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FRENCH BROWNLEE DIES.

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conversion for fourteen years, "and now," said he pointing to the stump of his amputated limb, "she won't think anything of this when she learns that I am a christian." At his request a letter was written to his wife, giving a full account of his escape and experience. He continued to grow more earnest in spirit as he improved in health, and there was every prospect that he could soon be sent North, but on the Chaplain's return from East Tennessee, he found that the severe weather of the first week in January proved too much for his reduced system, and he had been dead some days.

French Brownlee's condition had been growing rapidly worse for some time. Efforts were made by Col. Miller and the surgeons, to obtain, first, a furlough, and then, to procure his discharge; but owing, perhaps, to the confusion incident to so many military movements, it seemed impossible to get papers through the regular channels. The hope of returning home kept him up for awhile, but at last he sank rapidly and died on Christmas day; very soon after, his discharge arrived. He was a man whose stern integrity and unblemished character made him highly respected by officers and men.

Mittens and socks were distributed among all the men of the regiment who were in Chattanooga, and on Saturday, the 26th, after making every effort to obtain transportation for the remainder, but without avail, the Chaplain started for the regiment. Travel at that time was anything but a luxury. The boat was about destitute of accommodations for passengers. The rain fell in torrents, and at Loudon, the only refuge while waiting for the train, was in a cabin occupied by the most primitive of human beings-girls, and even children, smoking and chewing tobacco. On the train, he had the novelty of stopping occasionally while a detail of men went out to chop and bring in wood for the

engine. At Knoxville, he stayed in the cars all night, taking a wash next morning in a pond near Fort Sanders. At Strawberry Plains were found some of the 36th and a horse, and he reached the regiment at Blaine's Cross Roads on Tuesday, 29th, bringing the first printed account received of the battle of Mission Ridge.

Not only were rations scarce at this camp, but we had the additional annoyance of receiving a supply of flour made of "sick wheat." This acted as an emetic, and robbed many a poor fellow of a good meal. At headquarter's mess the Chaplain and "Little Doc." were both sceptical about the wheat, not having any experience with it. One night the Chaplain thought it best to take a short walk away from camp, not to meditate or star gaze, but to part with the much needed supper he had just taken. He soon recognized some one else out on a similar errand, who proved to be "Little Doc.," at which they both had a good laugh, to be repeated on their return to headquarters.

On the last day of the year the regiment went out foraging. The day was rainy, and during the night it turned to a storm, the wind blowing so hard it seemed as though everything would go to pieces. In the afternoon of January 1st the troops returned, almost perished with cold. The strongest men were staggered. During the night the men could not sleep, though they wore their great coats and had huge fires built in front of their quarters. The only way to endure it at all was to sit or stand close to the fire, and then they would burn on one side and freeze on the other, while the wind blew the smoke in curling clouds about their heads and made them almost blind. There were some whose systems never recovered from the shock of those terrible days and nights. Among these was Lieut. Barstow, who had commanded Company G after Captain Austin was

LIEUT. BARSTOW'S DEATH.

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wounded at Chickamauga. In the notice of him, published after his death at Burlington, Vt., it is said: "From Mission Ridge, badly worn by many previous marches and skirmishes, besides the more desperate conflicts, and by the quarter rations of Chattanooga, they were ordered in lightest equipments, with all speed, to Knoxville. It was there, during the coldest weather known for thirty years, hardly protected at all, as the necessities of service required, that he took a most violent cold, to the effects of which his strong constitution finally yielded. He made in direct marches, as his own private record shows, over seven thousand miles." "Dick" was a faithful soldier.

On Sunday, January 3rd, the cold moderated enough so that it was possible to keep warm by a huge fire with great-coats on. In the afternoon a short service was held, at which the Chaplain preached a New Year's sermon, from "He thanked God and took courage."

It seemed during these few days as if "Valley Forge" was being repeated in this wilderness, and it is not too much to say that the spirit of "Valley Forge" was exhibited by the 36th, as the next chapter will show.

CHAPTER XXXII.

RE-ENLISTMENT AND FURLOUGH.

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HE reverses of the enemy during the summer and fall of 1863, had produced a profound depression throughout the South, and the defeat at Chattanooga, especially, cast a gloom over all their prospects. But they were not slow to perceive that there were elements of weakness on our side which might eventually work to their advantage. Chief of these was the important fact that a large number of our best troops would close their term of enlistment during the coming summer and fall, and right in the midst of the campaign we should be deprived of our most experienced and seasoned men. When to this was joined another fact, almost equally important, that near the same time a new election for President must be held, in which all the vexations and traitorous opposition to the Government in the North could be rallied to its embarrassment, they looked with confidence to see the reverses of 1863 turned into victories in 1864. Our own Government was equal to the emergency, and proposed the enlistment at once of Veteran Volunteers, with additional bounties and one month's

DISCUSSING RE-ENLISTMENT.

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furlough and opportunity to recruit at home. It was soon seen that the determination to put down the rebellion was not confined to those who occupied places of security and comfort, but was pre eminently felt by the men on whom the hardships of the service fell most severely. Regiment after regiment fell into line, and during the next few months the different States were made glad as they welcomed home their veteran troops, who not only recruited their ranks, but gave such moral support to the national cause as was largely felt all through the remainder of the war.

It was at Blaine's Cross Roads the day before Christmas that the subject of re-enlisting began to create excitement in the regiment; it grew rapidly every day.. They reasoned thus: " We are in until next fall any way, so that probably we shall have to share in the remaining fighting. If we re-enlist now it will have a great moral effect on the South, who are counting much on the old regiments going out; we shall also secure the bounty and be discharged when the war is over. In addition, it is most probable that many of us will re-enlist next fall if the rebellion is not ended, so that it is best to do it now. A private letter written at the time, says, "The singleness of purpose to see this rebellion put down which characterizes these men, is such as completely surprises me; it is the men, not the officers."

In his report to the Adjutant General of the army, the Chaplain wrote, "On the 1st of January, 1864, while in bivouac at Blaine's Cross Roads, East Tennessee, the order with respect to veteran regiments was read, and a large number of those present re-enlisted. The circumstances under which this was done are worthy of record. They had formed a part of the army besieged in Chattanooga, and had borne their full share in the labors and privations of those trying days. Then came the gallant charge

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