'>m- ,0 -^ 4 O ,-?- •^v^^^ ^^'V ."^^ '^ ^0^ :'%^ ^-^-o^ ^Q^-- O • v*' # ^/?i^^o '^<:. ,v^ (vV- . " O Vl -^v^^ .9^"- "..C^«JVv..' '^ .^^ o r "t^-o^ */ ,0-"- 6^>^-o. % V* ■^. •^^ ;■:> "-^^0^ '<)i> o ^ r.0 ^'^^^ V ^;^ >' v>^ ^^^ ^^ ^-■- f^ o ^. 9", O V ,^A, - > <* ■^5>/K V '^i. ^ o o > O •^ '-^^/ -Sl^-- %/ .<- o -^^ vO^ "-> ^ ,1 ^.v;i>;;. ^'% ^:*^^^- ,/% --s*^/ , MY DIARY OF RAMBLES WITH THE ■25th Mass, Volunteer Infantry, BURNSIDE'S COAST DIVISION; ISth Army Corps, ARMY OF THE JAMES. r,^»-S^v BY I). L. DAY. copyimghted, 1883, By D. L. Day. ^i--" KIXO & BIIXIXGS, PRINTERS,, GAZKTTE OFFICE, MILFORD, . . MASS. 1884. INTRODUCTIOX. While in tlie nnny, I kept a diary of niy Avaiideriugs, obser- vations and adventures. It was kei)t in tlio form of letters sent home, and with notes and memoranda in pocket diaries. It was simjdy incident ananies arrived on the ground this morning, and this afternoon all bauds are busy pitching tents. Sept. '27. Ten companies are now on the ground. Colonel Upton made us a visit today. He is to be our commander. I have known the colonel for s>?veral years past at our militia mus- ters. He commanded the old 9th regiment, one which stood sec- ond to none in the state. I regard the colonel as a very fine man, and an able military comaiamlfr. Under his command I have no fears but that our regiment will make a record that not only them- selves, but the state will be proud of. Oct. 7. We were today mustered into the service of the United States, by Captain John M. Goodhue, U. S. A. The com- pany is designated as Company B, and the regiment as the 25th Massachusetts volunteers. I suppose we are now stuck for three years unless sooner shot. COL. UPTOX TAKES COMJIAXD. Oct. 8. Col, Upton assumed command of the regiment to- day, and will at once set about perfecting the organization and discipline. The officers are: FIELD AXD STAFF. ■Colonel, .... Edwin Upton. Fitchburg. Lieutenant Colonel. . Augustus B. E. Sprague. Worcester. Major, . . . Matthew J. Mc Cafferty. Worcester. Adjutant. . . . Elijah A. Harkness, Worcester. Quartermaster, . . William O. Brown, Fitchburg. Surgeon, . . . J. Marcus Rice, M. D., Worcester. Company A. Captain, Josiali Picket, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, Frank E. Goodwin, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Merritt B. Bessey, Worcester. Company B. Captain, Willard Clark, Milford. 1st Lieutenant, William Emery, Milford. 2d Lieutenant. William F. Draper, Milford. Company C. Captain. Cornelius G. Atwood. Boston. 1st Lieutenant, James Tucker, Boston. 2d Lieutenant, Merrick F. Prouty, Spencer. Company D. Captain, Albert F. Poster, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, George S. Campbell, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, George H. Spaulding, Worcester. Company E. Captain. Thomas O'Neill, Worcester. Lst Lieutenants William Daly, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Henry McConville, Worces- ter. Company F. Captain. Charles IL Foss, Fitchburg. 1st Lieutenant. Levi Lawrence, Fitchburg. 2d Lieutenant, J. Henry Richardson, Fitchburg. Company G. Captain, Louis AVagely, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, Henry M. Rickster, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Frederic ^l. Weigand, Worces- ter. Company H. Captain, Oi-son Moulton, AA'orcester. 1st Lieutenant, David M. Woodward, Worcester. 2d Lieutenant, Nathaniel H. Foster, North Brookfield. Company [. Captain, Varanus P. Parkhurst, Templeton. 1st Lieutenant, James B. Smith, Royalston. 2d Lieutenant, Amos Buffom, Templeton. Company K. Captain, J. Waldo Denny, Worcester. 1st Lieutenant, Samuel Harrington. Paxton. 2(1 Lieut-naiit. James M. Drennan, Wor- cester. My Diary. 7 Most of these officers and many of the enlisted men liave done military duty either in the state militia, or as three-months men around Washington. So we are not an entirely green crowd. The officers are a fine looking body of young men, and I think, with a little flattery and catering to their vanity, we shall get along nicely with them. Oct. 12. The 1)oys are settling down to the routine of mili- tary duty, and getting accustomed to camp life. They take kindf)' to disci})line, and seem anxious to learn the drill. PKESENTATIONS. Presentations are the order of the day. The adjutant has had a horse presented him by his firemen friends. A great, stout, clumsy, good-natured horse. I should think he was better ada])t- ed for hauling a fire engine than for a parade horse, but perhaps will answer the purpose Mell enough. The major's friends have also presented him with a horse. A good kind of horse enough. Nothing very stylish or dashy about him for a war charger, but perhaps he can smell tlie battle as far as any horse. The major, in a clever little speech, assured his friends that they would never hear of the nag's striking his best gait to the rear. The major being a man of immense rotund- ity, I imagine that the horse after carrying him a couple of hours, would feel willing to give boot to go into the ranks rather than remain on the staff. The Worcester ladies, with commendable patriotism, have presented us with a sjjlendid silk banner (the national colors), and have enjoined us to carry it with us in our wanderings, and return it again to them without dishonor. And we have sworn by a thousand stout hearts and bright bayonets, that that banner shall float abo^e the battlements of secession and be again re- turned to them, crowned with the laurel wreaths of victory. And when amid the flame and thunder of the battle, we look on its bright folds, remembering its fair donors, rush to victory and glory. ° -^ SPECULATIOX8. Our time is being occupied with drills and receiving company, with which we are highly favored and are always glad to see. The boys are having leave of absence, and are visiting their homes preparatory for their departure south. Many are the s}>eculations among the boys as to our destination, but no one seems to know anything about it. I tell them I think we shall go to Dixie. SELECTIXG A CHAPLAIN. After hearing several candidates for the office of chaplain, they have finally settled on Rev. Horace James, pastor of the old South church, Worcester. I think they have shown good judg- ment in selecting a cha])lain of the orthodox faith, as no one visiting our camj) for an hour could doubt their belief in the ex- 8 My Diary. istenee of the burning lake by the way they consign each other to that locality, THE LADIES. The pretty girls, God bless their souls, are always first and foremost in every good work, and they are now in session at Agricultural Hall, busily at work for the soldiers. They are making repairs and alterations in our uniform's, sewing on chev- rons and doing whatever small jobs of needlework Ave may desire. They have also furnished us with needles, thread, wax, buttons, pincushions, ])ins and other small articles which we may need. For all of which they will please accept the warmest emotions of grateful hearts. WE LEAVE WOECESTER. Oct. 31. It seems that at last we have been ordered from these cold, frosty climes, to a warmer and more genial one — the Sunny South. After partaking of a collation furnished by the ladies at the hall, at 3 p. ni. we broke cam]), and taking all our worldly effects upon our backs, preceded by our band, marched through Highland and Main streets to the common, where we took cars for New York. At the common we were met by a large concourse of citizens, friends and relatives of the regiment, who took us by the hand, giving us words of encouragement and a hearty God bless you. Here Avere leave takings that required some nerve to sui)])ress the rising tear. Probably some of us have seen our friends for the last time on earth, and bade them the last good-b\e. But we will go forward to duty, trusting in God, and lio])ing for the best^ WE ARRIA^E AT NEW YORK. Nov. 1. We left /Worcester about 5 o'clock last evening- Arriving at Norwich, we went aboard the large and sjtlendid steamer Connecticut, the regiment numbering one thousand and thirty, Avith all our horses, wagons and camp e(jui])age. The staunch steamer bore us rapidly across the sound, landing us in New York about o'clock this morning. After disembarking and foi'ming the regiment, we marched amid a perfect storm of applause and the New Yorker's ]»eculiar "hi! hi!" to the City Hall ]tark. A guard Avas then posted and the regiment dismissed until drum call. A committee of gentle- men waited on the colonel, iin iting him, his officers and the band, to a dinner at the Astor House. After they liaVl gone, we felloAvs, by invitation, marched into the pjirk barracks, to regale ourselves on mutton sou]». And in all fairness, I must say that a Avorse soup or dirtier surroundings never came under my observatioii. I didn't hanker for any, and beat a hasty retreat. If that soup didn't smell to heaven, it must have attained a high altitude above the city. Fortunate New Yorkers, that dwell in l>asenients. I suppose the evening papers will have it that the 'Jotli ]M;'ssa- chusctts regiment dined ;'t tlie .Astoi- House. So we shall '<-t the? My Diary. 9 name, if we missed the turkey. Feeling inclined to take a stroll and see the sights of the big city (the guards not being very effective), it was an easy matter to break the bomids, and we had things our own way until about 4 o'clock, when the regiment was again formed. MARCHING DOAVK BROADWAY. With an easy, swinging gait, in column of ]ilatoons, we ' marched down Broadway, looking the very soul of soldiery, and were greeted with a ])erfect ovation all along the route, until we reached the Jersey City ferry, ^\•hen we crossed to Jersey City, and took cars for Philadel])hia. A STKKAK OF LUCK. While waiting in the cars at Jersey City, the depot and plat- forms were crowded with ])eo]»le, all anxious to see and talk with us. Happening to have a seat next to tlie window, a gentleman engaged me in conversation. He asked all manner of questions about the regiment, and among others, if we were well provided for, meaning, I supposed, with clothing, blankets, rations, etc. I said we seemed to be well ]irovided with everything, except per- haps the sinews of war; in that direction I thought we were rather weak. On hearing tliat, he drew from the depths of his panta- loons })ocket, a couj)le of half dollars and tendered me, which I accepted with many thanks, anhia. Breakfast over, we then had music l)y our band, and some short remarks by gentlemen lu'csent, after which three cheers were pro])Osed for the Philadelphians, which were given Avith a will. The regiment now re-formed for a march across the city, to take the cars for Baltimore. As our band struck up the music, waking the echoes of the eni'lv morning-, the v<'la lows on eitli -r 10 My Diary. side flew up, and out peered hundreds of lieads, in their seantily arranged toilets, and witli wild hurrahs and waving liandkerehiet's, cheered us on our way. At 4 a.^ ni., we were aboard the cars and nu)\ ing towards Baltimore. I was informed that all troops ])ass!ng througli Philadelphia were received and fed in this same generous manner. It makes no difference Avhen troops arrive, whether day or night, they are ready for them. They seem to find out, either by telegraph or some other way, just when a regiment Avill arrive. I must needs say that these Philndel])luans are a generous, whole sonled people. They are worth Hgliting for, in fact they are the very ace of hearts; may prosperity attend them. ARRIVAL AT BALTIMORE. Nov. 3. We reached Havre de Grace about noon. A heavy storm has set in. It is raining hard and the wind blows a gale. We crossed the Susquehanna river at this place, on a big steam ferry boat, and I must confess to some fears, as I looked from the car windows down to the water, a distance of nearly fifty feet, and wondered why we did not ca])size. Here I saw a goA'ern- nient mule pen. Several acres are enclosed, and I was told that the pen contained about 10,000 mules. A large number of ne- groes are employed taking care of them. I think this must be a base of supplies. After waiting here an hour or so to make up ovir train, we again started. An hour's ride brought us to the fa- mous giuipowder bridge, which crosses an arm of Chesapeake bay, not far from Baltimore. This bridge tlie rebels attempted to burn, and partially succeeded. Many of the charred timbers are still to be seen on the 1)ridge. There we saw the fii'st soldiers on duty, a ]>icket guard being kept here to protect the bridge. We reached Baltimore about 3 p. m., and left the cars in the midst of a drenching rain, and marched about a mile through the rain and wind, to the steamboat landing, the band playing The Campbells Are Coming. No boat being in readiness to take us to Annapo- lis, Col. Upton told the captains of companies that they must find quai-ters for their men, and be ready for an early start in tlie morning. Captain Clark obtained a loft in a grain store for liis company, where we ])assed the night very comfortably. Nov. 4. Sunday morning in Baltimore, and a stiller or more quiet place I never saw. No sounds are heard, no ]ieo])le or car- riages are seen in the street. It looks and seems like a deserted city. We took a hurried glance at a ])ortion of the city, visiting Pratt street, where the assault on the Gth Massachus"tts took place. The bullet holes and scars on the walls of the buildings, gave ]>roof that the boys got a good deal interestcl. wliile passing through that street. OFF FOR ANXAI'OLIS. Wt' embarked on the steamer Louisiana, about 9 a. m., for Annapolis. As we steamed past old Fort McHenry, I was reminded My Diary. 11 of ail interesting- sera}) of history connected Avitli this fort. "When the British fleet bombarded this fort during the hist war with En- gland, tliere was aboard one of tlie ships, an American ])risoner, a Mr. Key, I think his name was, who watched Avith the most in- tense anxiety, the result of the bombardment, and during its prog- ress, wrote the song that has since become famous as one of our national anthems. The Star Spangled Banner. "By the cannon's red glare, the bombs bursting in air, Gave proof througli the night, that our Hag was still there." Arrived at Annajtolis about noon, and marched up to the Xa- val academy, Avhere we cpiartered and took dinner Avith the 21st Massachusetts, now doing garrison duty at this post. Iieligious services this afternoon, by Cha])lains Ball of the 21st and James of our own regiment. I cannot say that I was much interested in the meeting, as I was very tired, and preach- ing about the Pharisees and other antiquated sinners of a thou- sand years ago, did not seem to ai)[)ly to my case, or tlie present time. CAMP HICKS. Nov. 5. Went into camp on Taylor's farm, about a mile west of the city, and Col. irpton has christened it Cam]) Hicks, in honor of Gov. Hicks, the })resent loyal governor of Maryland. The 51st Xew York is encamped near by us, and that regiment, with the 21st Massachusetts, were the oidy troops here before us. Nov. 11. We are now fairly settled in camp life. Several other regiments from Massachusetts and other states are now with us, and drills, insnections and reviews are the order of the day. One can scarcely get time to wash his face, and take, as Gen. Scott said, a hasty plate of soup, before the drum calls to some kind of duty. Nov. 16. Here it is the middle of November, and the Aveather is most delightful. No frosts, but a warm, melloAA^ at- mosphere like our Indian summer in Octol)er. It is beautiful, indeed; I am charmed Avith it. While our farmers in New England are putting up and feeding their cattle in barns, the cattle here are luxuriating in Avhite clover, young, SAveet and tender enough to suit the most fastidious taste of any of the cattle on a thousand hills. The farmers about here are harvest- ing their crops of corn and SAveet potatoes, some of Avhich are very fine. Some of the boys brought in some egg plants which grow about here. I neA'^er saw any before, but am told they are very good, when properly cooked! I am not disposed to doubt it, never haAdng eaten any of them, but I cannot believe they Avould make good egg nog. We begin to see a little something of the peculiar institution, • — slavery. There are a great many negroes strolling around the camps, most of them runaways, and as Maryland is sup])Osed to be a loyal state, Ave haA'e no right to take sides and afford them 12 Mv Diary. protection. ]>ut we liave adopted a kind of P^nnlisli neuti-ality, althongh not g'ivint;' them much jn-otcction, we give tliem wliat- ever int'ormation they desire. The masters and hunters are frequently here, lookino- up their boys, as they call them, and we generally manage to ]»ut them on the wrong track and then run the boys into other camps, and they run them into the woods. Our regiment was yesterday inspected and rcA'iewed by Brig. Gen. Jolm G. Foster. We put in our best work, and tried to make the best appearance we couhl. The general seems to be a man who understands his business. At a single glance he takes a man and his eqixipments all in; looks at his ritle, passes it back and goes for the next one. He complimented Col. U])ton on the good drill and a])pearance of his regiment, and flattered his vanity a little by telling him that with a little more practice his regi- ment would be as near regulars as it would be i)ossible to bring a volunteer regiment. Xov. 20. Yesterday, having a day to myself, I visited Anna]>olis. I was greatly interested in visiting the old State House on account of the historic memories that cluster around it. I was shown u]> in the hall where Washington, in December, 1783, resigned his commission in the army to the Continental congress, then in session at this place. His resignation was a very solemn and formal affair, and as I stood in this venerable hall, my thoughts went back to those grand old days when our fathers stiuggled for independence. At the close of the revolution, ]Maryland offered to cede Annapolis as the Federal ca]iita1, but it was thought best to select a site on the Potomac river. Anna])0- lis was originally designed as a great ])lace, being the cajjital of the state, and possessing a fine harbor with a great de]>th of water, and long- before Baltimore was at all noted, was the seat of wealth, refinement and extensive trade; but it is now chiefly distinguished as the seat of the Ignited States Xaval academy. The state bouse and Episcopal church are located in the centre of the city, and from these radiate all the streets. To the e^e of the stranger, the antitjue, moss-covered and vine-clad houses, with their deep embrasured windoAVS and pe- culiar architecture, present a singular a])i)earance. The Naval academy and Episco])al college ])resent_a striking contrast to the rest of the town. The buildings are large and of modern style, the grounds around them sjiacions and tastefidly laid- out. The Naval academy, located oji the west side of the town, com- ])rises an area of several aci'cs, enclosed by a high brick wall. The buildings, of which there are several, arc located i)artly on the water side, the balance on the east side next to the wall. The Avharfage and boat houses are extensive and commodious. On the north side, and connnamling the harbor, is an old brick building with a few j)ort holes, and mounting a few old iron guns. This they call the fort, and I should su])pose a few shots from one of our gunboats would level it to the ground. The park is My Diary. 