After the surrender was complete, the Confederate soldiers left for home. Not so for the Union boys. Our 189th went into camp short on rations since most of what was available went to the starving Rebs. Having survived on local corn, the regiment finally got regular rations on April 15th. The regiment went on the march that afternoon arriving at Ford’s station on the 22nd. There they were assigned to guard the railroad. After some more moving around they were “homeward bound”. By May 6th they pitched their tents on Arlington Heights near Washington DC. During this time they received the tragic news of Pres. Lincoln’s assassination on April 14, 1865 followed by the better news of Gen. J. Johnston’s surrender to Gen. W.T. Sherman on April 28th.

  The regiment’s big day came on May 23, 1865, the 1st day of the Grand Review, when they marched down Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, passing by the  main reviewing stand about 2 o’clock in the afternoon. It was an exciting & happy time for them, but it was back to camp & wait to be mustered out.

    After more reviews by the NY governor & other brass the regiment boarded a train on May 30 & headed home to Elmira NY. They still had one more adventure. A small one. Within 4 miles of Elmira , some axles on the train broke. Three were hurt, but not seriously. Half the command had to walk the rest of the way. Probably just a stroll in the garden for these tough boys!  When they finally arrived in Elmira the old army rule of “hurry up & wait” kicked in . FINALLY on June 10, 1865 they were paid off & discharged! What did they think of all this? Probably what all combat veterans think, happy to be alive, sad for those lost, proud of their sevice & damn glad to be done with it. The regiment lost 80 men.  In the slang of the day  “they went to see the elephant” & see it they did !

     Our hero George Sr. returned to his family in Steuben Co, NY where they remained until at least 1877. By 1880 most of the family was in the Sauk Centre MN area,.

     On May 29, 1883 George, age 56, filed a “Declaration for an Original Pension of  Father” He filed this as a “dependent father “ of his son, Abram Blakesley, killed in Louisiana on Sept. 8, 1863. Why not for his own service? Probably at that time & at his age it was easier to get a pension this way. Several depositions were filed relating to his poor health after he came home ill after his 1st army tour. No mention of how he made it in the 20 years between Abram’s death & the filing of this request. The pension was granted under the number 978.808 .

In Feb. 1899 George was awarded a pension increase  from $12 to $24. This was done thru an act of Congress, bill H. R. 9234, on the recommendation by the Committee on Pensions. How & why this took an act of Congress is unknown. The bill in part says “Claimant’s advanced age, extreme poverty and intense patriotism, which caused him not only to enlist himself in the service, but to offer three sons for the cause of the Union, all of whom died in the service, makes this the most deserving cases brought to the attention of this committee”.

    On May 22, 1912, George, now age 85, files a “Declaration for a Pension” under the provisions of the Act of May 11, 1912, just 11 days after the law went into effect ! This act was no doubt an upgrade in benefits. The government asked for more information in May 1915. He had to act fast to get what he was due. The good old soldier was laid to rest June 21, 1915.

     After George’s death, his widow, 4th wife, Hana Marie filed a “Declaration of a Widow for Accrued Pension” on July 20, 1915. Then on Sept. 13, 1916 she filed a “Declaration for a Widows Pension”. One of the witnesses of this paper was Bessie Marshall, George’s daughter & Hana’s step-daughter.  Hana Marie died March 28, 1919.