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RETURN OF VETERAN VOLUNTEERS ON FURLOUGH (From a drawing by Mr. Daniel R. Knight) Harpers Weekly, January 23, 1864 |
Steamboats were extremely dangerous particularly when packed with more troops than they were supposed to carry and makeshift repairs were made by owners to save money. Their military passengers had little choice but to take what was available. It is interesting then, that the first steamer that Cyrus Hussey took passage on as he made his way north was the Sultana, which, less than two years later would have a hastely repaired boiler explode resulting in further boiler explosions and fires that killed 1700 people, mostly newly released POWs from Andersonville. This tragic event holds the record for loss of life in a passenger vessel, more than the 1517 lost on the Titanic. Fortunately for Cyrus Hussey the Sultana was not overloaded and ran well when he was aboard. Even so guerrillas fired into the steamer about 50 miles below Memphis severely wounding a soldier from the 29th Wisconsin. The casualness with which he records this event and the death of two wounded soldiers on board is understandable in a time when death was constantly a companion.
During his stopover in Memphis Capt. Hussey visited Isaac McPherson, a wounded soldier from his company and collected his pay from Maj. McGrath. Continuing upriver he observes wooding, the taking on board wood to serve as fuel. During the entire trip he observes the major landmarks and important river traffic such as the Mississippi Marine Brigade which Pvt. Ashley J. Frazier of Company A, 48th OVI had mustered out to join 2/19/1863.
Upon arrival at Cairo, Illinois (pronounced “Kayro” by its inhabitants) at the confluence of the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers he switched to rails. Despite its strategic location Cairo was a relatively undeveloped place both before and after the Civil War but during the war it boomed. Bustling with troops and supplies it was a Union center of transport and Hussey found the Hotels were all full and slept in a railroad car in oppressive heat and mosquitoes. From Cairo he went straight north to Odin in central Illinois where he missed his connection resulting in another delay after which he boarded a train on the Ohio & Mississippi RR, which connected East St. Louis, IL with Cincinnati, OH. After buying cloths in Cincinnati he took a train home and surprised his family early in the evening.
At home near New Vienna, OH he visits with family, friends, friends, soldiers, former soldiers and relatives of soldiers from Companies A & D of the 48th Ohio. These include Capt. Frank M. Posegate, (Cos. A&D), Capt. R. S. Robbins (Co. A) , Corp. Ike Carmin (Co. A]) Mr. McPherson (father of wounded Isaac McPherson, Co. A,).
Cyrus Hussey, a teacher, also was visited by his students, the “young people” and he visited with other teachers who he regularly corresponded with throughout the war. He comments on Copperheads, Democrats sympathetic to the south, in disparaging terms but mostly he concentrates on socializing and visiting entertainments. Rebecca, his wife and Martha Hussey, his cousin, accompany him to Cincinnati where they attend an opera, visit a museum and tour the city with Mr. Carmin, probably Ike’s father.
Leaving on the O.&M. RR he retraces his route north with Corp. Ike Carmin as a companion. In Memphis he again visits wounded from his company Mike Grady and Ike McPherson then attempts to collect debts owed Capt. Frank Posegate and Lt. Jesse Allison with partial success. Boarding the City of Alton with Ike Carmin he notes that Gen. U. S. Grant is on Board the steamer. At Vicksburg he transfers to the Julia which takes him to New Orleans for the exorbitant fare of $10. Ike Carmine takes the Raymond the rest of the way. Again they are fired on by guerrillas resulting in the wounding of a cavalryman and the adjutant of the 22nd Kentucky. On the trip he saw three passengers wounded by hostile fire, riding aboard vessels that could explode, scalding, crushing or drowning anyone aboard. Leave was safer than battle but travel was dangerous.
Monday the thirty first of August found Captain Hussey busy making out muster rolls for his company in Camp Carrollton in New Orleans. He was clearly a diligent officer who looked after his men even after they left his command.