. The fire lasted for three days, burning the wreck. Itcould not be extinguished on account of the bursting shells. They made a sound like the raging of a continuous battle. Several were killed with pieces of the shells while trying to put out the fire.
On the morning of the 27th we marched into the edge of town. We went into camp and relieved the Third brigade. They were mustered out of service and sent home. June 3d we were reviewed by Chief Justice Chase. On the 4th we marched on grand parade down to the city park. We went through the manual of arms and got the praise of making a splendid show-off. Our battalion was small and well drilled.
Our camp duty was cut down to two hours and dress parade at six p. m. each day.
On the evening of the 18th, while we were on dress parade, a thunder storm came up and just as we reached our quarters lightning struck one of the pine trees in our camp. William Edwards, of our company, was instantly killed. Some of the other boys were badly shocked. There were also some boys in an Iowa regiment who were killed. They were a mile from where we were in camp.
On the 22d the leaderof our band, Alec Owens, returned to the regiment with a new set of silver instruments which he had purchased for the sum of seven hundred dollars. Company A had donated five hundred dollars on them, and we never regretted our gift. We were well paid with the music of those sweet-toned instruments.
On the 25th we received marching orders, struck tents, and moved down to the landing. The boys had some fun out of the citizens just as we marched out of camp. There was quite an explosion from a small cannon, which our boys had loaded and covered with old clothes. A fuse was left burning. Severalof the citizens had gathered in and were picking out the best of the goods, when the pile was thrown high in the air. They did not stop to find out the cause, but it had its effect, and every one called out, “More torpedoes.”
We got on board the “Alice Vivian.” We ran down near Fort Gaines and ran alongside of the steamship “Hudson” and boarded it. We ran out between Forts Morgan and Gaines into the Gulf. On the evening of the 27th we passed in sight of the light house at Ship Shoals. On the morning of the 28th the wind blew a gale and the sea became very rough. Several of us were thinking about Jonah and the whale.
On the morning of the 29th we came up with our fleet and anchored near Galveston Bay. The sea continued to be rough and we could not land on account of the sand bars between the Gulf and the Bay. On the evening of the 30th, the water being smooth, three companies of our regiment got on a small schooner and ran into the bay. We landed at the wharf and got off and lay here all night. It seemed as though we were in motion all the time. The remainder of our regiment came in July 1st and we all marched through the city of Galveston, Texas. We went into camp on a beautiful sandy beach.
On the 2nd we had inspection of arms and dress parade at six p. m. On the morning of the 4th we marched through the city and all of the troops at this place met at the public square, where a national salute was fired. Speeches were made and prayers offered for the glory of our nation. We marched to camp by moonlight, our band playing the solemn tune, “Loved Ones at Home.”
On the 9th of July, our left wing, the old 67th Indiana, was mustered out of service and started home. Colonel Spicely, who had been temporarily commanding our brigade, went with them. He had well earned his star but he failed to get it. On the nightof the 20th the officers all got on a big booze. We escorted Colonel Spicely and the 67th through town, put them on the ship, and started them home on the 21st of July, 1865.
Our battalion was now small. Almost half of them were on permanent guard duty and the remainder were doing patrol duty. On the 27th we moved our camp a short distance to clean up, as our family was now small. We were the only troops left to keep order and patrol the town.
Our battalion was now commanded by Captain Pollard of Company K. Nothing of importance now happened except guard mounting guard and dress parade. On the 28th we moved our quarters up to the east end of town, near the college and Catholic nunnery. Some of the boys had a good time trysting with the nuns at the fence. Others of the boys made good money by digging down fortifications and opening up the streets. We got all of the water that we used at the nunnery well.
October 1st we received a large amount of mail. There were many greetings and promises in those letters. We also received general orders to be mustered out of service, on the 27th of October, 1865.
November the 1st, our officers were all busy making out our pay rolls and discharge papers. The 48th Ohio relieved us from guard duty on the 4th and we turned over all of our camp equipage on the 14th.
The boys who wished to remain at that place were mustered out of service and started for New Orleans to get their pay and settle up with Uncle Sam. They left on the 15th. Several of them had gotten into trouble with the Golden Circle or Butternut organization, while at home on their furloughs and they did not wish to go back to Indiana.
On the 16th of November, 1865, the remainder of our battalion was mustered out of the U. S. service.