13 l»e;uitifiiily laid out willi ersons on board, o)dy 2(10 were saved. Capt. Hern Ion se.periutende 1 the getting off of as many of his pa.ssengers as he could, and the last words he was heard to u^ter were, ''l -w-ill never leave tlie shi]) until my ])assengers are all off," ;nid standing <>n the wheel house, went down with his A-essel. Jjrax e, g:dlant Herndon I Xt)V. 22. Tlie first death in our regiment occin-red tliis moriung. John 8he]»ard of Com])any !> died of tyi)hoid fever. His renniins will be sent to his home in JMilford for bnrial. THAXKSiilVIXO. Nov. 30. According to the customs of our Puritan Fathers, last Thursday was observed in Massachusetts and other states as a day of thanksgiving to God, foi- his manifold mercies and Lonnties to the erring children of men. The day was observed here throughout ;dl the cam])s as a holiilay. All drills were sus- ])ended, and in our camj) religious sei-vices were hehl, after Avhich the bovs engaged in liall playing anrPS. Dec. is. 1 haAe lieen looking through the rani]i •irounl liere and am astonished at the amount oL' oi't'al and swill that is huried np and lost instead of being turned to a valuable aecount. An enterprising farmer could collei't from these eauij/s, minure and swill to the value of slOO a day, costing nothing l)nt shiii>Iy cart- ing it off, thus enriching his land and fattening hundi-eds of hogs and cattle ; but this lack of energy and enterprise prevents these people from turning anything to accoun.t. They coiilent them- selves with sitting down and finding fault with the g')\ei-nment and their more enterprising and energetic neigiib'ors of the north. A DEl'OT OF SUPPLIES. Dec. liO. We are having cold weather; freezing quite hard at night, and making our lodgings in these little rag liouses any- thing but comfort:d)le. I have been with a detail of men down to the wharf unloading and storing army sup])lies. Annapolis is a depot of supplies, ;nid inunense quantities are landed here and sent by rail to Washington. A person never having /given the subject of army prepiration and supplies mu;*h thought, would he astonished at the immense quantities he would see here, and would begin to calculate how long it would be before Uncle Sam would be bankrui>t. Large warehouses are filled and breaking down un- der the weight of Hour, beef, pork, bread, sugar, coffee, clothing, ammunition, etc., while the wharves and adjacent grounds are filled with hay, oats, luml)er, coal, guns, mortai-s, gun-carriages, pontoons and other a]>pomlages of an army. I jjresume the cost of feeding and clothing an army of half a million of men is not really so much as the same number of men would cost at home, but the army being consumers, instead of producers, the balance will eventually be found on the debit page of the ledger. OHRIST:\rAS. Dec. "24. Tomorrow will be Christmas, and the boys in all the camps are making great preparations for the coming event. The camps arc being put in order and decorated with evergreens. Some of them are trimmed in good taste and look very neat and pretty. The boys are all looking forwa.rd to a good time ; I hope they wdll not be disa])])ointed. Santa Clans is ex])ected here to- night with our Christmas dinners, but he may be delayed and not get here for a week to come. Dec. 26. Christmas went off very pleasantly and appai'cntly to the satisfaction of all. Dfill--. were suspended and all went in for a good time. Tlie li-ishmen ha I their Cliristmas box, the Germans their song and lager, while ball ])laying andother athletic sports used up the day, and music and dancing were the order of the evening. Santa t'laus eame with a Cliristmas dinner for a few, in MV DlAKY. l>ut more of us ]u> pissed l)y ; liowovei-, I think the oltl u\'ntlemau li;is L.'(>t a store for us somewhere on the way. Our eanij) was xisited l)y a number of la lies anil ^'utlemen fro:n thj city, who were gujsts at headquarters, Ciiaplain James doing the ]K)!ite, and entertainino- them as best he couhl. No farther south th ui this, 1 was surprised to liear the (•ha])lain tell of the iii'Moranee of tliese ))eople in rei^ard to northern pe()i)le and their instituii ms. One huly, noticing- a box of letters in the c'liajdain's tt,'nt, said she thoui;-ht he must have a very large cor- ivspondenee to have so many letters. He told her those were soldiers' letters going honi:' to their friends. "Why," she asked, "are there many of your soldiers who e;ni write ?" He informed her tha.t thei-e were not a half dozen niiui in the regiment but could read and write. He tohl her that five schools were an in- stitution at the norlh. No man was so ])0i)r but he could educate his childi'en, and the man who neglected their education was re- garded as little l)etter than the brutes. The lady appeared quite asto:iishe 1 and said she thought om- free schools were only for the rich. TIl'MORS. I)e<'. '2S. The camp is full of rumors about our leaving, but I liardly tliink any (;ne knows much aliout it as yet, although it is quite jirobable we shall leave before long. Tiie e.vi>edition is all here and h-\s been perfected in drill. N)thiug that I can see prevents us from leaving at any time. When we break this camp we can count our ha])])y time over, that we have seen our best days of soldierino-. Cam]>aign life in the h'eld, as I unatino-. Altogether the day will be a dull (me. The sutler, anticijtating GUI- removal, has not mucli to sell or steal, 'i'lie sutler is ivgarded as the common enemy of the soldier, and when forced contribu- tions are levied on him it is considered entirely legitimate and rather a good joke. ^I'he boys will have to content themselves with c;n-d playing and writing letters home. AVe have just got a new stove lainning in my tent, and L(nig Tom is detailed today to sni>))ly it with wood. I think we sliall make a comfortable day of it, if Tom does his duty. Things certainly begin to look like leaving; the Inirbor is full of vessels, transjiorts, gunboats and su]>ply ships. Apju-ni-ances indicate that somebody will hear il thunder somewhere along the southern coast before ver)- long. OKDKRS TO LKAVK. Jax. 5. Ordei's have been issued to 1)reak camp and go aboai'd the tr.ms])oi-is tomorrow morning. The boys ai'e now My Diary. 17 breaking the frozen ground nroimd the tent pins, jiacking their knapsacks and getting ready for a start. We have been here so long it seems ahnost like lea\ang home to break up and go out on untried scenes. CHAPTER II. Jan. 6. Reveille beat at 6 o'clock this morning, and all hands turned out in the millst of a driving snow storm, elated at the prospect of getting away. I cannot say I was very exuberant in spirit as^-there was work in it and things began to look like a real- ity. An hour or so sufticed to ])ick up our trai)s and load our camp equipage on the wagons, drink a cuj) of hot coffee and de- clare ourselves ready to march. The companies were formed in their company streets, the rolls called, and we marched out on the parade ground and formed the regimental line. Col. Upton said he should like to fire a few rounds as a parting salute to old Camp Hicks, and gave the order to load. The firing over, there came the order, "By companies right wheel! forward march!" and we turned our backs on our old home. Passing the cam]) of the 27th Massachusetts, we halted, and, wheeling into line, honored them witli a salute of a few rounds, which was respoiuled to with hearty cheers. We then marched to the Naval academy, whei'e seven comi)anies, with the field and staff, their horses, b;md and all the camjt equipage, went aboard tlie steamer New York. Two comjianies, D and H, went aboard tlie gunboat Zouave, and company I aboard the schooner Skirmisher. All al»oard, the New York steamed out into the harbor a short distance and anchored till further orders. AN IXCIUEXT. A little incident here occurred showing the good nature of Col. Upton. While waiting for the baggage to be got aboard, a snndl ]>arty of us thought we would go up to the academy grounds, and see the 4th Rhode Island boys who had just arrived. We had not been there fifteen minutes before we saw the boat leaving the wharf, and the way we ])ut for it was a caution to travelers a little too late for the cars. We reached the wharf all out of breath, and the first man we saw was Col. Upton. He a-]>peired a little cross at first, and then putting on one of his good-natured looks, asked us where we had been. We replied we had been up to se«« the Rhode Island boys. "Well," he said, "yonder goes the boat, what are you going to do?" Some one suggested that un- der the circumstances we had better stand bvthe colonel and take •) IS .Mv I)iAi;v (Mir cli.Miicrs. "All I" lu' i\'|i!icil, ^'I will soon liaxc you fellows wIkti' i sli.'ill know wluT' to Hml you/'' Ilctlicii |ir(tcurt'(l a boat and crew, told us to ;j,ft al»o:iril and |tiit for the stcaiiUT. As wi' jiuslu'd awav from the wharf, we left the colonel standiiiij,' there, l()i)k n<>- as o-oo liiitiired and hajipy as thouji'h it was Sunday after- noon and he had just heard a liooil sermon. AI'.oAKh llli: XKW YORK. .Jan. 7. Mere we are, pa -ked like sardines in a box; three comjianies of us, l\, C and 1>, in the after eahiu. The oflieers and band oe('U|)y the saloon and state rooms on the iiii])er deck, the other eonijianies till the cabin on the forward deck, the ladies' sa- loon and g-anu'way amidslii|)s. The liorses are forward, and the bag'gatj'e is jiiled u]» forward and on the gfiards. Altog-ether, we are settled in Ikm-c jiretty thick, l)ut l»y keeping' oui's.'lves in good humor and 1»\ a little forbearaiKH' and accommodation, one to the other, we sha'l manage to get along and live together in peace, like K;iniun.'s happy f iniily. This boat is a hirge, first-el;iss steamer, Imilt in the strongest inanner and ('e signed for a sea-go- ing l;oat. She is commanded by Ca]/t. Clark ; the first mate is a Mr. Mulligan. J^oth have the ; pj-earance of gentlemen. Tlie troops are embarking as rajiidly as possible, and in a day or two more tlie expedition will be ready to sail. Jax. 9. As l)right and lovely a moi-niiig as ever dawiu'd on Chesapeake l)av. The expedition sails today. The haibor is full of life, tugboats are running in all directions, vessels are getting •themselves in their ordi'r in line, the anchoi-s are all u]) and wait- ing till' signal gun to start. 10 a. 111. The siii'iial gun announces that all is ready for the de]iartui-e of the expedition. Slowly the flag-boat, containing (tCII. liuniside and staff, moves off, followed l)y other boats a*; fast as thev get ready to sail. Nothing particular occurred dui'ingthe (hay's sail. The ba\ is wide and we were so far from either shore that we I'ould distinguish nothing of interest. We passed the mouth of the Potomac v'wvv a little befoi-e sunset, and shortly af- ter (!ro]t])e(l anchor for the night. Jan. IC. .\, thick, hea\y fogeuvelopis the bay tli's morning-, so thick we caim t see half thi- boat's length. In a litt c while the foo- began to settle, and it looked curious to see the t* ]miists of the boats and schooners aboxc the fog as they jiassed us, their hulls Iieiiig hidden entirely from \ iew. 11 n. ni. W'eiLihed amdior and procecMled on our journey. Our boat being first after the Hag-boat, we soon passed the boats that ran liy us in the fog. Ai!i;i\ \i. vr FonruKss .momiok. ^ A little before noon we sighted Fortress Moni'oe, and as we Jiassed the Minnesota and other men-of-war lying in the roads, the sailors sprung into the rigging and clieere(l lustily, to which the My Diakv. 19 boys responded lieartily from the lioats, the bands phiying- as each boat jiassed. At 12 ni., our boat dropjied anclior between the ri)» raps and the fort. Every available i)lace on the boat for sight seeing was quickly taken, the boys eagerly looking at things the like of which tliey never saw before, and many of tlien-i probably never sup- posed existed. Here it ajtpearsis the rendezvous of the expedition; gunl)oats, tugboats and sup]ily vessels in gi-eat nund)ers are lying here to joni us. If one-half the armada lying here accompany us, we may naturally conclude there is heavy woi'k to be done somewhere, oi- else we are taking force enough to break down all opposition and make an easy job of it. Jas. ll". As I look out on the Old Dominion, tiie Mother of })residents, statesmen and heroes, my mind is tilled with historical reminiscences of its past greatness and glory. Alas! that Virgin- ia, a state that boi-e such a proud record in the history of our country, a state that has done so much and sacrificed so much to gain our inde])endence ami estiblish our government, should now be sunk in the mire and slough of rebellion. There is no ap]>earance of leaving here today; many of the officers are going asiiore to look around, and the l)oys ai-c amusing themselves as best they can. Many and various are the specula- tions and conjectures as to our destination. Some think we are to make an attack on Yorktown, others that Norfolk is the ])oiiit of attack. Some prophesy that we shall go up the James rivei-, others that we are going far down the coast. I have not both- ered myself much al)out it, but conclude we shall fetch up some- where. As one looks on "old gdory" jiroudly waving over tlie frowning battlements of Fortress Monroe and the rip ra])s, he would naturally conclude that thisi»art of Virginia had not passed the ordinance of secession. Fortress Monroe is built of granite and earthworks, and is calculated, I beheve, to mount some 4(M) or 500 guns. It is the largest and strongest fo'-t on the coast and the only com])lete work in this country; hence it is called a for- tress. The rij) raps is an unfinished work, built An an artificial island, and situated about a mile east of Fortress ^lonroe. AVhen completed, it will be a powerful work, and all vessels going to Norfolk t)r u]» the James river will have to pass between the tW(> forts. Looking west we can see the ruins of Ham] it on, burned last fall l)y order of C4en. Magruder. S] eaking of Magi-uder reminds me of an anecdote I have somewhere read of him. While sei'ving in Mexico, he ranked ;!S ca}itain of infantry in the regular ai-niy. While there he was in the habit of s])reeing it pretty hard, and early one morning, altei- lie had 1 een out on a pretty rough time, his regiment received orders to march. By some strange over- sight, the captain failed to re] lenish his canteen, and in a little while he beuau to ex] erience an intoleralde thirst. In this dileni- 20 Mv DiAiiY. inn he called on one ot his privates, wlioni he snjtposed mioht have something, and asked liim what he had in his canteen. He was told that it contained a certain khid of Mexican liquor, of which the captain was very fond. Aftei- taking- ;i pretty good bumper, he said, "•Private Jones, you will hereal'ter raidc as corporal, and he obeyed and res])ected as such." Alter a while, his thirst again comino- on, lie goes and calls for some moi"e of the liquor. This time he about found the bottom of the canteen, and thanking the corporal for his politeness, said to him, "Corporal Jones, you will hereafter rank as sergeant, and be obeyed and resjjected as such." And, as the story went, if the canteen had held out a while longer, private Jones might have ranked as brigadier gene- ral. THE EXPEDITION SAILS. Jax. 12. The big expedition, with colors flying and bands playing, sailed this afternoon, leading seaward. No one on board will know our destination until we round Cape Henry, when the seals are to be broken. A little before night we passed Cape Henrv and headed south. We are now fairly at sea; the wind is blowing hard and the schooners are going past us as though we were anchored. Night has settled down on us and darkness covers the face of the deej). There is nothing more to be seen, we are now the creatures of chance, with the chances against us, and we must learn to ada])t ourselves to the circumstances by which we are surrounded. Acting on this jihilosophy, we will lie down on our hard bunks aiul listen to the splashing of the water against the sides of our boat. AT AN( hot;. Jan. 13. Going on deck this morning, I found we were rid- ing at anchor in sight of Hatteras light. Not knowing the mean- ing of this, I inquired of Mi'. Mulligaii if ]ieo])le went out to sea and anchored nights V He laughed and said tlii' shoals and the lights Vieing down along shore made na\ igation in these watei'S rather daniierous, and they thought they had better anchor. I went forward to take in the situation. The wind was blowing tVesh from the southeast, with heavy swells running. As they weighed anchor, the'boat rose and fell with the swells. I i-ather enjoyed this and thought it very nice. After a fcAv moments I liega'n to experience a ])eculiar sensation around the waistliands, and it occurred to me that I had better go and lie down. After a half hour I Avas all right i.gain, and went on deck. ]Mr. 3Iulligan said, "We are going to have a great storm and Hatteras is a bad place to be caught in a storm." I>ut l»y way of encoui-agement he tells us we are safer with him abdnrd the Xew York tlian w^ should be at home in bed. THE ST01;M AT IlA'rTEKAS IXI.ET. At l,]i. m., we dro])]>ed anchor in front of lhel»attery at Hat- ter.is inlet, in tlie midst of a terrific southeast storm. Our fleet My Diary. 21 com])risiiig nearly 100 sail are making the inlet as filst as pos u- ble ; but it is fe'ired that some of them will not be able to get in and will either be lost or have to put back. This is indeed the grandest, wildest scene I ever beheld ! As far as the eye can reach, the water is rolling, foaming and dashing over the shoals, throwing its white spray far into the air, as though the sea and sky met. This is no time for man to war against man. The forces of Heaven are loose mid in all their fury, the wnid howls, the sea rages, the eternal is here in all his majesty. As one looks out on the grand yet terrible scene, he can but exclaim, '■'Great and marvelous are thy works. Lord, God Almighty!" A WUECK. A large steamer, attem])ting to run in this afternoon, run on the shoals anutting on a more cheerful ai)j»earaiu'e, and we can now look around and see the result of the storm. Boats and acsscIs are ashore all around us, in a ])artially wrecked oi' damaged condition. The u]»))er works t)f our boat are little better than a wreck, from the bows]irits of schooners and catheads of other craft that have fouled with us. Oui" accommodations are rathei- limited as is also the fare, but by j)racticing forbearance and great good nature, the harmony is as ])erfect as could be expected. A tug is jrlong- side Avith rations, so at last the long fast is broken. I think the boys will not, be over nice about their dinners when they get them. I h;tve sometimes thought I could I'clish a dinner from that soup T saw at the park barracks. Our dinner today was served about "^ p. m. ; bill of fare, pea soup and coffee 1 have always persuaded myself that I didn't like ])ea soup and wouldn't eat it, but tochiy I changed my mind and thought I never ate anything that tasted (juite so good as ]!ea soup. I voted it a^ gi-eat luxury. MATTEKAS ISLAND AM) IM.EI. Jan. U). \\'itnessing boat collisions ami wret-ks is getting old, and the boys are amusing themselves by writing letters, making up their diaries, playing cards, reading old magazines and news|)a))ers which they have read half a dozen times before; anrestige, and he will be thought competent for any com- mand. Our engine is slowly working, liel]»ing the anchor cable, and Mr. ^lulligm says if the otlier boats will stick to their mudhooks airl keep clear of us we shall ride it out all safe. I really ho])e they will for I am tired of these cathead drills. I have always liad rather of a desire for a sea voyage, but I am willing to confess that that wish is fully gratified. This being "rocked in the cradle of the deep" sounds all very ])retty in song and romance, but the romance is played out with me, and I think the |ierson who wrote the song, ■' A Life on t'.ie Ocean Wave," must have been a ]>ro])er subji'ct for a lunatic asylum. Jax. 24. The storm has subsided somewhat, l>ut is still rough enough for all practical j)ur])oses. ^Ir. Mulligan says fair weather has hcen Inovn here, and taking that as a jtrecedent, we may naturally conclude it perha))s nun/ l)e again. This is certainly the longest storm I ever remend)er of, and never read of but one that exceeded it. That was the one Old Noah got caught out in, but he had the advantage of us, as his was the only craft afloat, and had plenty of sea room ; besides his style of navigation was ahead of ours, as he let her drift around where she ]>leased and trusted to luck for a landiiig. That kiiul of navigation miglit have answered for those times, but would never do for Hatteras. My Diaky. 2T And now jinotlit'i- ti-oubli' li:is happened, tlie theatre lias eoUapsedy and I am at a hjss to understand tlie reason for it. It eertainly could not have been from any lack of talent, music or jiatronage. It seemed to he perfect in all its a])polntnients, and I can account for its sudden closing- in no other way than that there jnust have teen some little indiscretion on the part of the management; but perha])S Rasj^er Brothers may have had some- thing to do al)out it. I .Mm soriy it has closed, as I could s])end an evening up there veiy ])leasantly. But in the loss of the theatre Ave must console ourselves with the thought that the drama has always had its difficulties. THE STOKM OVEK. Jan. 'lb. The storm is at last over, for to-day at least. It has cleared off warm and pleasant, and is the first bright day since we came here. Business is brisk to-day; all is l)ustle and hurry. There is quite a change of scene, the boats' decks are covered with soldiers, shouting and cheering each other ; the bands are all out playing, and altogether it is cpiite a contrast to the miserable life we have been living. Our attention is taken up watching the operations going on in the harV»or, among the shipping. Steamers are being towed across the swash into the sound, and steamers- and tugs are at work straining cAery nerve to pull off the boats' that are ashore. It makes fun for the 1 oys watching them jiulL Five or six steamers and tugs aie at work trying to ]udl off the Eastern Queen, en which are the 4th Rhode Island lioys, and when they all pull together it seems as though they would ]»ull her in two. Sometimes she seems to start a little, and then stick again ; the boats will give a steady ])ull for an hour before she will start again. Occasionally a big cable Avill break, and it is^- fun to Avatch the agility of the boys, dodging the recoil of the cable ends. The big steamer Northerner attempted to cross the sound at flood tide this morning, and stuck in the middle. She carries the 21st Massachusetts, and I think they Avill have to be taken off before she can get across. A number of boats and tugs are at Avork, trying to pull her across. If the Northerner sticks, going- across at high Avater, how Ave are to cross is a problem yet to be sohed, as the New York draAvs six inches more Avater than the- Northerner. SK K HORSES. The horses do not a))])i'ar to stand hardshi])S and ])riA'ations^ as Avell as the men. On short feed, condensed sea Avater, with no- exercise, they groAv sick and debilitated. A schooner is lying but a short distance from us, Avith a deck-load of horses, belonging to a Rhode Island battery, and they are jumping them overboard,, and sAvimming them ashore. It is curious to observe the horsesf as they are led uj) to the gangway ; to see them brace themselves back and shudder to take the fearful leaj). But a little encourage- ^8 My 1)1 a ky. aiient from half a dozen men in tlu'ir rear jmsliing them, ove'r they go, and as they come np out of tlie water, they shake tlieh- heads iind snort, and put for the nearest land, where they are rubbed ■dry, bhniketed and led off up the island. ACROSS THE S^\'ASII. The Northerner has crossed into the sound, and anchored' As she got off and moved into the sound, cheer after cheer M'en^ up from all the fleet, the b:nids ])laying and all having a big tim** •generally. Jax. 26. Quite a number of boats have been hauled oft', and are now lying in the sound. They are still at work on the Eastern Queen, which seems to be as fii-mly imbedded in the sand •as were her timbers in the soil in wliicli they grew. The ;Steamer Louisiana, with the 6th New Hampshire alxlard, lies high and dry on the shoal, and it will be a job to get her oft', l)ut I ]-eckon she will have to come, or come to ])ieces. When half a dozen big steamers get hold they make a pretty strong team, and something has got to come or break. I learn she is hogged, what- ■ever that is. I shouldn't be sui'^)rised if she Avas, if she has been well supplied with tliis gull bait they call pork. We had religious services this morning and afternoon, the iirst we have had since leaving Annai)olis. We had excellent :singing, and the cha])lain's remarks were well timed and to the point. He recounted the dangers and troubles, which under the blessing of God, we have been brought through, and spoke Avords of cheer and comfort for the future. THK CURLEW. .Tax. 27. Pre])arations are going on this morning to get the New York across the Ijar. We were transferred to the steam i'erry-boat Curlew, and are now anchored in the sound. The New York is to be lightened of everything on board, and it is thought, with a full sea and some hel]», she may be able to cross. We are an the most disagree d)le and uncomfortable quiuters we have yet ibeen in. Every change seems to bring some new hardship, and with a few more changes for the worse we shall be able to learn how great are our powers of endurance. We are packed in here as thick as bees with scarcely standing room, and the old craft is ojicn at both ends admitting the cold winds and rains, besides being as wet and dirty as a stable. If it shoidd rain hard enough to drive us in from the ends of the boat and from oft" the deck, a part of us would have to lie down in our bunks to give standing room for the rest. I should think the water casks were a ceme- tery for dead rats by the way the water tastes; condensed sea water is a luxury to it, and byway of encouragement we are told that wr art' to have some tomorrow. There are, liowever, a few <'asks of good water aboard, but we are not allowed any of it. I reckon the boys will manage to get some of it. H" they dojft, it will bean t'.\cej)tion to their general smartness. The othcers and My Diary. 29' crew of the old hulk are cross and crabbed, and unless they alter their tactics, I fear they will get enough of us before we have been here many days. A STRAXGEK. Jan. 28. Work is still going on, getting the boats off and getting theni across the bar. The Eastern Qneen is afloat and will be with us today. The little steamer Pilot Boy, with Gen- erals Burnside and Foster aboard, is Hying around among the vessels of the fleet, giving orders to the boat commanders and commanders of troops. The sutler came aboard today ; he is- quite a stranger and the boys gathered around him, asking him a thousand questions. He brought with him a siyall stock of fruit and othei- notions Avhich went off like hot cakes at any jnice which he chclse to ask. Some of the boys thought the prices pretty high, but they shouhi consider that it is with great diflS- culty and expense that things are got here at all. The^^ have the advantage, however, in not being obliged to buy, if they think the charges too much. The Eastern Queen is coming across the swash, the bands are all playing and cheers are going out from all the fleet. THK SIGNAL COIiPS ARRIVES. Jan. 29. The long lost signal corps arrived today. We gave them a great ovation ; flags and streamers flying, bands playing and cheering from all the boats. They have had ahard time of it, having been fourteen days on the j)assage from Fort- ress Monroe. They ran out to sea in the first great storm, and the succession of storms has ])revented them from getting in. They were well nigh famished when they arrived. GOOD WATER. We are today luxuriating on good water, the first we have had for many days. Some of the boys last night got in the rear o|" the forbidden water casks, and by a vigorous use of a jack- knife, succeeded in ta])])ing a cask. Any quantity of canteens (mine among the rest), were filled with the contraband water, and if the thing is kept still today there will be a big haul tonight. Our fare is ju-etty short, and of a kind never dreamed of in the cabin of a first-class ocean steamer. Still it answers to keep us bieathing, and perhajis that is as much as we can expect while on this excursion. We are thriving on a half ration of steamed pork and hardtack, with condensed sea water. The half ration of pork is a bountiful sup}>ly ; it is so strong rnd oily a ver}- little answers the purpose, and hardtack is the chief dependence. But for water, we shall do well enough so long as we can steal it. Coffee is entirely out of the question, for on this craft there is no chance for the cooks to make it in great quantities, although they do manage to make a small amount tor the officers. None of us are allowed down in the fireroom, so that shuts us off from mak- ing coffee or scouse. tM) Mv l)iAi:v. I suooested to a few of the faithful tlie plan of uetting down 4111 till' bottom of the boat, under tlie boilers, and kindliiisi' a fire tliere and inakiii«i- some. They seemed to think tliat it woidd be rather a (K-sperate undertakiiii;', besides they would smoke tliem- seives out before they had half accomjtlished their purjiose. Jan. ;>(). Our eanteeiis are ati'ain tilled with the {•oiitrabaiul ■water, so we shall be all right today as far as that is eoucerned. i^onie of the boys made a raid last night on the sutler's stuff and api)ro])riate(l to themselves ])retty much what he had. I cannot ai)prove of tliat, as the sutler is at a good deal of trouble and ex- pense to get a few notions for us and probably sells them as cheap as he can aftoi'd. The boys ought not t() steal fi-om him, at this time es]>ecially, :# tliere are those who wouhl be glad to buy. A schooner came down today to take a look at us, one of our boats gave chase, but a good bree/e blowing, the schooner had the ad- vantage and got away, 'i'liis afternoon a small boat wa.s seen coming down flying a white tlag. The boat contained one darkey who liad risked the jierils of the sound to escape fioiii the land of Jeff, the house of bondage. A Dis( (i\i:i:v. A great discovery has just been made and isiTt thei'c larks now, though. The skipjter is foaming with rage. .\ii account of istock has been taken, and a cask or two of water is missing. On ins])ection it was found ta))]>ed at the wrong end. A very mys- terious circumstance, but such things ai"e liable to ha])])en. A strong guard has been ])laced over the other casks. ,Tax. ')1. This morning a small schooner was seen coming down the sound. A boat went out and met hei- : she contained seven darkies who said they stole theschooner :iiid left in her from Roanoke island. They were juit aboard the steamer S. 1{. S])aul- ding, and the little schooner hitched astern. They can ]»robably give some valuable information in regard to affairs on the island. The New \'ork is stuck on the swash, and several boats and tugs are trving to pull her across; she will jirobably get off tomorrow. Thev will then all be across, excejtt the Louisiana, which will be here in a day or two. We got a big mail today; any quantity of letters and newspapers, and the boys are cheered ii]i wondi-rfully to hear from home. A KAIN SIOKM. Fi:r,. I. A verv liea\ y rain set in last night and continut-d until 9 o'clock this morning. The old Curlew looks as though she had been down cruising for mermaids and came back disap- ])oint('d. She is ;ill afloat, fore, aft and amidships; tlu' i-ain (lr.)\e in at tile eiuls, the deck leaked and altogv't her we had a pi'etty rouiiii night of it. I cannot say how the othei's slept, but my slei'p was anything liiit l)alniy. I diil not. in fact, o 32 My Diary. Southeast Virginia. It is quite an ini])ortant point, and we Icam is strongly fortified. Our fleet consists of about seventy sail of all kinds and makes an imposing appearance. The gunhoats^ under conmiand of Commodore Goldsborough, take the advance, the transports and other craft following. After a few hoiirs' saD, the low, pine-covered shore of the old North state presented itself to view. We were in sight of the shore all day and not a house was to l)e seen or any visible signs of life, excepting huge columns of smoke rising above the tree-tops. These were j»rol)ably signal fires, as they could be seen along the shore as far as the eye could reach. Wq sailed today to within ten miles of the light-house at the western end of the Pamlico sound, the entrance to Croatan sound, in which is situated the coveted island. Her(? we drop])ed anchor for the night, the gunboats forming a ])icket guard, and extending themselves nearly to the light-house. The island can be seen through a glass, and tomorrow I exjicct Ave shall get a nearer view. Feb. 6. Hoisted anchor and steamed to within a short dis- tance of the light house, and in full view of the island. Here we again di-opped anchor and the day was spent in i)ros])ecting by the gunboats. They went up near the island, and after a few hours returned, rejiorting three forts and a number of armed boats and schooners. The thing is being managed pretty cau- tiously^, and 1 expect when the show comes off, it will be ahead of anything we ever saw, not excepting Barnura's. For one, I am not over anxious to see a fight, and es])ecially to be a j^artici- pant, but we have been afloat so long and fared so hard I Avish to get ashore, no matter under Avhat circumstances. One Avould have supposed, to have heard the boys talk last night, that we were all Napoleons. They talked of booming guns, the rattle of infantry, of si)lendid bayonet charges, brilliant victories, and deeds of courage, daring and heroism. On the princi])le, I suppose of those who know nothing fear nothing, but then it is a good plan not to get our tails down until Ave are obliged to. I even got my courage scrcAved uj) so I could rej)eat tlie words of some great military hero or other: "Then welcome war, our arms to brace, The standards i)lanted face to face; Tho' death's pale horse leads on the chase, We'll follow there.'' .Aniiiiunition was dealt out today, and our cartridge boxes now contain forty rounds of the death-dealing missiles. The boys seem to be in great spirits and the bands are discoursing national music. THE BOAIBAKDJIENT. Feb. 7. A thick fog ]»revailed this iiu)rniiig and continued until about 9 o'clock, Avhen it lifted and the gunboats got under Avay. SloAvly they steamed towards the island and took their positions before the forts, luit at a sufficient distance not to incur My Diary. 33 much damage from them. We were all eagerly watching the movemeatsof the boats, when at about 10 o'clock, we saw a white cloud rise from one of the boats, and the next moment a huge column of dirt and sand rose from the enemy's works, showing the effect of the shot. The fort replied from all its guns, but their shots fell short as the boats lay beyond their range. The Ibombardment now commenced in earnest, the boats sailing in a circle, and delivering their fire as they passed the fort. Their firing was not rapid, but well directed. The fort's guns blazed away as rapidly as possible, doing some damage to the boats. At noon the transports commenced the passage of the narrow channel into Croatan sound. From here Ave had a much nearer and better view of the bombardment. The boats were sailing much nearer the fort and firing more ra]»idly. They had driven the men from the guns on the fort, and their fire was feebly replied to. At this time the shells from the boats had set the barracks and other buildings near the fort on fire, (xreat clouds of smoke and flame rose from the burnina: buildings, and the boats belched forth their fire more furiously than ever, the shots tearing up the p:u-apet of the fort or burying themselves in the mound of sand covering the magazine. It was truly a grand and fearful exhibition! Thousands looked on with breathless suspense, expecting every moment to see the magazine blow u}> or the rebels strike their colors. The enemy's gunboats, which had been idle s]>ectators be- hind the blockade, now came to the rescue ; but a few well di- rected shots from lU0-])Ounder rifles sent them reeling back to their places. From this time the boats had things their own way, the fort occasionally firing a shot as much as to say, we never sur- render. During the bombardment a small sloop or yacht attract- ed a good deal of attention. She carried one 100-pounder gun. She lay low in the water, below the range of the enemy's guns, and was skilfully handled. She sailed in the circle, running close up to the fort and delivering her fire with telling effect. With every shot she fired she was cheered by the fleet ; all the bands playing. THE LANDING. About 2 ]». m., preparations were made to land the troops. The little steamer Pilot Boy, with Gen. Foster aboard, and about half a mile of barges in tow, was seen approaching our boat. I was standing near Col. Upton, at the gangway forward the wheel- house^ as the Pilot Boy ran alongside, and heard Gen. Fostei- tell the colonel to order his men to load with ball cartridge, take three days' rations and come aboard his boat and the barges as soon as possible. This loading with ball cartridge was a new order to me ; it im})lied that our holiday soldiering was over. A peculiar feeling such as I had never before experienced came over me ; I 34 Mv Di A uY. felt it to tlu' \ery tai)S of my bnii;ans, and thought I wouhl ratlier be exc-us.'«l. I turiu'*! anniiid and without saying a word to any- one went down stairs, l^rawing Spitfire from its hiding place, I dropped in the little messenger that if needs be i)erhaps might carry mourning and sorrow to some southern hearthstone. In quick time wei k'ft the New York and were going towards the shore, followed by other boats containing the balance of our bri- gade. The intention was to land about four miles above the fort, in a little nook called Ashby bay, near Asliby house; but as we neared the bay, a line of bayonets seen above the bushes, going double quick in that direction, changed the general's mind, and we turned our course towards a ni;u-s!i a mile or more nearer the fort. As we ran alongside the marsh where we were to land, Captain Pickett of com])any A made a leaj) for the land, going hall way to his neck in mud" and water. He was the first man on the island. At this time the line of bayonets above the bushes was seen coming back. The little gunboat Delaware now came np and commenced shelling the bushes and woods to covf r our landing. In a few minutes we were all on the marsh and wading through the mud and water for the hard l:md, a distance of some forty rods. On reaching this we soon came out to a small clear- ing, on which was a house, barn and out-buildings, the occu- pants of which had suddenly taken their leave. Here we found things as the occupants had left them, the cat qidetly sitting in the corner and the teadcettle singing over the fire. Adjutant Harkness and Lieutenant Richter of comjjany G cliinbed to the top of the house and nailed thereon a small flag in honor, I suppose, of our landing and notice of our intention of staying. Company A, Ca])t. Pickett, and com])any K, Cajit. Den- ny, were sent out on a reconnt)issance. They soon returned, re- porting no enemy near. 5 p. m. Foster's brigade had all landed, and by dark nearly the whole division were ashore. Now commenced the work of carrying rails and planks to build a road across the marsh to get the howitzers of the marine artillery ashore. Soon after dark, Gen. Foster, with the 21st Massachusetts and a section of tlie ma- rine artillery, hauling their howitzers, went ])ast us into the woods to establishhis ])icket line. After a while the general returned, and said we might l>uild fires and make ourselves comfortable. Fires were kindled and we began to look around for places to slee)>, but a i-ain setting in, i)Ut an end to that. In the rain we stood around the cami)-tires tlirough the long night, while an occa- sional shot out in the woods served to kcc]) up a little excitement and prevent us from getting sleepy. BATTLE OF KOAXOKK ISLAND. Fkk. 8. At daylight, the order to fall in was heard on all sides. Putting on iny equii)ments and taking Spitfire and a big Mv Diary. 35 sweet jiotnto, which I luul with imieh hibor succeeded in baking, I took my ph-ice in my com]j;my. The brigade all ready, Gen. Foster gave the oi'der to march. He, with Col. Upton, took his place at tlie right of our regiment, marching by the flank into the woods. We soon came out to the pickets and the road that runs through the island. Here we liled to the left, marching up the roa(L Company A, Ca]>t. Pickett, was thrown out as skir- mishers. They soon fell in with the enemy's pickets and drove them in. The column moved up the road to within a short dis- tance of the clearing, in frcmt of the rebel works. On the right of the road the ground was hard and free from brush, but on tlie left was an almost impenetrable swam]), covered with a dense growth of tangle-brush and horse briars. The right wing of the regiment filed to the right, while the left plunged into the swamp, and with swords and jack-knives, succeeded in cutting a ])ath until they had })enetrated the swamp far enough to form our line. The i-egiment was now nearly all in the swamp, the right resting just across the road. The howitzer battery had taken position in the road, in front of our right wing. The 23d and 27th Massachusetts formed on our right, while the 10th Connecticut was held in reserve. We were now in line in the swamp, and facing to the front, com- menced firing. The battery had already oi)ene(l the ball, and were receiving the attention of the enemy in front. We could see nothing to shoot at, but taking our range by the smoke of the enemy's guns we blazed away. We fired high, low and obliquely, thinking if we covered a wide range of ground, we might ))ossibly lame somebody, and it seemed our shots must have proved troublesome, for they turned their attention to us, l)Ouring musketry and canister shot without stint into the swamp. We were up to our knees in mud and water, so their shot passed over us without doing much damage. We were now ordered to cease firing and advance, but how to advance was the question. We could stand on a bog and cut away the briars in front of us and jump to another one ; where they were not too large we coidd crawl through them, tearing not only our clothes but our hides as well. The oflicers rendered good service in cutting away the briars with their swords. In this way we could advance a few steps at a time and then fire a few rounds; the enemy all this time showing us marked attention. Capt. Foster of comi)any D was the first man I saw hit. I was watching him as he stood on a bog, cutting away the briars with his sword, and thinking of him as colonel of the old Sth regiment Massachusetts volunteer militia, iii which I used to mus- ter. The shot struck him near the eye. He Avhirled round on the bog, and would have fallen had not three of his men caught him and led him to the rear. I was rather amused at the major's plan of rifle })ractice ; he was practicing with a large revolver, shooting into the air at an elevation of about 80 decrees. Some one asked him what he was 36 My Diary. trying to act out. "Wliy," rejilied the major, "you see my shots attain their summit dh-ectly over the enemy, and if one of those shot in falling should hit a man on top of his head, his goose is cooked just as effectually as though he liad l)een hit with a cannon ball." By cutting and crowding ourselves through the briars, we ad- vanced to Avithin about 300 yards of the enemy. Our ainmuni- tion being now exhausted and having been in the swamp about three hours we were ordered out. The 21 st Massachusetts took our places and the 51st New York and 51st Pennsylvania regi- ments forced their way through to the left front ; the three regi- ments succeeded in getting oiit on the enemy's right flank. See- ing that all was now lost, the rebels took to their heels for the head of the island, followed by Reno's and Foster's brigades. At the head of the island, near the enemy's camp, was Gen. Burn- side witli the •24th Massachusetts regiment, to whom Col. Shaw, in comniaiul of the Confederate forces, surrendered. By this, about oOOO prisoners, with their arms, ammunition and stores, fell into our hands. But the greatest ])rize of all, old ex-Governor Wise, slipped through our fingers. Perhaps, having some premo- nitions of the fate which awaited his command, he Avisely took himself off the island last night, leaving his command with Col. Shaw, of the 8th North Carolina regiment. The old governor probably acted on the princii)le of the militia captain who was about leading his company into action. He made them a little S))eech, telling them to be brave and valiant, not to run until actually forced to. "But," he said, "in case that should happen, and 1 behig a little lame, I think I had better start now." THOUGHTS. During the action I had seen quite a number hit and led back to the rear, but I had little time to think much about it. After the chase commenced and we marched through the little redoubt and over the ground held l)y the ent'iny, and I began to see the mangled forms of dead and dying men, I was filled with an in- describable horror and wanted to go right home. I now began to realize what Ave had been doing, and thought that, if in this age of the world, Avith all our boasted civilization and education, men could not settle their differences short of cutting each other's throats, we were not very far removed from barbarism. But I suppose so long as the nature of man is ambitious and selfish he will try to obtain by force what he cannot attain by other means. It was about night Avhen we reached the Confederate camp, found the business had all V)een done, and Gen. Burnside Avas master of the situation. We noAV a])])ro])riated to our own use the log bar- racks of the enemy, leaving them to secure lodgings as best they could, as Ave had done the night before, Avith only this difference ; they had a large body-guard over them, to see that they Avere orderly and kej)t the peace. My Diary. 37 after the battle. Feb. 9. A hard looking lot this morning;, find no donbt feel- ing; as hrird as wc looked. Tired, hungry, ragged, covered with mud, and sore from our tlesh being torn and scratched with the tangle-brush and briars through which we forced ourselves yester- day. After a good ration of whiskey and a breakfast of fried bacon, with hot coffee, we began to limber up and feel a little more natural. We can now look over the field and see the results of yesterday's work. Our regiment lost six killed and 47 wounded, some of them probably fatally. Our whole loss was 42 killed and '2U9 wounded. The enemy's loss is not known, but is probably less than ours. Today the gunboats are after the Con- federate flotilla and no doubt will give them a taste of what hap- ])ened yesterday. It will ])rol)ably be re])orted at headquarters in Richmond that their navy in these waters has become a thing of the i)ast. Our march up from the battle-ground, yesterday after- noon, was rather an interesting one, if men nearly dying from exhaustion can be said to get interested. The trees for a mile in front of our line are marked and scarred by our shot, showing the terrible effectiveness of our rifles. The road was strewn with guns, knapsacks, equipments, blankets and everythmg that im- jjeded their retreat or which they thought they had no further use for. Passing a little brown house by the wayside I noticed quite a crowd of surgeons and ofiicers standing around. Crowd- ing my way up to the little open window, I saw the ]iale, quiver- ing form of a young man lying on a cot, with a slight covering over him, apparently in a dying condition. I inquired if any one knew who he was, and was told it was Ca])t. O. Jennings Wise, son of ex-Governor Wise. He had received a mortal wound and could not possibly survive many minutes. He was editor of one of the Kichmond jiapers and cai)tain of the Richmond Light In- fantry Blues, the crack company of that city. He was a brave young fellow, and his was the last company to leave the redoubt, and then only when he fell mortally wounded. THE PRISO^^ERS. Feb. 10. The prisoners are a motley looking set, all clothed (I can hardly say uniformed) in a dirty looking homespun gray cloth. I should think every man's suit was cut from a design of his own. Some wore what was probably meant for a frock coat, others wore jackets or roundabouts; some of the coats M^ere long skirted, others short; some tight fitting, others loose; and no two men were dressed alike. Their Head covering was in unison with, the rest of their rig ; of all kindu, from stove])ipe hats to coon- skin ca])s ; with everything for blankets, from old bedquilts, cotton bagging, strips of carjiet to Buffalo robes. The Wise legion are a more soldierly looking set ; they wear gray cloth caps of the same pattern, and long sheep's gray overcoats with capes. Most 38 Mv DiAKv. of the ofticcrs are smart, good looking young men, wearing well- titting gi"ay uniforms, not unlike tJKJse of our own officers. It is not dress altogether that makes the man or the soldier. I find among these chaps some ])retty good fellows. I came across one young man from Richmond ; lie was smart appearing and very loquacious. In some talk I had with him he said; "This has turned out not as I wished, but not different from what I expected when we saw the force you had. In fact we had no business staying here after seeing your strength. We have met the enemy and we are theirs. I accept the situatioi^ and am glad it is no worse. I am Secesh clear through, and after I am ex- changed, shall be at you again. We are now enemies, but in peace friends, and when this little dispute is settled, if any of you fellows ever come to Richmond, hunt ine up. If alive, you will be welcome as long as you choose to stay, and when you leave, if you don't say you have had as right smart a time as you ever had, call me a liar and I will call you gentlemen." The fellow gave me his card and said his father owned a plantation just out of the city. I met one fellow, a long, lank, lean, long-haired, sullen, ca- daverous looking chap, and asked him what he was doing here. "Well," he said, "not much; but you 'uns was right smart to get through that swamp. We thought the devil couldn't get through it." "So you think Avhat thedevil can't do, Yankees can't, do you? You mustn't take the devil for your guage in estimating Yankees; if you do you will always get beat. We can give him points, and beat him every time." He looked a little incredidous, but did not seem inclined to go into any arguirient about it. These fellows threw away a good many pistols and knives which they carried, many of which our ^boys have found. The knives are large, coarse, ugly looking things, forged at some country blacksmith sho]), by a bungling workman, out of old rasps, scythe- points and anything containing steel. I asked one fellow what thev carried those knives for, what use they put them to? "Oh!' he said, "them's Yankee slayers." "Yankee slayers? And have you slain many Yankees with them?" "Wal, no, but we thought they niought come hajidy in close action." "And did you think you would ever get near enough to the Yankees to use them?" "Wal, we didn't know but we mought." "Well, sir, those kniA-es are too heavy to carry, and you don't need to carry them, for long before you would ever get near enough to tlie Yankees to use them the places that now know you would know you no more forever." The boys are mixing in among tlie pris()i\ers, talking over the fight, trading jack-knives, buttons and such small notions as they hap]!en to have, and getting a(quaintefl with each other. The Aveather is Avarm and i)leasant, like 3iay. The robins and other birds are singing as in summer. The robins seem like old friends and neighbors and I cannot help thinking that ])erha])S some of My Diary. 39 them had tlieir nests last summer in the trees and bushes wliich grow in our own door.yards and gardens at home. Our gunboats have wiped from the face of the eartli that part of the Confederate navy wdiieh prowknl around these waters. They chased them up the Pasquotunk river to P]lizabeth City, where, after less than an hour's engagement, the enemy set their boats on fire and lied. si<:ttling piu)pei!ty titles. Feb. 12. The Confederate othcers have been [taroled and sent to P]lizabeth City, up the Pas(ju»)tunk river. The 'i5th had the distinguished Iwnor of escorting them and carrying a part of their' baggage to the wharf where they took the boat. I i-eckon it must have been rather pleasing to those ofticers to see Yankee soldiers taking their luggage for them, but this disgrace must have been a thoughtless mistake on the ])art of the colonel or whoever ordered it. Those officers had with them their colored servants, but after they were all captured, oihcers and servants were a good deal mixed as to who they belonged to. When the officers were about leaving, Gen. Burnside settled the question. He told the darkies they could decide for themselves; they could go with their masters or sto]) here, just as they liked. A few of them went with their masters, the rest staid back to take their chances with the Yankees. PAROLING THE PRISONERS. Feb. 18. The prisoners are all paroled, and were sent off to- day. Paroling the |)risoners was rather interesting to the lookers on. They were re(iuired to affix their autographs to the parole, and it was curious to observe that a large majority of them wrote it the same way, simply niakino- the letter X. Ca])t. Messenger, the [trovost marshal, was master of ceremonies. He is a xQvy ec- centric man, and many of the prisoners scarcely knew whether to be pleased or friglitened at the cui'ious questions he asked and re- marks he made to them. HISTORY. Feb. 23. The boys are amusing themselves making pipes from bi-iar roots and fixing long stjems of cane to them. Some of them are carved very handsomely and show much artistic skill. Washington's birthday was celebrated by salutes from the forts and a holiday in the camp. There is some very interesting histo- ry connected with this island, but hot having books to refer to, I can give but a very indifferent account of it. Sometime in the latter part of the iOth century. Sir Walter Raleigh, an English nobleman, sent out an American exploring expedition. They vis- ited tlie Pamlico and Albemarle soiuids, discovering this island. After trading with the Indians, and learning what they could of the countiy, they returned to Knglind. They gave such glowing accounts of the country and what they liad seen that Raleigh, the next year, sent out a colony under one Lane. They occupied this 40 My Diary. is!;iii(l, l)ut after about a year, during which time tliey suffered many hardships, returned to Engbmd. A year or two hiter, an- other ex))edition was sent out. They also settled here, but after a while the leader of it returned to Engbmd for suj)i)lies. After an absence of a year or two, he again returned here, but on binding, not a trace of it could be found, and it was never after heard from. A later historian, however, says the In- dians who lived on the island claimed that some of their ancestors were white people and could talk out of a book. IIUXTING FOR RELICS. Fkb. 25. This being a warm, sunny day, a small party of us thought we would take a stroll up to the head of tlie island, a mile or two, and ]»erhaps we might find some traces or relics of Ral- eigh's expedition. Arriving at our destination, we discovered a large, weather-beaten two-storied house, built at some remote pe- riod, and surrounded by large live oak trees. We had not the slightest doubt but that this was the house built by Lane and his party. Seeing a man standing outside, whom we supposed was the gentlemanly proprietor of the ranche, we ap])roached, and saluting him very respectfully, inquii'ed if he was in receipt of any recent advices from Raleigh's ex])edition. He looked at us in ut- ter astonishment and said he knew nothing ahout it and reckoned there had been "no sich exj)edition yere." He said, "Burnside's exi)edition was yere," and "reckoned that was about enough;" he couldn't see the use of any more comhig. We bade the gentle- man good day and left. In looking around for relics, Whipple ])icked u;; an old shoe heel. Here was a ])rize surely, a veritable relic of Raleigh's party. Whipple ])ut it in his pocket, intending, as he said, to send it to the antiquarian society at Worcester, and indulging in the hope that for presenting such a ])riceless relic, they would at least vote him an honorary member of the society. Relics being scarce, we went up to the shore where we could look 11)1 the Ali)emarle. The wind was blowing gently down the sound, and the little rollers were breaking on the beach at our feet. It was jiretty warm; the water looked clear and really re- freshing. Some one ])ro])osed taking a dip. No sooner said than off came our clothes and in we ])]unged. Egad I such a scram- bling and floundering to get out is ^eldom seen. It reminded me of a l)asket of lobsters tui-ned into a tub of scalding water. The water was ice cold, and I thought I should certainly freeze befcn-e getting out. After getting on my clothes and getting warm, I certainly felt better for my bath. It was agreed by all hands that Fei»ruai'v was the wrong season of the year for out-door bath- ing. \Vliip]iie is des|)ondent, his hopes are dashe(l. He came to me and informed me that he had carefully inspected the shoe heel, and found it ])ut together with cut nails, which are a much more recent invention than Raleigh's ex})edition. My Diary. 41 CHAPTER III. AVE LEAVE ROANOKE ISLAND, March 6. Broke cainp, leaving our log barracks, and are once more aboard our old home, the New York. We were cor- dially welcomed by Capt. Clark, Mr. Mulligan and the crew. Mr. Mulligan said he knew we were doing our duty on the 8th of Feb- ruary by the racket we made and the smoke rising above the tree tops. March 9. A beautiful Sabb.ith morning, not a ripple dis- turbs the smooth surface of the sound. Religious services this morning in the saloon ; in the afternoon on the promenade deck. All tlie troops, except one or two regiments, left to garrison the island, are agaiti afloat, and the talk now is that Newbern is the next point of attack. ON A SHOAL. March 11. Tliis morning the clink of the windlass is again heard from all tlie boats hoisting their anchors. We steam out of Croatan into Pamlico sound ; so here we go for new con- quests. The Burnside expedition, it did not end in sniolce: It captured Elizabeth City, and the isle of Roanoke. About 11 a. m., the New York went on to a shoal and came to a dead halt. Here was a ])retty fix, stuck right in the middle of Pamlico sound. We had the schooner Skirmisher in tow, with com|)anies K and I aboard, but they thought they would leave us and go it alone. Accordingly they hauled in their hawser, hoist- ed sail and left us, sailing with a fair breeze gallantly down the sound. Three large steamers hitched on to us, to pull us off. Af- ter a good deal of hard work, lots of swearing and breaking haw- sers, they Anally succeeded, about 4 ]». m., in hauling us off. We again started and drop])ed anchor at Hatteras inlet at 10 ]>. m. THE START FOR XEWBERN. March 12. This morning weighed aiy^-hor and our fleet, comprising upwards of 50 sail, steamed u]» the Pamlico sound for Newbern. After a few hours' sail, large numbei's of wild geese and ducks attracted our attention. Wide marshes which extend into the sound are their feeding ground, and from these they make their way a long distance into the sound. These waters ap- pear to be their winter (puirters. About 3 p. m.,. we enter the Neuse river, which is here about two miles wide. Situated on the left bank, thirty miles uj) the river, is the city of Newbern, Slowly we steam up the river, seeing nothing but the low, piney shores, and tlie smoke of the enemy's signal flres. About 8 p. m., when ir> miles up the river, in a wide ])lace forming a kind of bay, we dropi»ed anchor for the night. The transports lay huddled to- 42 My Diauy. gether in the middle of the river, while a cordon of gunboats sur- rounds us as a ])icket. A dark, black night has settled down on lis, and all is still and silent as the tomb. Not a sound is heard or a light seen, save the enemy's signal fires, far up the river. This stillness is dreadful. It is really op])ressive, and seems as though it has remained unbroken since the morning of creation. Our errand here is to make an attempt to occupy the city of Newbern, and if anybody attempts to sto}) us, there will be a big fight and somebody will be hurt. THE LAXDIXG AND MARCH. March 13. The morning of the 13th was dark and rainy, and we made preparations to land. It always rains where we go; first at Hatteras, then at Roanoke and now here. I think we are rightly named a tHiter division. We landed in a mudhole, at the mouth of Slocum's creek. Before noon the troojis were all landed, and the march commenced. The 25th' taking the advance, we marched up the river bank about a mile, the gun-boats shelling the woods in advance of us. We then struck into the woods, which presented a novel appear- ance. There was no undergrowth, but a short grass covered the ground, while masses of long gray moss hung in festoons from the branches of the trees, giving them a weird and sombre a])pearance. We soon came out to a cart road, or horse path, along which we followed for about a couple of miles, Avhen we came to a deserted cavalry camp. I reckon when they heard the sounds of revelry on the river, there was mountings in hot haste, and they sj)ed away to some safer locality. The clouds now broke and the sun shone out hot, which, together with tlie mud, made the march a toilsome one. A little further on,Ave came to the carriage road. Here Foster's brigade halted, to let Keno's and Parke's brigades move past us. As Parke's brigade marched past us, we saw at the right of one of the comj^anies in the 5th Rhode Island regiment, march- ing by the side of tlie orderly, a lady, dressed in a natty suit, with bigli l)oots and jockey h:it, surmounted by a big ostrich feather. She was tlie ol)sei-ved of our whole brigade, and cheer after cheer went u]) along the 14ne for the pretty woman. Continuing our march a little farther Ave reached some extensive earthworks, Avliich were abandoned, but for Avhat reason Ave of course Avere ^ ignorant. But we reasoned that if they build Avorks like these and then make no effort to hold them, it shows they are Aveak and have no confidence in their ability to successfully contend against us, and NeAvbern will fall an easy jirey. The deep mud in the road, together Avith the heat, began to tell on the boys, and many of them were obliged to fall out by the way. Our march began to grow slower, and Avhen about dusk, it com- menced raining again, we turned into the Avoods at the right of the road, where we were to bivouac for the niijlit. Scouting My Diary. 4a parties and pickets were seat out in or.ler to give notice if any- thing unusual was about to transpire during the night. Here in the soft mud of the swamp, with the rain pouring down on us, was our hotel. Mrs. Hemans, in her song of the Pilgrims, said, ''Amidst the storm they sang." But there was no song in that swamp; too tired for supper the boys laid themselves down in the mud to sleep, and bitterly thought of the morrow. Stokes and I roomed together between a couple of logs. Taking our rifles and powder between us and covering ourselves closely in the blankets, we were soon fast asleep. But he kept the advantage of me all night, for he is a great fellow to ])ull blankets, and he came out in the morning all right and dry, while I had been catching the rain. The boys slept well, but woke up cold and wet. There was no time to make a cup of coffee, for we were close on the enemy, and the order was again to the battle. We caught a few hasty mouthfuls of cold meat and hardtack, and quietly fell into our places in line. THE BATTLE. We fellows who do the shooting are not counted as any great shakes ordinarily, l^ut yesterday morning we seemed to be regard- ed as of very great importance, and it took a great amount of swearing and hurrying to and fro of aids and hoarse shoutings of ofiicers to get us around where we were wanted. We were with- in a half mile of the enemy's line, and Reno's and Parke's bri- gades were deploying in front of them, on the centre and left of our line. Foster's brigade was to take the right, and the 25th led off up the road, followed by the •24th Massachusetts and the other regiments of the brigade. We soon came in sight of the enemy's works, which were only a short rifle-shot from us. Reno's and Parke's brigades had already opened the ball along^ the center and left. We filed out of the road to the right, mov- ing towards the river. As we moved out we w^ere honored with a salute from one of the enemy's batteries, but the shots passed harmlessly over our heads. The boys looked a little wild, but with steady step moved on until the 25th and 24th Massachusetts were in line on the right of the road ; the 27th and 23d Massa- chusetts and the 10th Oonnecticut i-egiments were on the left. Foster's l)rigade was now in line of battle and moving for- ward towards the edge of the woods next to the clearing. The howitzer battery now came up, took position in the road, between the 24tli and 27th Massachusetts, and commenced firing. With the exception of the 25th, Foster's brigade then opened fire. We were on the extreme right and well towards the river, seeing nothing in front of us to draw our fii-e. The 24th Massachusetts kept up a scattering fire that kept the enemy well down behind their works. We were ordered, if i)0ssible, to turn the enemy's left. We 44 My Diakv. advanced nearly to the edge of the woods, and only a short dis- tance from the enemy's line. I was running my eye along it to see where and how it ended, expecting every moment to hear the order to charge, but just then Vhe boats commenced throwing shell Over us, towards the Confederate line. The;^ had got a low range and their shells were coming dangerously near, splintering and cutting off the trees, and ploughing great furrows in the gTOund directly in front of us. In this condition of affairs we were compelled to fall back. Tho boats, however, were soon notified of their mistake and ceased firing. We again advanced, going over and beyond from where we fell back, when all at once we received a galling flank fire from an unseen battery. We again fell back a few rods, dressing the line and again cau- tiously advanced. We now discovered that their works curved and connected with a large water battery, situated just in the edge of the woods and concealed by the trees. In the rear of this battery were mounted old 32-pounder marine guns, which gave them an enfilading fire of the clearing in front of their works. From these guns they fired grape shot, which weighed about four pounds each. To charge was hopeless, and in falling back we re- ceived another fii-e from this battery. From tliese we lost quite a number of men, killed and wounded. I had the honor of stop- ping one ball myself; it struck a tree, however, before it did me. Having got back from under the guns of this battery, Col. Upton reported the situation to Gen. Foster, who ordered him to move liis regiment to the left of the :24th Massachusetts and support the howitzer battery. During all this time, however, the battle was raging furiously along the centre and left. While we Avere bothering around on the right, a little incident occurred, which ])erhaps is worthy of mention. Lieut. Draper of ray company (B), but now attached to the signal corps, reported to Ca})t. Clark for duty. He said there was nothing more for the signal corps to do and he would like to take his i)lace in the line. The captain told him he could do as he liked; he thereupon joined his comj)any, and did : the stores and dwellin^•s. l>iit in the midst of all this a|)])allinreserv- ing order ])re]»aratory to putting on a ])rovost guard and bringing the city under law and order. Some enter] )rising ])arty has hoist- ed theOld flag on the spire of the church on l*ollock street. There let it protidly wave; let it catch the iirst beams of the morning, and let t lie "last rays of the setting sun linger and play amid its folds; let it gladden the hearts of every lover of lil)erty and loyalty, and let it be a notice to these deluded ind ill-apiness. This is really a charming little city, but I reckon from neglect anondent. FOKT MACON. May 1. ^fartial law not being a very favorable institution for pleasure parties, I ]»resume the usual May day festival is dis- jtensed with here as I have not seen any jiarties out or demonstra- tions of any kind going on. I should think a May ))arty here might be very successful as the woods abound with wild flowers in great variety and beauty. Fort Macon surrendered to Gen. Burnside last P^riday even- ing, after a bombardment of eleven hours. The general succeed- ed in getting his siege guns in battery behind some sand ridges about half a mde in rear of the fort, unoliserved by the garrison, ami the tii'st notice tliey had of his ]>resence was a shot from one of the guns. After holding out for eleven hours and seeing tliey could make no defense and that there was no chance for escape, they hauled down their colors. By this suri'cnder, 65 guns and 450 prisoners, with stores and ammunition, have fallen into our hands. Their loss was eight killed and twenty wounded. Our loss was one killed and five wounded. A good story is told in connection with the surrendei- of this fort to the Confederates. After the war broke out anlace is what is called a tui-pentine ])lantation, where they get the j)itch from which turj)entine is distilled. The My D1A.RY. 57 owner, Mr. Bogey, a harmless, inoffensive old gentleman, claims ^o be a Union man, and I reckon he is, because he does not run away or seem to be afraid of us. He tells me he owns 2000 acres of land, nearly all turpentine forest, and has 10,000 trees rtuining pitch. He said the war had ruined him and thinks it has the whole south. He said the rebels had taken all but one of his horses and about everything else he had that they wanted. His niggers had all left him and gone down town. He expected that wlien we came, but cared very little about it, as he had only a few and they were about as much trouble and expense to him as they were worth. He said he was getting old, his business was all broke up and by the time the war was over and things settled he would be too old for anything. I asked him if all those pigs run- ning about in the woods were his. He reckoned they were. I inquired if he knew how many he had. He couldn't tell exactly, but reckoned there was right smart. The thought occurred to me tliat if that was as near as he could tell, if a few of them were gobbled they would never be missed, provided the squeal could be shut off quick enough. I learn that Gen. Burnside has given Mr. Bogey a protection, whatever that is. That perhaps may do well enougli for him, but I should not want to warrant it a sure thing for all these pigs and sheep running about here. CAMP BULLOCK. Our camp is named Camp Bullock, in lionor of Alex. H. Bullock of Worcester, Mass. Today the boys are busy writing letters home, and it troubles them to tell where to date their let- ters from. They invent all sorts of nxmes; some of them with a romantic turn of mind, date from Camp liui'al, Woodlawn, For- estdale, Riverdale, etc., but Mason, with a more practical turn of mind, dates his from Hell Centre. The boys who were out in the woods last night say it is great fun, although they were not dis- turbed; there is just enough excitement and mosquitoes to keep them from getting drowsy. PICKET DUTY. May 14. I was out in the woods yesterday and last niglit on ])icket duty, and ])icket duty is simply lying around in the brush watching tlie a])proach of outside parties. Parties ap- proaching in the night time and failing to promptly respond to the hail of the ])icket are given an instantaneous pass])ort to a land that is fairer than this. A picket is com])osed of three or more men stationed at convenient distances from each other along the roads, horse j^aths and anywliere an enemy might be sup- posed to come. One keeps watch while the others sleep, but with the hooting of the owls, sand-fleas, woodticks, lizards and mosquitoes, their rejjose is a good deal disturbed. A SCOUTING party. Yesterday Col. Upton with a strong scouting party went out 58 My Diakv. to Tuscai-orn, a little hamlet about five miles distant, where is the enemy''s out))()st and where is ke])t a ])arty of observation. On the approach of the colonel and his ])arty they left, but befor(# doing so set tire to a new steam saw and grain mill which was destroved. Mr. Bogey was a good deal vexed at the destruction of this mill. He said it was built only two years ago at a cost of |5(K)0 and was a great accommodation to the people here abouts, and he, with other farmers, put in their money to help build it. These people have a great notion of burning their property on ou'- approach. I really cannot understand it. They ought to know that it is of no use to us, and in the end will be a sore loss to them. WE GO OUT HAKIXG CALLS. Mav 16. For some time past the pickets of the 17th ]\rassa^ chusetts have been a good deal troubled by being fired on in the night. The enemy's cavalry would come down, a few of them dismount and creeping up would fire on them. They would sometimes have cow bells with them, in order to divert attention and get nearer. But the boys soon learned that dodge, and when they heard a cow bell, would draw their straightest bead on it and let fly. In this state of affairs it was thought best to make those fellows a call, and if they wanted anything of us to give them an oppoi-tunity to take it. So, yesterday morning, we mai-ched out to the Trent road, where we joined the 17th Massa- chiisetts, with five companies of the 3d Kew York cavalry and a section of a battery, the whole under conunand of Col. Amory, of the 17th. The cavalry taking the advance, we marched up the road a coujile of miles, coming to a deep gully or ravine ; crossing this, the advance cavalry guird soon came upon the ene- my's pickets, dri\ing them in and beyond their station into a swam}), where they formed an ambuscade, thinking there was only a small cavalry force and that they might capture them. By this time the infantry had come up to their rendezvous, which was a large, nice house, with ami)le barn room for their horses. Thinking this Avas too good accommodation for them and too near our line, it was set on fire and burned. We now heard firing ahead and hurried on. They had closed around the advance cavalry guard, and commenced the fight. The other companies being close by soon took a hand in it and were giving them about all they wanted when the infantry came u]). When they saw the infantry and ai'tillery they took to their heels towards Trenton, a small village a few miles distant. Col. Upton wanted to follow them uj) and give them some more, but Col. Amory being in command, thought we had accom- ])lished our ])nrpose and had better retnrn. In this skirmish the enemy lost eight killed and two ju-isoners, one of then; wounded. Our cavalry had two wounded. The wounded men were brought out and loaded into an ambulance. AVhen they brought out the My Diary. 59 wounded rebel they put down tlie stretcher on which he was lying near where I was standing-. He was a smooth-faced, fair-haired boy, and was moanino- piteously with ])ain from a bullet wound in his liead, and asking himself what his mother would say when she heard of it. His tiioughts turned on his home and of his mother. I })itied the l>oy, liut could not help thinking, as a cavalryman told him, he should ha\'e thought of that before being caught here. We arrived back in camp late in tlie afternoon, tired, hun- gry and covered with mud. I reckon they will not disturb our pickets any more at present in the way they have done. Creep- ing up in the dark and firing on a lone picket is mean and cow- ardly. If they want anything of us let the]n come in force and get it ; that is pi-oper and honorable. REASONIXG. May 20. Lying around here in the woods, hearing no sound but the moaning of the Avind through the tree tops, is rather dull business. There is nothing in it that inspires any lofty, rapturous thought, and yet it inspires thought, and already one of Mr. Bo- gey's sheep has fallen a victim to thoughts ins])ired by the sough- ing of the wind through tliis dark forest shutting out the day ; I reckon it will not Ije necessary to say anything to j\[r. Bogey about it, as he is a loyal man, and, as the lawyers say, the presum]ition is lie would l)e more than glad to contribute a mutton in sui)i)res- sion of this unholy rebellion. THE PIXE FORESTS. The woods here abound in timber of the finest description, many of the trees attaining a height of more than 100 feet. It is seldom one is seen of more than two feet in diameter at its base, tapering but slightly and without limbs for a distance of from 60 to 80 feet. I have seen some that would square fifteen inches, 80 feet from the stump. These are the tur])entine trees, and the pitch, or tin-pcntine as it is called, is obtained l)y cutting a wide, deep box at the base of the tree capable of holding two or three quarts of the pitch. From each corner of the box the bark is stri|)])ed off, coming to a point about three feet above the box. This is done when the tree is first boxed. The next year about three feet more of the bark is removed, coming to a point as be- fore. This process goes on until the tree is blazed for a distance of 20 or more feet, and can be done on the east, south and west sides of the trees. The tree will run pitch quite a number of years before it dies, and is then called lightwood, and is either split up into rails or converted into tar. The pitch that runs into the boxes is di])])ed out into barrels, and is called dip or virgin turpentine, Avhile that which adheres to the tree is scraped off and is called scrape, and is less valuable than the dij). The pitch is barreled up and sold to the distillers. Tar is obtained by cutting the lightwood into lengtlis of about eight feet and si)lit fine ; a tunnel-shaped hole is (lug in the ground, with the center about 60 My Diary. three feet deep, and from the center a drain runs to a barrel or vat sunk low enough in the o-round to receive the tar as it runs from the kiln. The wood is packed in this hole with the ends to the center, keejiino- the center lowest ; wlien all the wood required for the kiln is piled u)), the sides and top are plastered over with erchauee in sumiiier time Should visit ('arollna's sultry cluue. And in the shade should chance to lie You'd soon find out the blue tail fly." We were visited last evening by a, thunder storm which makes it (juite comfortable today. Foi- several days past the weatlier has been very hot, the thernKmieter ranging about 100 degrees in thesliade. Just before sunset last evening the clouds began to gather and we soon heard the low mutterings of thunder. We knew very well what that meant and set about fastening our tents l)y driving down the pins a little firmer. We got ready for it just in season, and such a storm! a regular bombardment, with rivers of water, lasting about two hours. Why our tliuuder storms at home are only a slight skirmish compared with this. After four or five days so hot we can but just live we get one of these storms, and then we have one cool, comfortable day. It is so cool today I expect the colonel will have us out for drill towards night. He says when it is cool we must work a little or we shall get so lazy we can't stir, and will forget all we ever knew. DKKSS PARADE. Next to a good choir of singers, the colonel takes great jiride in a dress |)nrade; and he certainly has good ones, as good, )>cr- haps, as any regiment here. The boys like to please him and at dress parade put in their best work, especially if there happens to be a good many looking on. They have got so used to him, they can anticipate the order, and it is executed together as one man. I reckon Gen. Foster thinks pretty well of us, as he is out here two or three times a week to witness our dress parades. AN EXCURSION. June 29. Companies Cand B, together with Ca])t. Schenck's New York battery company as infantry, retuinied yesterday after- noon from an expedition across the Neuse river, having been gone three days. We crossed tiie river Thursday morning, the 2(Jth, and started out on a reconuoissance, tour of observation, scout, raid or whatever else it might be called, Capt. Schenck in command. We penetrated into the country some four or five miles, coming out at a cross road. There in the shade of the woods we halted for rest and luiu-h. Put out a few pickets to prevent sur]>rise, I should think they were out about twelve rods from the column, which made it com]>arative]y safe. After a little tinu', and while we were having a kind of j)icnic, thei-e was a stir among the ]»iekets in the rear and it was reported they liad made a capture. The authorities went out to see what was u]), and soon retunu'd with an old horse and cart containini; a few My Diary. 