"TATTOO."

AT THREE o'clock P.M., July 10, 1865, the Seventy-Seventh was mustered out, and the boys were promoted to the rank of "Brevet citizens," as they termed it. The discharge papers were all made out and signed, and placed in charge of Captain J. K. Secord until the final muster out and payment at Springfield, Illinois. At sunrise on the morning of the 12th, the Regiment left camp and marched to the city. They went on board the "White Cloud," a steamer plying between Mobile and New Orleans, via Lake Pontchartrain. There were about 1,300 soldiers on the vessel, belonging to the 77th Illinois, 91st Illinois and 19th Iowa. An effort was made to ship 500 horses and mules along with the troops. The 19th Iowa boys -- some of whom were partially intoxicated -- at once objected to this proceeding, and the mules were forced off the boat. There were some in the 77th and 91st who stood by the Iowa boys. The officers endeavored to maintain order, but in vain. They went to see Gen. Kilby Smith, the Commandant of the Post, but he could effect nothing. They were ordered to allow the mules on board. Still the boys opposed, and a company of provost guards was sent with arms to quell the mutiny. The regiments then made common cause, flew to arms and compelled the guards to withdraw. The officer who undertook to put the mules on board was driven off the boat, and twice the mules were thrown off. As a last resort, Colonel Bruce marched his Regiment -- the 19th Iowa -- ashore and returned to camp to await another vessel. The mules and horses were then loaded, the bell rang, the band played "Get out of the Wilderness," and soon the city of Mobile was left behind as they pushed for the open sea. Their next "objective point" was Springfield, Illinois, and then PEORIA.
        That night the storm came down upon them with relentless fury. The vessel rolled and tossed on the foaming billows. The "hog chains" connecting the vessel fore and aft to prevent the ends from dipping, broke, and the vessel opened just in front of the cabin "wide enough for a man to crawl through." In the light of present events, the mutiny of the day before seemed like a providential occurrence. Had the five hundred men of the 19th Iowa been on board, the probability is that the additional weight would have insured the destruction of all. As it was, the danger was great. Like Paul, they "cast anchor and prayed for the day." About two o'clock in the morning the storm abated, the sea became calm, they weighed anchor and proceeded on their way. They crossed Lake Pontchartrain and at four o'clock P.M. were on the levee at New Orleans, and immediately went on board the steamer "Lady Franklin," bound for up the river.
        Before leaving the Crescent City for the last time the boys supplied themselves with reading matter to while away the tedious days that must elapse before their arrival at Cairo, Ill. They also purchased a liberal supply of Southern keepsakes to carry home with them, such as guinea-pigs, mocking-birds, etc. At twelve o'clock M., July 14th, they left the landing, and soon after, the city of New Orleans disappeared in the distance. The "Nick Longworth" passed them, having the 91st Illinois on board. Col. Day invited the Seventy-Seventh to accompany his Regiment on their boat. Captain Brock, who was in command of the Seventy-Seventh, politely declined the invitation, believing the boys could enjoy their homeward picnic better by themselves.
        The days came and went with monotonous regularity. Baton Rouge, Port Hudson, Grand Gulf and other points of historic interest were passed in succession. On the morning of July 17th they reached Vicksburg. Here they landed and took on a thousand bushels of coal. The boys of the Regiment voluntarily assisted in this work in order to hasten their departure. In the afternoon they passed Young's Point, the burial ground of so many of their comrades.
        On either bank of the river as they passed along, they saw the ruin and desolation caused by the war. The thunders of artillery had ceased, but the ruins remained. Homes, which, in the ante-bellum days had sheltered prosperous and happy families, were now deserted and desolate. Here and there they could see a solitary wanderer among the ruins -- some one who had just returned from the army of the "Lost Cause."
        On the 22d of July they landed at Cairo, Ill., and once more after an absence of nearly three years they set foot on the soil of their own State -- the State which had sent them forth to battle, and now waited to welcome their return. They felt that they were again in "God's country" -- that they had left the dark lagoons and malarial swamps of the South far behind, and that now the healthy breezes of the Prairie State would infuse new life and vigor into their wasted constitutions. They had gone to the front with nearly nine hundred men. They returned with less than three hundred. They had buried their comrades all along the line of march, from Covington, Ky., to Mobile, Ala., and from New Orleans to Camp Ford. The remnant of the Regiment marched ashore at Cairo with feelings of thankfulness and of sorrow -- thankfulness that they were permitted to return, and sorrow for the loss of so many brave men.
        While at Memphis, Captain Brock had telegraphed to Cairo for transportation from that point to Springfield, so that no delay was occasioned. Soon after landing they boarded the cars and were rapidly carried northward to their destination. They arrived in Springfield on the 23d. Captain Brock at once reported to headquarters and was ordered to Camp Butler, five miles from the city. Here the Regiment went into camp to await final muster out and payment.
        "They were sent to Camp Butler, and in an open field, without food or camp, they passed, in the capital city of their native State, as uncomfortable a night as they had known during the service."
        But, thanks to the foresight of General Grier, who had gone home in advance of the Regiment to prepare the way for their prompt payment and discharge, their stay at Camp Butler was brief. On the morning of the 24th the General made his appearance at the camp and made a speech to the boys, in which he asked them if they were willing to go to Peoria, as the ladies of that city were anxious to give them an appropriate reception. It was almost unanimously agreed to go. Most of companies "B" and "H," however, declined the invitation, as it was too much out of their line of travel to their homes.
        On the evening of July 27th the boys had a sort of farewell jollification. They procured an abundance of candles and put them on poles, in the trees, etc., and thus illuminated the camp. Then speeches were in demand. Sergeant David L. Murdock, of Company "H," and Jacob H. Snyder, Musician of Company "I," were loudly called for, and responded in "thoughts that breathe and words that burn."
        This was their last night in camp -- the last time they would all be together, and they made good use of it. On the morrow separations would take place -- some final, some only temporary. They had stood shoulder to shoulder for many months, and now they were about to separate, each to pursue some useful avocation in civil life.
        The next morning they boarded the cars and went to the city. They marched at once to the Paymaster's office, and that gentleman counted out the cash as rapidly as possible. The discharge papers were distributed, and the boys passed from "Brevet citizens" to citizens of full rank. Their next movement was to the clothing stores, and here they doffed the regimental blue and donned the citizen's suit.
        As they were now ready for the last act in their military history, the following dispatch was sent to Peoria:

MRS. A. G. CURTENIUS,
        President Woman's National League:

        The Seventy-Seventh Illinois Volunteers, two hundred strong, will arrive in Peoria on Saturday morning.

D. P. GRIER,
Brig. Gen. Commanding.