Statewide County IN Archives History - Books .....Chapter XI The Homeward March 1893
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Joy Fisher sdgenweb@yahoo.com February 14, 2007, 10:17 pm

Book Title: History Of The 82nd Indiana Volunteer Infantry

CHAPTER XI.
THE HOMEWARD MARCH.

  The army started from Raleigh, N. C, for Washington, D. C, each corps taking
different roads. The Fourteenth Corps, of which the Eighty-second formed a part,
took the extreme left, being the longest route to Richmond, Va. The corps
commanders each insisted that their corps was the best marcher, and the race
began. While the Fourteenth had the longest route, yet they made the trip
several hours in the lead. They averaged about thirty-two miles per day. General
Sherman went to Washington to make arrangements for the reception of his army.
On the arrival of the army at Richmond they were encamped on the opposite side
of the river, with orders for none to pass over into the city. The guards posted
to prevent anyone crossing were white-collar-and-glove gents who never saw an
enemy unless sent to the rear after being captured. The sutlers came over and
made the appearance of a tented city. The men stood this for a day or two, when
they organized and drove the white-collar-and-glove gents from their side of the
river. As to the sutlers, they met with such a going through that they, too,
became scarce. On General Sherman's return to his command he was so indignant
about the way his army had been treated that, on their march for Washington, he
totally disregarded Halleck's order to move the army by his headquarters on
review, but took another street and passed through the city and on to near
Washington, where they were encamped, and made every preparation for the grand
review and the movement home for final discharge, Never before or since has
Washington City seen such military display or such an immense crowd of people to
witness it. The soldiers of different States, having served so long together
performing the duties necessary to save the country, were now about to bid each
other adieu, perhaps never to meet again. The time finally came for the old
Eighty-second to march for Indianapolis, there to receive their final discharge
and separate for their homes. Twenty-eight years have now elapsed since we bid
each other adieu and started for our homes to meet the dear ones which many had
not seen for near three years. Since our muster out many have answered the last
roll-call and passed beyond the river where but few more years will find the
last of the gallant band of patriots. Then the cry of "army pauper," "coffee
cooler," etc., will only be heard in rebel history or through the sons and
daughters of the old traitors dead and gone. We have, comrades, after the lapse
of thirty years, found who has been the soldier's friend as well as his worst
enemy.

Comrades, in performing the duty as your historian, I feel that the history is
not as brilliant as others could perhaps have made it, yet hope it may prove
satisfactory. I have tried to do the grand, old regiment justice, and have kept
in view that the truth is always best. Many who served with us in other
regiments passed through what we have, and will perhaps peruse our history and
can say it is no fabrication, but true.


Additional Comments:
Extracted from:

HISTORY OF THE EIGHTY-SECOND
Indiana Volunteer Infantry,
ITS ORGANIZATION, CAMPAIGNS AND BATTLES.

WRITTEN AT THE REQUEST OF THE MEMBERS

BY
ALF. G. HUNTER,
Late Adjutant.

INDIANAPOLIS:
WH. B. BURFORD, PRINTER AND BINDER.
1893.


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