63 bags of meal and driven by a couple of grown-up girls, or more properly speaking, young ladies. They were returning from mill and were prc'tty badly frightened on finding themselves prisoners of war. The officers behaved towards them with the utmost gal- lantry, assuring them that no harm should come to them. Ou these assurances they were soon comforted and seemed to regard it as rather a good joke. After hohling them close jn-isoners of war about a couple of hours, they were paroled and allowed to go their way. We resumed our march and about two miles farther on came out at anotlier cross road. Here we left a few pickets and j)ro- ceeding a mile or so farther, came out to Latham's plantation. This is tbe finest i)lantation 1 have yet seen, a large two-story modern-lniilt house, with large, nice lawns and surroundings, the road and driveways set with shade and ornamental trees, and everything ke])t up sleek and nice, showing thrift, wealth and re- finement. Here on the lawn in front of the house, we bivouacked for the night. This Latham is a battery captain in the Confed- erate service, and we had a liack at him, cajituring his battery at the battle before Newbeiai. He is now somewhei'e in the Confed- eracy, but just where deponent saith not. Mrs. Latham Avas greatly surprised at seeing us, and had made no preparations to receive us. To relieve her embarrassment as much as j)Ossible, the boys left her to entertain the officers in the mansion while we took care of ourselves. The boys l)rought from the barn about two tons of husks and corn leaves, spreading them under the rose- trees on the lawn for beds. They then milked the cows, killed the chickens and ])igs, emptied the hives of their honey and made all necessaiy pre])arations for our comfort during our stay. The darky women in the kitchen were kept busy with their fry-pans, hoe-cakes and coffee-])ots until a late hour in the night, and never before were there guests at Lathiim's whom they were more pleased to see or more willing to serve. This was truly the land flowing with milk and honey, and the boys revelled in luxury far into the night, after which they souglit rest and rej^ose under the roses. In the morning, the darky women asked if they might go witli us over to Newbern. They were told they might and to pick up their traps and follow :ilong. As we were about leaving, Mrs. Latham inquii-ed of Capt. Schenck who was to pay her for the damage we had done. The captain told her to make out her bill and one of these days Uitcle Sam and Latham would have a settlement, and she could then work it in. As we moved out of the yard we were joined by the darky women, toting big bundles on their heads. Mi's. Lathnm came running down the lawn, shouting after them at the top of her voice, '"Here, Kitty, Peggy, Itosa, Dinah, where are you gv>ing with those horrid men? Come right back here this minute!" The women, looking back over their shoulders and showing inmiense rows of ivory, re})lied to her, "Goo-bye, missus, goo-bye! spec we'es gwine oher to New- 64 My Diary. bern; goo-bye, missus, goo-bye!" and we marched off down the road, leaving Mrs. Latham alone to reflect on the vicissitudes in- cident to a state of .war. I must needs say, however, that after being so hospitably entertained, it was a rascally, mean trick to run off the servants and leave our sleeping apartments in such a disordered condition. But then, Latham had no business to be away from home. He should have been there, ready to en- tertain com])any. Arriving back at the cross roads, we found the boys all right and gave them a share of the good things they had been depi-ived of the night before. We stayed here all day and night, and not seeing or hearing anything, returned to camj) yesterday afternoon. What the results of this ex])edition will be, remains for the fu- ture historian to record. The trophies were two ])risoners of war paroled, four darky women, one horse, a big yellow dog and lots of fun. What the object of this expedition was, I presume will always remain among the mysteries of this cruel war, but there is little doubt but the object was accomplished, as the generals say. CELEBRATING THE FOURTH OF JULY. July 5. The Fourth was celebrated with salutes from the forts, batteries and gunboats, morning, noon and night. Thei'e were gala times in Cam]) Oliver last night. A huge bonfire was set from a ]»yramid of 75 barrels of resin, and when well on fire it lighted up the camp in grand style. All the regimental bands were present, and under the direction of P. S. Gilmore, leader of the 24th Massachusetts regimental band, were consolidated, and gave a grand concert with artillery accompaniment. The effect was very fine. The camp guard was taken off and all went in for a good time. The parade ground Avas covered with officers and soldiers from other camps, and officers and marines from the boats and citizens generally. The delighted darkies were on hand in force. It far surpassed anything they had ever heard or dreamed of. They are very fond of music, and gathered in great numbers in the vicinity of the bands, never noticing the battery which stood a shoit distance away, or if they did it was a sealed book to them and a harmless looking battery enough. After the bands had ))layed a few selections they struck uj) Hail Columbia; and when in quick succession three or four of those guns were let off, there was a great scarcity of darkies. They are terribly frightened at artillery firing, and will make the distance between themselves and the guns as far and as quick as possible. The celebration was kept uj) till near midnight; everybody seemed to enjoy it and had a good time. If we were behind Boston in ora- tions, floral exhibitions and the like of that, we certainly were ahead of them in nuisic, salutes and flreworks. COMPANY drills. July 25. The colonel, thinking that guard duty and dress My Diary. 65 parades are not quite exercise eiiouu'li for us, has ordered company drills in the forenoon. The company ofHcers do not take very kindly to this, and thinking' it a oood o]>portunity to give the sergeants a little practice in drilling the companies, they shirk out of it every time they can invent an excuse to do so. The com- panies are seen 'out under command of the orderlies or some other of the sergeants frequently. B company moves out of the com- pany street on to the parade ground, and after executing a few brilliant maneuvers, starts off across the fields to the Trent road, a little out of sight of the camp, and here in the shade of the trees we sit down and await the recall, wlu'u we march b:ick into camp with all the |)om]) and circumstance of' glorious war. The duty has been performed and everybody seems well enough satis- fied, exce})t perhai^s the performei's. PATRIOTISM SUPPRESSED. And now, right here under the broad banner of freedom, personal liberty and rising ])atriotism has been suppressed. A party of small darky boys organized themselves ' into a drum corps and furnished themselves with old tin p>ans and kettles for an outfit. Being natural musicians, they soon acquired the art of drummiug, and when they thought they could make a credit-ible ap])earance before the public ap|)eared one evening, standing just outside tlie guard in front of our dress ])arade. When the band le(| off down the line the little fellows commenced putting in their work, and they certainly did a gon on the hardest kind of fatigue duty. Instead of going to his (piarters as he was told to, he thought it was his duty to inter- view the c;i]itain. That interview resulted in a court martial, before which I was ordered to appear. I was asked numerous questions, all of which I answered to the best of my knowledge •and belief, ;uid my evidence not only convicted the prisoner but reHeeted somewhat on myself, for in summing it u|), they some- how fixed it up in such a way as to make it ap])ear that I was in the practice of t:'king j»arties into tov/n on Sundays, ostensibly to church and then letting them go wherever they pleised, and in- quired of nu.' if that was not al)Out the true solution of the prob- lem. Wishing to avoid controversy, I assented. I was then told tliat T c<>uld retire from that august presence, a jnivilege of which I availed myself immediately, but what I noticed as being rather singular, after that little interview T was in command of no more Sunday |)arties. AVK LOSK OUR BAN^DS. Sicrji. '20. All the i-egimental bands have been mustered out and have gone home. Ours left the first of this month, and it seems <|uite lonely to have tlu m gone. They were the solace of many a weary houi'. I undt'rstand that this is in the interest of ecouomy, the bauds costing so much it was thought best to let them go. I also learn that the ofHcers' pay has been raised, so just where the saving comes in does not a])pear. As I am only an enlisted man I am not supj)Osed to see things quite so clearly, so I ])resinne it is all right any way, but Ave think it is rather sharj) economy. My Diary. 67 a trip to plymouth, x. c. On tlie 15th of tliis month, the 25th, Major Pickett in com- mand, with the iTtli Massachusetts and the 10th Connecticut reg- iments, the whole under commaiul of Col. U])ton, embarked on steamers bound for Plymouth, on the Poanoke river which emji- ties into the Albemarle sound at its extreme western end. On tlie morning of the IGth we passed Roanoke island, and our at- tention was attracted towards it as being the scene of our hrst, conflict and success. We soon afterward entered the Albemarle sound, a beautiful sheet of water running east and we^t, about 70 miles long with an average width of some 20 miles. It was a l»eautiful day, and the sail, as we slowly steamed along, was de- lightful, affording us a fine view, of the shores. The shores were in striking contrast ; the south shore is low and swampy, rising scarcely out of the water, while the north is bold, with a gently rising slope and shows many handsome farms. The scenery liere is the first that has reminded us of home, and looks as thougli it was inhabited by a better class of people than we have yet seen. About dusk we reach' the ujiper end of the sound, and turning sharjtly to the left, enter the woods, where the overhang- ing branches of tlie tall trees seem almost to embrace each other. We are now in the Poanoke river, which is hei-e quite narrow. In the dusk of the eveniug, as we gi-o])e our way along the nai-row channel through the trees, the scenery is grandlv wild. Some five or six miles through the woods brought us to tlie little town of Plymouth, situated on the left or south bank of the river. Here we drop anchor for the night, and wait until morning to learn more of our excursion. The next morning we learned tlie expedition had been given up, and we steamed back down the river on our return trip, with- out scarcely getting a glimpse of Plymouth. On coming out into the sound we could see the little town of Edenton on the north shore, hid away in a little nook of the sound, and almost buried in trees. From our standpoint it looked like a charming little town. It is occasionally occupied by our troo])S and the gunboats make frequent calls there. The only setback to the pleasure of the trip down the sound was the annoyance caused the officers by the hilarity of the boys who entered into the spirit of fun and seemed to be bent on having a general good time. The ofhcers occupied the saloon and were greatly disturbed by the noise and racket on deck over their heads. They would often send up and order the b(\ys to keep more quiet as the noise disturbed them. The boys of course would respect their wislies, and for a time all would be quiet, but soon another party would come on deck, from some other ])art of the boat, and bedlam would again break loose. The ofhcers had my connniseration ; I exercised all my authority to preserve order and would willingly have done anything tluit 68 My Diaky. • lay in my power to liave alleviated their sufferings, for it is not surprising that men brought up in machine shops, rolling mills, foundries and like places should be ])ossessed of rather sensitive nerves. We arrived back at Newbern, the morning of the 18th, having had a pleasant excursion of about 400 miles, and if we could have had our band with us the thing would have been cona- ])lete. It seems the object of our visit to Plymouth was for the officers of the expedition to consult with the military and naval officers at that station in regard to the expediency of dislodging the enemy's forces at Rainbow bluff, a point some 80 miles up the river, which prevents our boats from ascending higher up, and wdiich they cannot shell out. At the council of officers it was decided that if we should succeed in capturing it, it would be without results, as it is of no military consequence to us, and that it Avould be unwise to risk men in an enterprise that would be barren in results. Hence our return to Newbern. COL. UPTOiSr LEAVES US. Oct. 29. Our regiment is now left with only one field officer, Major Pickett. Col. tJ])ton left us yesterday and Lieut. Col. Sprague and Adjutant llarkness left us two weeks ago. Lieut. Col. Sprague left to take command of a nine months' regiment already recruited in the city of Worcester. Adjutant Ilarkuess is commissioned major of the same regiment. Col. Upton resigned on account of failing health, which I ho})e he may speedily recover after reaching home. All three of these officers have had the confidence and respect of the regiment in a marked degree, and our best wishes attend them in other fields. As a slight token of their regard for Col. Upton, the eidisted men are having manufactured a ^1000 sword, which they intend to present to him. ^tajor Pickett will succeed to the colonelcy, and according to military usage, Capt. Moulton of company 11 will be lieutenant colonel and Cajit. Atwood of company C will be major. Tliis will fill the field again, and occasion some changes and ]»romo- tions in the line. I reckon if I was of an ambitious turn of mind, I should as])ire to some of these ])laces of honor and emolu- ment, but remembering the ])romise that whatever liumldeth him- self shall be exalted, I will continue to wait on. KEIXFOKCEMENTS. Massachusetts boA's are getting thick as blueberries about here, and we are glad to see them. Three regiments of nine months' troops have just arrived, the 3d, 5th and 44th regi- ments, and I hear that more are cominir. A good many of the new comers have called on us and seem desirous of making our acquaintance, to which we are not averse, seeing they are good ap|ieariiig fellows and have })lenty of money, which is not a bad qualification, especially when introduced to the sutler. I learn My Diary. 69 that Gen. Foster leaves tomorrow on an expedition, taking with liim nearly all the force here, including the tliree new regi- ments. Tlitit will be breaking them in pretty quick after getting here. They, of course, have not had much drill and probably half of them never lired a gun. But to us, a little trip up the ouutry is cheering news. After being shut up in camp so long any change is gladh^ accepted. THE TARBORO MARCH. Nov. 12. On the inorning of Oct. 30, Majcn- Pickett, with six comjianies (the other four being on ])icket up the Trent road), ■ left Newbei-n, embarking on the steamer Highbinder for Wash- ington on the Pandico river. Here we joined Gen. Foster's ex- ])edition for a raid up the country. The force consisted of the ITtli, 23d, 24th and 25th Massachusetts and lOth Connecticut i-egi- ments of three years' troo])S, and the 3d, 5th and 44th Massachu- setts regiments of nine months' troops, with five batteries of the 3d Xew York artillery, Capt. Belgers' Rhode Island battery and seven comj)anies of the 3d New York cavali-y, besides a Jieavy "wagon and ambulance train. On Sunday morning Nov. 2, the ex])editi(m left Washington for a march across the country to the Poanoke river. The 23d and 25th were detailed as guard over the wagon and ambulance train. We marched through a poor and sj)arsely populated sec- tion of country without interru|)tion or anything to create ex- citement, until about the middle of the afternoon, wlien we heard firing on the advance. They had reached a swam}» of considera- ble width, with a small creek running across and overflowing the road foi- quite a distance. At this ])oint two regiments of the enemy disjnited the passage of the swamp, and a l)risk infantry and artillery hre commenced, which lasted with short intervals for an hour or more, when the cavalry and two batteries charged across. The enemy beat a precipitate retreat, greatly accelarated by shells from the batteries. Our loss was small, not over a dozen killed and wounded, and most of these were from the 44th Mas- sachusetts, which behaved nobly. During this skirmish the wagon train made slow progress, advancing a short distance and then halting. It was late in the evening when we reached the swamp. All the troops were on the other side, l^ut we got orders to halt Avhere we were over night. The mules were fed and we made a supper of cold meat, hardtack and c()ffee, after which we lay down by the side of the fence to sleep. MULES IX A MUDIIOLE. Next morning the mule teams commenced the passage of the swamp and mudhole. Hearing a great noise and shouting, I went down to see what was u]). I mounted the rude foot bridge at the • side, imjn-ovised for the benefit