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A War Reminiscence

A War Reminiscence image
Parent Issue
Day
11
Month
July
Year
1894
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

In reference to the item in the deficiency bill, mentioned in The News' Washington correspondence, for refunding the traveling expenses of members of the First Michigan cavalry, from Balt Lake City to their homes in Michigan, Cornelius O'Dwyer,of the board of public works, a member of the First, bas this to say : "The fact that such a bill was before congress was news. to me," said Mr. O'Dwyer. "And tlien I see that the whole amount asked for is only $176.75. This must be the bill of some old member of the regiment or the cavalry brigade, because the First, Fifth and Sixth and Seventh vv.ere all in the same boat. AVe were treated shaiuefully at that time, and Senator Chandler once attempted to get justice for us, but only got about $200 or $300 each. "IIow did vou come to ao out to Salt Lake?" "I never'knew exactly; only the gossip at the time. Gov. Crapo carne down to glorify witli us when the grand review eaine off in Washington, and I remember the old man saying, 'Well, my brave boys, you'll all be home in a few days.' But it was stated afterwards that while down to the war department he was asked what Michigan troorts would like to go across the plains, and that he remarked that he had no doubt the cavalry brigade would go. The next thing we knew we' were ordered to the west. "There was considerable kicking. A few were enlisted for a regular term, while most of us were enlisted for three jyears, or during the war,' and we fully expected to go home. Some of the boys were for deserting instead of going to Salt Lake, and they did desert. We went to Parkersburg, West Va., and then via the Ohio, Mississippi & Missouri to Fort Leavenworth. There a big crowd left us. They practically mutinied against being sent west when their term was really over, and I think about 300 or 400 quit right there. The rest of us made the bard trip to Fort Douglass, at Salt Lake, after having many a hot skirmish with Indiana and loosing a few of our men. "We had hardly reeted up when news came to mus ter out the brigade. This was another blow, but we were used to hard knocks and took it soldier-like. It was suggested that we could march back in a body, go as we please, or settle out there. All were against going back as a command. Some decided to go with the Halliday coach line at $300 each to the Mississippi river, and pay extra for meals and baggage, but only a few had enough money to do that. I came back with a few of our men and some mormons. We each had to purchase 20 pounds of bacon, at $1.50 per pound, and 100 pounds of flour at $1.50 per pound, and then give the mormons $100 each for transporting our provisions. Besides this outlay we chased two or three guns each in order to be in a good position to repel any attuck from the Indians. "After $ tedious journey, we fiually reached Omaha and took the railroad route home. It was pretty tough treatment to receive at the hands of the govermnent after going through the war, for which the inembers of the brigade have never received adequate recompense. If we got our dues, even for expenses only, there would be at least $175 each coming to us.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier