"On Saturday afternoon, soon after the evening papers had been issued, a dispatch was received, announcing that the Seventh Ohio had but just left Cincinnati, and would not arrive in Cleveland until about seven o'clock Sunday morning. Bulletins to this effect were at once printed, and distributed through the city; but a large crowd of persons, not aware of this fact, came down to watch the arrival of the evening train, on which the Seventh was supposed to be coming.
"On Sunday morning the population of the city were early astir, and by seven o'clock a large and continually increasing crowd had assembled in and around the depot. The police, in full uniform, marched down to the depot, and were followed by the old members of the Seventh, bearing the second regimental flag, the first having been deposited in the State-house at Columbus.
"At seven o'clock the ringing of the fire-bells announced the approach of the time for the arrival of the train; and about half-past seven o'clock a salute from the guns, manned by the Brooklyn Artillery, and run down to the bluff at the foot of Water-street, announced the arrival of the train.
"As it moved into the depot it was received with cheers by the assembled crowd; and the war-worn veterans were soon out of the cars, and surrounded by anxious and joyful friends. Shouts of welcome, hearty hand-shaking, embraces and kisses, were showered upon the sun-browned soldiers. Many of the scenes were very affecting. In one place a young wife, whose husband had left for the field just after their marriage, hung with clinging embrace on her returned brave, and her moist eyes sought his with unutterable affection, her hands trembling with excess of joy. In another, an old man, with both hands grasped in those of his son, mingled smiles of joy over his returned boy, with tears of sorrow for the one who had laid down his life for his country. Mothers clung to sons, sisters to brothers, wives to husbands, and some little children climbed up for a father's embrace.
"The number all told, men and officers, of those who returned, was two hundred and forty-five. These were the remnants of nearly eleven hundred men, who left Camp Dennison three years ago, on the reorganization of the regiment. The whole number of the regiment is five hundred and one, of whom the remainder were recruited at various times, and their term of service not expired. Sixty of these were left in Sherman's army; the rest are scattered in every direction, from the James River to Atlanta. The greater part of those whose term of service has not expired are to be consolidated with the same class in the Fifth Ohio, which fought by its side in many a bloody fray, and which is to retain its number. The slightly wounded were brought up with the regiment, the more seriously wounded being left in different hospitals.
"The following is the present organization of the Seventh:
"Lieutenant-colonel, Sam. McClelland; surgeon, Dr. Bellows; assistant surgeon, Dr. Ferguson; Captain Wilcox, Company E; Captain Kreiger, Company K; Captain Clark, Company B; Captain Howe, Company A; Captain Braden, Company G; Captain Davis, Company C, taken prisoner in last fight; Captain Nesper, Company H; Captain McKay, Company F; Captain Lockwood, Company D; Lieutenant Bohm, commanding Company I; quartermaster, S. D. Loomis.
"The regiment left Chattanooga with the Fifth Ohio; but parted company on the way, the Fifth having left their arms behind them, and were therefore compelled to come by railroad, no unarmed troops being allowed to come by the river. The Seventh came up the Cumberland and Ohio rivers by steamboats, and were fired on by guerrillas on the way. One man was lost, Sergeant Trembly, of Company C, about thirty miles below Cincinnati. He was on the guards of the steamer cleaning his gun, when he fell overboard. The boat was stopped, and efforts made to save him; but he was carried away by the current and drowned.
"On reaching Cincinnati, they were ordered to Columbus to be mustered out; but when the train got to Columbus, they were ordered to go on to this city to be paid, and mustered out.
"After leaving the cars, and the greetings of friends were ended, the men were marched to one part of the depot, and given a chance to wash themselves. They were then conducted to tables set along the north wing of the depot, where a hot breakfast had been provided by Wheeler and Russel, on the order of the military committee. Rev. Mr. Goodrich invoked the blessing.