At the conclusion of the speech there was loud and long continued cheering.

Colonel Langley replied as follows:

"I can assure you in behalf of the Illinois regiment before you, that your welcome, the welcome of the people of Chicago and of the people of the state of Illinois, is fully appreciated by these soldiers now returned home. They have, to some extent, known the good to be derived from such associations and organizations as the sanitary commission, and I believe that no city in the union has shown a deeper interest or more generous feeling toward the private soldier in the ranks, than has the city of Chicago. It seemed to be her chief purpose to secure to the soldier all those comforts so essential to his recovery from a bed of sickness, and from wounds received in battle, and the result of this kindness is that your offerings sent out to them have always been duly appreciated, and the heart has swelled with gratitude toward the kind and loyal people who have remembered the soldier in his distress. It ill befits me, who has been in the field for the last three years, to make a speech, but in a blunt soldier way will speak of these brave boys. This regiment now before you I have had the honor to command. I have known the men composing it for a long time; they are the sterling men of the country. My long acquaintance with them enables me to say, that never were there braver soldiers sent into battle against the enemy (cheers). Out of four Illinois regiments in the 3rd brigade, 2nd division, 14th army corps, they were one. They were engaged first in the battle of Perryville in about three weeks after entering the service. Then in the battle of Chickamauga; against Mission Ridge, and again in the different skirmishes near Buzzard's Roost Gap. And on the 27th of June, 1864, the time to which General Sherman alluded, they made a deadly and fearful assault against the enemy's works on Kenesaw Mountain, and failed, but they did not turn their backs on the enemy and run. Instead of retreating, they took to their spades, and, within sixty-two feet of the enemy, threw up intrenchments, and from there, with their sharp-shooters, at last drove out the enemy. Again at Jonesboro, they assaulted the same men we failed to drive out at Kenesaw Mountain. They were driven out and captured at Jonesboro, and thus secured the capture of Atlanta. They have endured as much of marching, did as much campaigning, took as many chickens, hams, and other things, as any regiment (laughter). And they have been able to consume as much as any; for by casting your eye over them, you will see that they are men of strength and capable of devouring a good deal of South Carolina subsistence (renewed laughter). Let me assure you that these men have a home interest which will demand of them their earnest, sensible attention, of which fact they need not be advised, and when they return to their homes you will find many of them who did not claim any particular high standing in society before, will rank now above many who remained at home to preserve their morals (laughter). They will go home and return to their former avocations in life, and pursue them with an energy and industry proportioned to the love they exemplified for the country they so long, so ably and so well defended.

I assure you again that the cordial and sincere welcome which you have tendered us, is heartily appreciated, and in behalf of the regiment, I thank you, and all those who have aided in the kind welcome extended to them."

The proceedings ended with three cheers for the regiment, and three for General Sherman. We then marched to Bryan hall, after which we repaired to the Soldier's Rest for dinner, and then marched back to camp Douglass.

CHAPTER XXXVI.

Here we were mustered out of the service and paid off on the 30th day of June, 1865, this we learn from our old discharge, and we also read on that piece of imitation parchment (no objection to his being re-enlisted is known to exist), but may the good God, who has guided us through this struggle, who inspired our leaders, and finally gave us this victory, grant that there may never be any more need of our services as soldiers, unless it may be to defend the land which gave us birth, from some foreign invader. Comrades of companies A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I and K, fare you well, and may God bless you. We have together trod the weary road which, with so many other boys like ourselves, has led us back at last to home and peace. The way at times was dark and dreary, the clouds hung low and black. We missed ever and anon from our sides the forms of those we loved, and with whom we had held daily converse, but they are gone, and the stately pines of the southern part of our land sing a refrain over their graves. Some of their resting places we are ignorant of; they died amid the fury and the smoke of battle, but thank God their souls still live, and he who lays down his life for his friend is only imitating the example set by the Great Master. If I have written anything in these recollections of our army life that is in the least hurtful to any one's feelings, if I have in any way at all harmed you, forgive me, for such has not been my intention, and knowing me as many of you do, I trust you will believe what I tell you about this part of it. And now with a heartfelt desire that when your camp-fires burn low, as God grant they never may, and your three days rations run out long before the time, as they used sometimes to do while we were on the march together, come over to my fire and thrust your hands into my haversack, and if by chance it should prove to be empty, I will order out my detail, for I have got them now, comrades, and forage for you till your wants are all supplied. Good-by and may God bless you.

Non nobis! Domine non nobis! sed nomine tuo da Gloriam.

ROME.

Leaving the main army at Resaca our brigade moved off in the direction of Rome, Ga., which lays on the south bank of the Coosa river. The work on which we were ostensibly to be engaged, was the repairing of certain railroad bridges. But whether this work was absolutely to be done, or whether our march was but a "blind," we do not know, at any rate we took up our line of march for that purpose, but had not begun work on the bridges, before orders came to move with all possible speed. We reached the city of Rome late one afternoon. The rebel army was found drawn up in line of battle, but our fellows with cheer and shout charged their lines, driving them across the river and out of the town. Here we went into camp for a few days. Rome is a pretty town, and had been the center of a good deal of business before the war, but now all was changed. Provost guards were immediately detailed to preserve order, but in spite of all this the boys, with the instinctive love of foraging that animates a soldier while in the enemy's country, managed to obtain many luxuries in the shape of tobacco, etc. We got possession of the theater, a minstrel company was formed and several entertainments given, the admission fee being twenty-five cents. The theater was crowded nightly, and the entertainment was much better than we have witnessed at other places with better facilities. The bank was also occupied, but nothing of course was found excepting sheets of confederate money just printed, apparently, but not signed. Some of the boys went to work filling them out, putting down the names of "Timothy Fitzpoodelle," as president, and "Johnny Cometalety" for cashier, or any name which would come into their heads. These confederate bills were passed by many of our boys on the citizens afterwards for such things as they wanted, the citizens taking them for genuine, and indeed they were as good as any of the balance of the confederate money. Some fellows got into the printing office, and, being printers by trade when at home, issued a newspaper filled with spread eagle editorials, and exhorting the editor and owner of the property to come back to the union and give up the cause of secession. These papers were intensely loyal, as might be supposed, and were in all probability, as they were intended they should be, very disgusting to the chivalry. Here also we were shown the hotel, a square, two-story brick building, from the upper verandah of which the rebels exhibited Mrs. Dr. Mary Walker to the shouting and yelling crowd in the street below, whom they had captured a short time previously. But Atlanta was the cry, and so one bright morning we left Rome with its pleasant memories behind us.