At seven a. m. the steamer “Clinton,” on her way to Indianola, came in sight. We fired several shots from a cannon and hoisted a flag of distress. She came back in the evening, took our ship in tow, and pulled us back to Galveston Bay. On the morning of the 21st we were cut loose from the “Clinton” and towed in to the wharf by the tug “Eliza Hancox.”
We felt somewhat calmed down after being tossed about for five days on one day’s rations. We drew rations and on the morning of the 22nd, we were towed out into the gulf by the “Eliza Hancox.” At two p. m. the “Clinton” hitched on and we started for New Orleans again.
On the 23rd we ran in sight of Sabine Pass. At four o’clock on the morning of the 24th, we ran into the mouth of the South-west Pass. Here the “Clinton” lashed on to the side of our boat and we pulled on up the river. A little accident occurred which drew the attention of many of our boys. Some one in the regiment was taking a little Mexican dog home. The poor little fellow fell overboard, and trying to rescue him caused quite an excitement. A monstrous alligator, sixteen feet long, appeared on the scene. The dog gave one yelp, made one bite, and disappeared. Several shots were fired at the alligator but none took effect. The boys were left to mourn the loss of their little dog. We had only two pets in the regiment, a bear and a dog.
We ran past Fort Jackson at ten p. m. On the morning of the 25th, we landed at Greenville Station, above New Orleans. We got off of the good ship which had carried us safely across so many miles of stormy waters.
On the 26th we got on board the “Elnora Carol” and started up the river. We ran past Morganza Bend and on the 28th we landed at Vicksburg. On the morning of the 30th, we ran past Helena and past Memphis some time in the night. We landed at Cairo, Illinois, December 2, 1865. We had traveled one thousand six hundred and two miles in ten days, after the time when we had been reported lost. Many of our friends at home never expected to meet us again.
We got off of the boat and marched out through the town to the Soldiers’ Home. Here we were served with a splendid supper of coffee, beans and bacon, and were given good quarters to sleep in.
On the morning of the 3rd, we marched to the depot, boarded the train and ran to Mattoon, Illinois. At ten o’clock, we changed cars and went on the Big Four to Terre Haute, Indiana. We arrived at Indianapolis at seven p. m., December 4, 1865. We got off and marched to the Soldiers’ Home.
On the 5th we signed up the pay rolls. On the 6th of December, 1865, we were payed off in full and disbanded. The rain poured down all evening. Each comrade hunted for the nearest road and quickest route that would take him home to the loved ones that he had not seen for many long weary days.
The 24th Indiana traveled through eleven states and made a distance of thirteen thousand six hundred and seven miles in four years, four months and twenty-seven days. The average was eight and a half miles per day.