with the deepest
feeling at the news of it, but they, better than any others, knew in
the fullest degree its immense significance.

Immediately after the surrender of the Army of Northern Virginia, the
Sixth Corps was moved to Burkesville, some distance from Appomattox in
the direction of Richmond, and there it remained for about ten days
awaiting events. On April 22nd it was ordered southward to Danville,
with a view to joining Sherman's army then confronting Johnston in
North Carolina, a movement which again necessitated some fatiguing
marches, the one hundred and five miles being covered in less than
five days. News was received, however, that Johnston had followed the
example of Lee and surrendered, and the corps thereupon faced about
once more. On its leisurely progress to the north it was joined by
crowds of the newly freed negroes, who attached themselves to every
regiment in droves, and the lately hostile inhabitants came also at
every stopping place, "with baskets and two-wheeled carts" for
supplies to relieve their dire necessities.

Near Richmond the regiment remained several days, and the men were
allowed passes to visit the late Confederate capital, so long the goal
of their strenuous efforts. "The burnt district was still smoking with
the remains of the great fire of April 2nd, and the city was full of
officers and soldiers of the ex-Confederate army. The blue and the
gray mingled on the streets and public squares, and were seen side by
side in the Sabbath congregations. The war was over."

The consciousness of this last great fact was now becoming insistent
in the minds of these citizen soldiers. The great purpose for which
they had offered themselves was carried out, and their eagerness to
have done with all the circumstances of military life was
increasingly strong, and grew so intense as to render the final weeks
of their term of service extremely trying.

The tremendous task of disbanding the armies of the Union was
occupying the entire energies of the War Department, but to the men it
seemed as if their longed for turn would never come. Back in the
well-known fortifications around Washington they waited, taking part
in the Grand Review on June 8th, in all the misery of full dress, and
in a temper that would have carried them against the thousands of
acclaiming spectators with savage joy, had it been a host of enemies
in arms.

But their turn came at last, and on July 7th, one hundred and