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This week the Paine-Gillam Scott Museum website is publishing Part 3 of the Civil War memoirs of Francis William Redfern in weekly serial form.\nWhile the surrender of Lee and Johnson in the east virtually closed the war in the East and Center of the country there was still left a strong force in the South west. Notably in Texas under the command of Kirby Smith. Of course it was the intent of the Lost to subdue the military forces of the entire confederacy and restore peace to the whole country.
\nTo show how little the Rank and file of the Army understood the actual situation and how little even those high in authority were in possession of actual facts I relate the following. On the afternoon of May 25th the next day after the Grand Review was over our entire Brigade, consisting of the 1st, 5th, 6th and 7th Mich Cavalry, were drawn up in line near the partially built Washington Monument and Reviewed by Ex Governor Austin Blair, Governor Crapo, Senator Zach Chandler and other Mich State officials.
\nThe three former made high laudatory addresses. Told us what noble and brave boys we were and how well we had performed our duties and that now that the war was practically over we were going home to be discharged and take up again the high duties of Citizenship. This information was joyously received. Round after round of applause was given the speakers.
\nOrders were given to break camp and as we were “going Home” much of our surplus baggage and equipment was unceremoniously thrown away. Old and frayed blankets, Ragged but still useful uniforms, Torn tents, Rubber Blankets, most all of the cooking utensils to, as it was only to be a few days before we would be in Detroit, mustered out and with our pay in our jackets on our way home we were sure of this for the cattle cars were right on the R.R. tracks beside our camp and we were told to get the horses inside the cars and our equipment also.
\nSaddles bridles, feed bags and all excess of arms and ammunition in another car which we heartened to do. Then we were ordered to load ourselves on top of the cars which we eagerly did. We let out our sabre belts to their full extent put them around the foot board on top of each car and then buckled them around our waist.
\nSeven train loads of us and we were on our way home. We were told Harpers Ferry, Cumberland, Grafton and then Parkersburg on the Ohio River. It was hard and rough riding in this way but we laughed and made fun of the bumps.
\nOne incident about the trip was far from funny, Between Grafton and Parkersburg the R.R. ran over the Blue Ridge Mountains and there was twenty seven Tunnels through which we had to pass. The locomotive smoke and dust nearly strangled us. One of the tunnels was over a mile through. A dirtier, nastier lot of men was never seen than were we when we got off the cars at Parkersburg. We made a rush for the river and a chance to get a wash.
\nThe ladies of the American Christian Commission at Parkersburg had been notified of our coming and had long tables set with Hot Coffee, “Soft tack” Beef soup and Potatoes and Rice. How we did enjoy that meal as we had had nothing since the night before to eat only “hard tack”.
\nThen we took a second look at the River and there were anchored seven steamers. One for each regiment, One for The Brigade officers and their Staffs (a small one) One for Brigade wagons and Ammunition boxes. One for Excess baggage Harnes, Saddles Ambulance wagons and some mules and horses, and rations. The other four boats, (one for each Regt.) were loaded in turn as they drew to the dock.
\nThese Steamers did not burn coal. They were wood burners, And at many places along the river there were huge piles of wood with negros in waiting to pitch it aboard as the steamer drew near the bank. All this hauling took lots of time and the going was slow.
\nWe were issued five days rations for men and horses and (our horses were tied in close order in front of the boats) before we started down the river. We thought we were only going down the river as far as Cincinnatti and would then disembark and start on the road toward Detroit.
\nMany of the men smoked or chewed tobacco. The tobacco was gone before we were near Cincinnatti and the men were grumbling about it as none had been brought along. This led to a watch for Tobacco warehouses along the river and when the boats (The boats were kept in line) approached a dock for to take on wood.
\nIf there was any store or grocery in sight then men would crowd the Gang plank surge off the boat and proceed to “Go through” the store Grocery or Tobacco warehouse.
\nWar had bred in the boys a disregard for property rights. These stoppages for wood were absolutely necessary and the raids at first for Tobacco developed into taking any thing they wanted or fancied.
\nAn amusing incident occurred at one of these landings. The Tobacco hunger got the better of our boys and one day as were approaching a little burg where we were to “round up” the order was issued for “no man to go ashore”. A young Lieutenant had joined us in Washington that none of us knew. He had on a nice new uniform with pretty Red stripes on the sides of the pants and pretty red shoulder straps, When the order came to allow no one ashore only the negro workmen this dandy Lieutenant stationed himself on the Gang Plank. He had in his hand a small four barreled revolver and stood facing in toward the steamer deck.
\nThe hungry tobacco line as usual faced the plank and shore. There was a tobacco warehouse a short distance away and some one gave the rear boys a big push. Of course the ones in front of the Lieutenant threw up their hands to save themselves and the dandy Lieutenant went off the plank and into the river. Somebody fished him out and that was the last I ever saw of him.
\nThe boys knew that the bills for all the so called depredations would be sent in to the Government and paid by it.
\nCincinnatti was reached at last and we all expected to be landed at once. What was our chagrin when we were told we were on our way to Texas to fight Kirby Smith and General Staff.
\nOur Brigade Commander had virtually sold the Brigade to go to Texas in consideration for being Brevatted Brigadier General. All respect for our Brigade Commander (although he was a brave Officer) was lost.
\nHis boat which had lead the Division of steamers was a slower boat than ours. Some of the boys found a big broom. Ran it up the top of the Flag Staff. Then ordered the Negro firemen to get a head of steam on and run by the Commanders boat. The Niggers did as ordered and in a short time we were sailing by Stagg and his staff.
\nHe came out on deck and waived us back in vain. He was greeted north shouts of derision and never again regained the confidence of his command.
\nThere was one comrade With us on this trip whom I desire to mention. A woman known by us all as a nurse “Irish Biddy” she and Her husband and her were married where the enlisted. He joined the First Mich Cav and she came to the Brigade Head Quarters with Gen. Custer who was then in command of any of “Her Boys” as she called us was sick or wounded Irish Biddy sought them out and gave any aid in her power.
\nHer husband was shot at Fairfax Court House and Biddy gave her entire time to the risk and needy ones. There was not a man in the Brigade that would not fight for Biddy.
\nAter we passed Cincinnatti we came to Covington in Kentucky, and here some of the boys who that went ashore after Tobacco came back aboard ship with a beautiful side saddle, a lovely Bridle and a Little white poodle dog. They were all for Biddy. The first thing Biddy clipped the dogs hair leaving she left him with a Lions Mane and tail. Her horse wore the saddle and Bridle and the little dog became her Tent mate.
\nBiddy was always neat wore a Zousive uniforms, was trim in figure and light in built. Always strict in deportment had the respect of every man in the command.
\nIn so far as our continued passage down the Ohio was concerned, it was Just a repetition of our trip from Parkersburg. The Ohio river was at flood stage and when we got to Cairo it seemed as if our boats were almost on a level with the tops of the houses. The levee along the river bank wall is all that kept the country from being flooded. We received the welcome news here that Kirby Smith had surrendered and that our Texas trip was off. However what we regarded as much worse was in store for us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"