"A SOFT THING."

ABOUT the only "soft thing" the boys enjoyed while in the service, was now before them. Captain Stevens had gone to New Orleans for the purpose of securing a place in the city for the Regiment during the winter. He succeeded in his mission, and on the 6th of October they received orders to pack their traps and proceed once more to the Crescent City. They obeyed the order with alacrity, and, taking passage on the steamer "Laurel Hill," bade farewell to their camp at Morganza without regret.
        While the boat was lying at Port Hudson, taking on wood, there was a detail of colored soldiers stationed on board and on the gangplank, as was usually the case when a vessel landed, to prevent desertion, smuggling, or any contraband traffic. Captain Stevens, having just returned from New Orleans, met the Regiment at this place. As he was walking up the gangplank to go on the boat he was halted by a colored soldier, who refused to let him pass until the officer of the guard was called. The joke was enjoyed by the boys a great deal more than it was by the Captain.
        At Baton Rouge they met their old friends of the 19th Kentucky, and were received by them with fraternal greetings. The Seventy-Seventh first met the 19th at Covington, Ky., when they came in from Cumberland Gap, and the acquaintance thus formed ripened into a friendship which lasted during the war, and has been remembered with pleasure ever since. They were a sorry-looking lot of soldiers -- "dirty, ragged and forlorn." But they were cheerful, even jolly in their misfortunes. They would sing "Happy Land of Canaan" or "We'll hang Jeff Davis on a sour apple tree," with a great deal of enthusiasm. For nearly two years the two Regiments had marched and fought side by side in the same campaigns, and a truer body of soldiers than the 19th Kentucky was never organized and led into the field. "Always cheerful, always ready, generous to a fault, loyal to the core; the kind of material that any army might well be proud of."
        As soon as the Regiment arrived at New Orleans they took up their abode in Picayune Press No. 4. The 77th relieved the 48th Ohio, which was sent to Natchez, Miss. Our boys now had the pleasure -- if it could be called a pleasure -- of guarding the prisoners they had assisted in capturing at Fort Gaines. On the 10th of October -- only two days after their arrival -- a detail was sent to Dry Tortugas in charge of a lot of prisoners. And such expeditions were frequent during the fall and winter months. On one occasion about two hundred prisoners were sent away to be placed in "durance vile" until the close of the war. And the scene was a sad one, although they were our foes. Fathers and mothers -- brothers and sisters -- sons and daughters were there to give a parting grasp of the hand, and bid a tearful farewell to their friends, as they marched away under a strong guard of bristling bayonets.
        On the 24th, Captain Stearns, who was taken prisoner at Mansfield, returned to the Regiment from Tyler, Texas, after an an absence of more than six months. The boys were glad to see him at home again, and also to receive intelligence from their comrades, who were still languishing in the prison-pen.
        The religious opportunities of the Regiment while in the city, were excellent. Besides their own services, they were allowed to attend any of the churches they preferred. The Rev. Dr. J. P. Newman, an eloquent speaker and an earnest worker, preached at the M. E. Church, on Carondelet street. This church drew most of its attendance from the army. In fact, judging by the blue coats present at all the services, it seemed to be almost exclusively, a soldier's church.
        Some of the boys received details and were detached from the Regiment for a time. On the 10th of November, a General Court Martial for the Department of the Gulf, was ordered to convene at No. 38 Union Street. Of this Court, Captain J. D. Rouse, of Co. "G," was Judge Advocate; Musician J. H. Snyder, of Co. "I," was Clerk, and Private Joseph Tronier, of Co. "D," was Orderly. Other details were also made from different companies.
        In December, some important changes were made in the Department of West Mississippi. The troops composing the old 13th Army Corps, and such as remained of the 19th, were formed into a "Reserve Corps" of four Brigades, each to be commanded by a Brigadier General. The 77th was assigned to this corps, and ordered to proceed at once to Brazos Santiago, at the mouth of the Rio Grande. This order was issued by a new Adjutant General, at Gen. Hurlbut's Headquarters, without the General's knowledge. Colonel Grier went to see about it, and General Hurlbut at once revoked the order. And so the Regiment secured a new lease of life on garrison duty.
        With light duties to perform, with plenty to eat and good clothes to wear, with the freedom of the city and access to places of instruction and amusement, the winter passed pleasantly away. The companies were stationed at different places. Some in Alabama Press, some in Picayune Press, some on Levee Street, and elsewhere, so that any one wishing to visit the Regiment, had a long tramp before be could see them all.
        But it was not long until the first note of preparation for an approaching campaign was heard. Several of the Regiments had become reduced below the standard allowed by the War Department. Among these were the 77th and 130th Illinois, and they were consolidated, the latter, for the time being, losing its identity, and the former retaining its original name and number. This proceeding was distasteful to the men of both Regiments, as they preferred to retain their own separate existence until finally mustered out of the service. The following orders will explain how the consolidation was effected:

