Sahn goes to Savannah. 115 



security of the roads, this rare bird had not appeared in our 

 camp for nearly eight months, and penury was the prevailing 

 epidemic. I think I spoke before about the evil consequences 

 of this manner of paying soldiers in the American army. It 

 compelled the officers to sell their pay-rolls in advance to 

 agents, who took enormous interest. The privates were still 

 worse off, for they took tickets, representing a certain sum, 

 .from the sutlers, who made immense profits. The commanders 

 tried to regulate this trade as much as possible, but their 

 powers in this respect were limited, and moreover, they had 

 only too frequently good reasons to wink at the doings of the 

 sutlers and their agents. 



On October 3, Salm received orders to go with his old regi- 

 ment to Savannah, which had been evacuated by the rebels 

 already, about Christmas. I went with Salm as far as Augusta, 

 where I intended to stay, together with Mrs. Steedman, until 

 further orders. My sister came also to Augusta, for her hus- 

 band had been appointed assistant provost-marshal of the de- 

 partment. I occupied myself as usual in the hospitals and 

 their affairs. I frequently visited Atlanta, Macon, and Nash- 

 ville, to which latter place I went on October 16 with Dr. 

 Simon, riding again, as I find in my diary, on the ' cow- 

 catcher.' This manner of travelling is not at all dis.tgreeable, 

 for one has fresh air, and is free from dust and heat of the 

 locomotive. 



I could not leave Augusta before October 28. The journey 

 was very unpleasant and fatiguing, for we had to travel nearly 

 sixty miles in a stage-coach until we reached station * Four 

 one-half,' where we had to remain until October 30. We 

 arrived at last in Savannah and stopped at the Pulaski House, 

 where I was much disappointed in not finding Felix, who had 

 gone to Fort Pulaski ; but I soon received a letter from him 

 informing me that he would be obliged to stay a few days at 

 Fort Pulaski, but would come and fetch me as soon as dis- 

 engaged. 



The Prince arrived amidst a great thunderstorm. He stayed 

 in the city until the 4th, when I was to accompany him to 

 Pul aski . but as it was raining very hard, and the ambulance 

 ordered to bring me to the wharf did not arrive in time, he had 

 •"o go without me, and I followed him in the afternoon, in a tug, 

 "'ccompanied by Colonel Carlton, the quarter-master of the 

 department. 



