Pvt. Robert Strong continues "at times we drew what was called dessicated vefitables. This was a composition of everything in the vegetable world--peas, beans, cabbbaageturnips carrpts, ppepers , onions, beets,radishes, parsnips, parsley---with grass to hold it all together.this mixture was dried and pressed into pieces an inch square. One of these piecsput into water would swell and swell and swell., and swellll some more until no one man could eat it all.We made soup of it. It doesn't spund very palatable, but after a regular diet of hardtack change to vegetable soup was not to be despised.
Item 4. After he was discharged in Washington, D. C., they headed west for Chicago, which was 'home'" for their unit. All across ther journey every small town would be out in force to show thrir appreciation for their sacrifices, with bands, banners and eats of all kinds. Until thry reached /Chicago. Strong says " Our Colonel had telegraphed ahead to have quarters assigned t us. On reaching the city we found neither qoarters nor rations. Finally, we camped without any supper. We had no money and could not buy anything to eat. The next morning we were ordered to quarters on the north side of the city - still without any breakfast or anything to eat. To paraphrase the remainder of his story, aas they walked acros town the police made them stay off the sidewalks Once in camp they were served food that was wormy and moldy. They were camped next to a beer hall which was going full blast on Sunday morning. They joined the crown where one of their members offered a toast to "Billy Sherman". A big German cursed him and Sherman and the brawl was on. They made a wreck of the beer hall. The mayor showed up with a big contingent of police and threatened to put the entire regiment injail. Fortunately Gen. Joe Hooker showed up at that time and explained to the mayor what would happen to him and his police force he tried that. On his way home a wagon passed him and he asked the driver for a ride. The driver cursed him, called him a bluecoat, whipped his team ND LEFT HIM. aH, MEMORIES OF VIETNAM.