HEADQUARTERS, DEPARTMENT OF THE GULF,
NEW ORLEANS, January 14, 1865.

Special Orders, No. 14.

Extract.

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        IX. The Seventy-Seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers will be consolidated, and known as the Seventy-Seventh Illinois Volunteers. Brigadier General T. W. Sherman, commanding Defences of New Orleans (who is charged with the execution of this order), will designate such commissioned officers as will be retained in the service, to command the new organization. All other officers will be at once mustered out of service.
        All supernumerary non-commissioned officers, who were appointed as such at the date of the original organization of their respective companies, will be mustered out of service.
        All other surplus non-commissioned officers, who have been appointed since the original organization, will be reduced.

        By command of

MAJOR GENERAL HURLBUT.
C. S. SARGENT,
1st Lieut. 2d La. Vols. and A. A. A. G.

Official:
        J. C. STONE,
                        Captain and A. A. G.

HEADQUARTERS, DEFENCES OF NEW ORLEANS,
NEW ORLEANS, January 21, 1865.

Special Orders, No. 18.

Extract.

        I. In accordance with Special Orders, No. 14, current series, Department of the Gulf, the following-named officers of the Seventy-Seventh and One Hundred and Thirtieth Illinois Volunteers, are retained in the service; and all the rest will be mustered out by the Chief Mustering Officer, Defences of New Orleans:

                By command of

BRIGADIER GENERAL SHERMAN.
FREDERICK SPEED, A. A. G.

Official:
                J. E. MALLORY, 1st Lieut, and A. A. A. G.

        On the 25th of January, the consolidation was completed by the union of the two Regiments in one. While the 130th ceased to exist as a separate organization, the strength of the 77th was materially increased, as will be seen by the following figures:

        Making a total increase in the strength of the Regiment of 473 men.
        On the 10th of February the Regiment was inspected, and in the afternoon they left their quarters in Wood's Press and marched down Canal Street to Carondelet, thence down to Tivoli Circle, thence up St. Charles to Canal Street and back to their camp. On the line of march they passed the Headquarters of Brigadier General T. W. Sherman, Commanding Defences of New Orleans; of Major General S. A. Hurlbut, Commanding Department of the Gulf, and of Major General E. R. S. Canby, Commanding Department of West Mississippi.
        The annual Spring activity now began to prevail in military circles. Street parades, regimental inspections etc., Were frequent occurrences. The Seventy-Seventh received orders to be in readiness to march at a moment's notice. Everything seemed to indicate a forward movement in the near future. As a further evidence of this, the enlisted men of the Regiment on detached service were ordered to rejoin their companies, as the subjoined Special Order will show.

HEADQUARTERS SOUTHERN DIST. OF LOUISIANA,
NEW ORLEANS, February 18, 1865.

Special Orders, No. 55.

Extract.

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        IV. In obedience to General Orders, No. 37, series of 1864, from Headquarters, Military Division of West Mississippi, the following-named men of the 77th Illinois Volunteers are hereby relieved from their present duties and will at once rejoin their companies:

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By command of

BRIGADIER GENERAL SHERMAN.

FREDERICK SPEED, A.A.G.