THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

was joined by seven more men, 1 from the 14th, 2 from the
22nd, and 4 from the 24th. Gen'l Augur gave us three dollars
to get something to drink along the road. Walked to
Arlington House in the sleet where we found about 8 men
waiting for us. We were kept there until about noon and then
left for Washington.
[72] Got to Washington about 2 1/2 P.M. Went in to the soldier's
rest and had some coffee. Got mustered and went aboard the
cars. Was slightly obfusticated. Went asleep and did not
wake up until I got to Little York in Pennsylvania. Arrived
at Harrisburg at 7 1/2 A.M. Stopped there 15 minutes and got
some coffee. Saw Camp Curtin and the soldiers drilling. Did
not stop again until I got to Altoona where we were all well
treated. Had some oysters and coffee. Left for Pittsburgh
in which we passed through some of [the] wildest country that
I ever seen. The hills were piled one on top of another, the
same as if somebody had been tossing them about at random.
The grade of the railroad for nine miles east of the tunnel
is 91 feet to a mile. It took three engines to bring our
train of twelve cars across. We got to Pittsburgh at 11 1/2.
It was with difficulty that I could breath the sulpurous air
caused by the coal fires.
Tuesday, Feb. 18th. Changed cars at midnight and proceeded
O.C. and F.W. Railroad to Indianapolis. On the road we
stopped at Crestline, Ohio, where coffee was served out to
the boys. It is a one-horse place whose chief productions
seem to be railroad track and ginmills. I could not get a
tin cup to buy in the whole village. At Bellefontaine we
again stopped and four of us went into a house and asked for
something to eat, when the boss told us to sit down and
helped us to the best he had in his house and when I offered
to pay him, he would not take it but invited me to come and
see him if ever I stopped there again, for which may he live
a thousand years and his shadow never grow less. Hear some
of the boys went
[73] into a tavern to get something to drink, but as they would
not give it, they went behind the bar and carried out a
barrel of whiskey which they put on board the cars. Stopped
at Centralia and got some coffee. Had a good time generally
until we arrived at Cairo, Illinois. On the road saw a
trainload of secesh prisoners which were taken at Fort
Donelson, the most ragged, woe begone looking lot of humans
that I ever set my eyes on. Some were as vicious as ever,
some were apathetic to a degree, and some seemed glad that
they were prisoners and hoped that this war sould soon be
finished, saying that they were totally mistaken in regard to
what they were fighting for in the character of the people
that they were fighting against.
Friday, Feb. 21st. Arrived in Cairo at 3 A.M. and was sent
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