On the morning of June 30th we struck tents for the last time, and then marched to Washington, where we took cars for Harrisburg.
We arrived at the latter place on Sunday morning, July 2d, and marched out to what was called "Camp Return," adjoining "Old Camp Curtin." Here the regiment received its final pay and discharges from Maj. W. T. Asson, Paymaster U. S. A., on July 6th, 1865. On the same day the men departed by various routes for their homes.
Before disbanding each member of the regiment received a copy of the following farewell address, which was prepared by Adjutant Thomas E. Merchant, of the 57th:
Harrisburg, Pa., July 6, 1865.
To the Officers and Soldiers of the old 57th Pennsylvania:
Four years ago our thoughts were turned on war to come.
To-day our thoughts are on war past and peace to come.
The bloody strife is over, and you with many of your fellow soldiers are now to return to your homes.
We part joyfully, for the life we have led as soldiers has been a severe one, and we are glad the task is over, and that henceforth we may enjoy the comforts of peaceful life. Yet the associations we have formed are very hard to sever, and during our whole course of life in the future we will revert with pleasure and pride to the associations and companionships formed during those three or four years in which the regiment fought twenty-seven engagements and marched hundreds of miles.
Let us not forget each other. Parting as a band of brothers, let us cling to the memory of those tattered banners, under which we fought together, and which without dishonor we just now restored to the authorities who placed them in our hands.