The Return Home 213 



come convinced that we would escape an epidemic 

 of sickness the homeward voyage became very 

 pleasant. 



On the eve of leaving Santiago I had received 

 from Mr. Laffan of the Sun a cable with the single 

 word " Peace," and we speculated much on this, as 

 the clumsy transport steamed slowly northward 

 across the trade wind and then into the Gulf Stream. 

 At last we sighted the low, sandy bluffs of the Long 

 Island coast, and late on the afternoon of the I4th 

 we steamed through the still waters of the Sound 

 and cast anchor off Montauk. A gunboat of the 

 Mosquito fleet came out to greet us and to inform us 

 that peace negotiations had begun. 



Next morning we were marched on shore. Many 

 of the men were very sick indeed. Of the three or 

 four who had been closest to me among the enlisted 

 men, Color-Sergeant Wright was the only one in 

 good health. Henry Bardshar was a wreck, literal- 

 ly at death's door. I was myself in first-class health, 

 all the better for having lost twenty pounds. Faith- 

 ful Marshall, my colored body-servant, was so sick 

 as to be nearly helpless. 



Bob Wrenn nearly died. He had joined us very 

 late and we could not get him a Krag carbine ; so I 

 had given him my Winchester, which carried the 

 government cartridge ; and when he was mustered 

 out he carried it home in triumph, to the envy of his 