of pedestrians, and walked along 70 My Diary. until I was near the middle of the mudhole and where the creek crosi^ed the roar]. Here was a file of men on each side of the road, armed with hoop-})oles and standing in mud and water fi'om six inches to three feet deej). Wlien a team Avas driven in, it re- ce'ved all necessary enconraovment from the hooi)-i)oles and strong kings of the men while running the gauntlet. If the i)ilot was skilful and kejit on the conhirov, the passage would be made before the mules would get discouraged. Sometimes the mules Avould get off the corduroy, but if the wagon ke])t on, the mules woidd manage to flounder Ijack and go on. After a spell a care- less driver ran his wagon off the corduroy and down it went to the axle. Here was a pretty fix. The mules couldn't haul it out and no other team could get by. It was decided to unload the w^agon, so the mules could pull it out. The load, consisting of beef and haidtack, was dumped into the creek, but the mules knew nothing of this arrangement, they only knew they were hopelessly stuck, and when they were ajipealed to to haul out the wagon, they ob- stinately refused; bracing out their forelegs and sticking their eai-s straight up in the air, they seemed to proclaim themselves a fixture. ^""0 amount of swearing and belaboring them with hoop- poles had the slightest effect. Capt. Schenck, who was standing by watching the fun, told them he would hitch on one of his teams and haul them out. The captain had a battery of 20-pouud- er Naj)oleon guns, with teams of eight heavy horses. He ordered in one of the teams and told them to liitch on to the mules, and when all Avas ready, he would give the order. When all was ready, the captain yelled, ''Forward, march !". The horses, understanding the order, stepped smartly off; while the mules, not understanding- it, did not keep step Avith the horses, but standing there braced out, the heels of three or four of tliem Avent up in the air, and tbey came down on their heads ; in this Avay, sometimes under Avater and sometimes out, kicking and floundering, trying to re- gain their feet, they Avere dragged out through the mudhole, to the great delight and amusement of the cap)tain and all other spectators. This jilace is known as Kawls' Mills creek, and that a grate- ful posterity may better understand the situation, I quote from LongfelloAV or some other fclloAv: Then tlie iiuiels strove and tugged , Hi) the liillsides stee]) and rugged, 'J'ill they came unto a imidhole; Tliis was nary a eoninioii puddle, * One it was without a hottoin, Into wliieli the nuiels. rot 'eui. Got so very far dehuled. Nothing hut their ears protruded, Picturing in a situation Uaele Ahe's administration. My Diary. 71 darkiks axi) mulks. All the teams across, the inarch was resniued thr<)\it>h a much better country, and we reached Williamston on tlie Roanoke riv- er, al)Out noon. Oar teams are four horse and six mule teams. Some of the mule teams are driven by darkies, who sit on the iiig-h hind mule an<] pilot the craft by means of a single liiie ruii- nino- to ttie leaders, called a jerk line. With this line and their peculiar mule dialect, they handle the team admirably. D rkies and mules work together naturally ; they understand eacli other perfecth^ and have the same dialect. Take a mule team that a white man can do nothing with, and let a darky come .dong and speak to them; in a minute they are entirely dift'erent animals and as docile as a kitten. They seem to have a love for him and are perfectly cognizant of all his actions and movements. If a darky while driving falls asleep, tHe mules know it in a minute and will sto]). The leadei-s will face about and comniencc tan- gling themselves up in the chains an on good terms with them. Tliree or four of them, wouhl pat the time and the rest would dance. They seemed to enjoy the fun as much as the spectators. Here was a genuine ])lantation dance in costume; men and women were dressed in well-worn garni^'iits of gunny cloth or Kentucky jeans, with enor- mous l)rogan shoes of russet leather, some of them looking as though they had a- whole tannery on their feet. Some of the old ones w^ere a little lame anai-t of the country looking for a fight. A battle uj) there wovdd have been without results to us, imless it was the loss of men. He was u]) there simply looking over the country, picking up a few horses and mules and helj)ing the jtlanters do their har- vesting. The general, not caring to go where they were expect- ing him, the next morning turned his course across the country towards Tarboro, a town on the Tar river, some twenty miles west, hoping to reach there before the enemy could concentrate their forces against him. 74 My Diary. a rich country. This (lay's inarcli was throiiti'li a rich and fertile section of country, al)onns wei'c l)ound. The onler of exercises for toli (ren. Foster started the iiu)nu'nt ]iis troojts arrived, it was about a week too Late. Tlie division consisted of four brigades, the 1st under com- mand of Brig. Gen. Wessell ; the 2d, CoL Amory; 8d, Cob Stev- enson; 4tli, Col. l^ee; with the 8d New York cavahy and eleven batteries of artillery, md the wagon and ambulance train. The whole made a force of about 20,000 men, and Avhen the procession was in line of march it covered a distance of about seven miles. Col. Ileckman, Mith his 0th New Jersey regiment, was a kind of independent corps, he taking the contract to lead the advance and clear the way. The expedition started on the morning of Dec. 11, and about noon Col. Lee's brigade fell in on the left, the !2oth being in this brigade and 18th regiment in the column. We marched this day about 12 miles, getting into camj>- late in the evening. This bivouac was on an extensive plain, and was covered with troops, horses, mules and wagons, and in the dim moonlight, its thousand camp tires made a grand illumination. It was not long after supper before the men were all rolled u]) in tlieir blankets asleep, and on that cold December night, as I looked over that field and saw by tlie glare of its many camp tires, those thousands of lu'ave, se]f-saci"ihcing men lie stretched upon the ground, T coidd but think that the bright spirits of the immortal band of American patriots hovered over that camj) and looked down a|)])rovingly u})on our efforts to sustain that government and these institutions for whic-h they had sacrificed and suffered so much to establisli. On the morning of the 12th the march Avas resumed, but was necessarily slow as the roads were badly obstructed. In one 8wani|», for a distance of three miles, the trees were thickly felled across the road, making a forenoon's job for Capt. Wilson and his ])ioneer corjts to clear away. They had no soonei" finished this job when another ])resented itself in building a bridge across a creek, which took nearly all the afternoon. The 25th crossed this bridge about (hirk, and a little farther on saw lights ahead. We now tho(;ght we were nearing camp and we began to cheer n]), thinking our day's worl<' neaj-ly over, but on coming to the camp fires, we found only the 51st Massachusetts, CjI. S])r.igue, and a battery left here at the junction of the main road leading to Kiuston, with orders to hold it until noon the next day, while the column moved u}) the old or back roatl towanls Southwest (•reck. Finding this was not our hotel we took fresh courage and ])ushed on. A few miles fartlu'r brought us into canip. It was a cold night, and. being nearly the last in we found the rails and wood had all been ajiprojiriated; we must either go without fires or go half a mile for fuel. We went for it, and after a hanl My DiAKY. 79 scr;i!iil)le succeeded in gettiiio- a j)artial supply, enouo-li however, with pruikniee, tD g-o through the niglit and make our morning's coffee. Our march this da_y was only about ten miles. Xext morning we took an early start. A mile or two up the road, another road branched to the right, leading to Kinston. Here the 46th Massachusetts, Col. Shurtlitt", with a battery were left to hold it. About the middle of the forenoon firing was heard in the advance; Col. Heckman had got a job. He found tlie enemy in considerable force at Southwest creek, and with his own and one or two other regiments succeeded in driving them out, capturing one gun. This Southwest creek, like all other battle grounds the enemy selects, is a swam}) about half a mile wide, with a small creek running through it. We halted early in the afternoon, to let the teams, which WL^re stuck all along the r()ad, conie u|). We were now ah(_)ut five miles from Kinston. The infantry bi\-()nacked on the left side of the road, on which was a growth of small ])ines, making a nice, clean camp-ground. The batteries and teams, as fast as they came up, were parked in the open field on the right. Tiie cavalry, which we had not seen for two days, were playing a lone hand, and were scouting around over the country, making feints and bothering the enemy. Under the pines we make soft beds, and at dark kindle the tires, make coft'ee, eat our su])j!ers and go to bed, ex])ecting in the morning our furthei' progress u]) the country will be vigorously dis])uted. All was quiet during tlie night, and early in the morning of Sunday, the 14th, the camp was astir. The general ordered that in oi-rler to lighten the teams, every man take three days' rations and Go rounds of extra amnuuiition. While this was being dealt out, some one suggested that the teams could be s'till further iight- ei>ed by issuing a ration of whiskey. Acting on that suggestion, the licpior was ordered, and there was far less complaint about taking it than there was in taking the extra ammunition. Break- fast over, the chaplain offered prayer, after which a hymn was sung; we then filed into the road and commenced the march. The advance was well up the road, and we began to hear firing aliead. As we drew nearer it became more distinct and there was more of it. Wessell's and Amory's brigades were hotly en- gaged, and the roar of artillery gave notice that the batteries were not silent spectators. We hurried on and soon met the stretcher corps bringing out the dead and wounded men. This to me was a sickening- sight, to see men with jiallid faces, writhing Avith pain and blood dripping from the stretchers. I know not hoA\- it is with others, but t'lere is nothing that so completely takes the ])ith out of me when going into action as this. I want to get engaged before seeing the dead or wounded; after that I do not mind so much about it. The enemy, under command of Gen. Evans, was in strong 80 My Diary-. force and ])oste(l on tlic south side of the riv^r near Kinston, commandinii; the road that led throuu'h a thick, wet swamp some half a mile wide. This swamp [irevented our batteries from working with much accuracy, cousequeutly the fight became an infantry one. Wessell's and Amory's brigades pushed into the swamp and engaged them in front, while the other regiments as they came uj) Avere posted on the right, to prevent a Hank move- ment, or to make one ourselves if necessary. The 25th, with Morrison's battery, w^ere drawn up in line of battle on an open field near the river, to the left of the swamp. As the battle was confined to the swamj) in front, Ave were not under fire at all. The battle lasted about three hours, when our troops got through the swamp and charged on them. The 9th New Jersey led the charge, followed by WesselFs and Stevenson's l;rigades. They charged them across the river and through the town, ca))turing eleven pieces of artillery and 300 [irisoners. After which they shelled them, driving them up the country, out of sight and hear- ing. In this battle the enemy numbered about 8000, with several batteries of artillery. We had no means of knowing their loss, but it must have been considerable ; they got off most of their wounded and probal)ly some of their dead. When Lee's brigade got on the battle-ground, it Avas halted, and burying ])arties were detailed to bury the enemy's dead which here covered the ground. This ground was hard and considera- bly higher than the swam]) ; in the midst of a pretty grove of trees stood an old church. The boys did not take very kindly to this burying business, as they were in a hurry to get into town and secure their share of the spoils, but the job had to be done, and they went about it with a will. They dug trenches a little more than two feet deej), and in these the dead were placed, with the capes of their overcoats wound around their heads; over those not having overcoats, pine boughs were thrown and all were cov- ered over with earth. Our loss in this battle was about 200, some 50 of whom were killed, the 45th Massachusetts sharing largely in the loss. About dark we marched into a field a short distance south of the town, where we were to bivouac. Now commenced the destruction of fences and old buildings for fires, and after sup- per parties went up town to look over the ])rize, and late in the evening began to return bringing in their plunder. . One party had been very successful ; they came in hauling an express wagon loaded with tobacco, cigars, apple-jack, scuppernong Avine, pigs, etc. Of course a dividend was struck, and all that wanted, had a share in the tobacco and cigars, with a drink or tAvo of the Avine and ap])le-jack. This was a i)retty good Sunday's job. Next morning, the 15th, the division Avas again on the move, destroying the road and railroad bridges over the Neuse river as Avc Uft. We inarched u)i the river road about 18 miles, getting into eanij) late in the evening, having met with no obstacles d ur Mv Diary. 81 ing the day. Here again was a scramble for rails and wood for fires ; all the rails near by were gone, and we had to tote onrs about a quarter of a mile. The fires kindled, making coffee was in oi'der; after a twenty mile tramj) and toting rails for tires, as they stood around them, I'oasting one side and freezing the other, the boys are not feeling very amiable. If there is any one thing more than another that will draw the cuss-words out of them, it is when a dozen cups of coffee are sitting aloiig a bnrning rail boiling, and somecareless fellow conies along, hits the end of the rail, dumping it all over. It is not the loss of the coffee they care so much about, but it is going perhaps half a mile for water to make more. It is of no sort of use to send a d:n-ky for it in the night, as he would not find his way back before morning. On the morning of the l(3th it was re])orted the enemy were in force across the river at a jtlace called Whitehall, about three or four niiles from where we were, and where they wei-e building a steam ram. Of coiirse that must be attended to, and when we left our bivouac, the ball had opened and heavy firing wa.s heard ahead. Lee's brigade hurried on and an hour's march brought us to the scene of conflict. A road turned to the right, leading down to the river, where oui" batteries were at work. I'he 2oth was ordered down this road, but when about half way down, and only a short distance in rear of the batteries, were oi-d<'red to halt and wait further orders. An artillery duel Avas being fought, our batteries on the south side of the river and the enemy's oTi the north, with the bridge up that hei*e crossed the rivei-. We had ten batteries engaged, and the enemy had what we had not captured at Kinston. The roar of artillery, screandng shot and hursting shell was fearful. The enemy had sharpshooters along the river bank, who were rather troublesome to our artillei'ists, and to meet them men were called for from oui- regiments; Major Pickett was called on for 100. He asked for volunteers and more than half the regiment stej)]>ed forwai'd for the service. I didn't volunteer; I never do ; I rather pride myself on not coia- mitting a great amount of foolishness in this business. The TOO Avere soon off for the river, where they took available positions an.d did good service. In this engagement they had one killed and three wounded. After nearly three hours the fire began to slacken and the enemy drew off. The steam ram on the river, which was said to be quite a formidable craft, was then blown up and destroyed. It will be rather discouraghig to attempt the building of any more rams at this navy-yard. The army the!) moved up the road, getting into cam]) about night, and some sev- en or eight miles from Goidsboro. Early in the morning of the 17th, Lee's brigade took the advance, and after a march of five or six miles, the scouts reported the enemy in the woods near the railroad and bridge which crosses the river about two miles below 6 82 My Diauv. Goldsboro. Wc wevv now in their inunediato Tioiglil>orhood. The cohuun was halted, a re^'iment isent out as skirmishers and a bHtt(>ry advanced and took ])(>sition on a knoll of g-round, a little to tlie lelt and front of tire column, and commenced shelling the woods. I'his liad the effect of stirring them up, so we knew wliei'e they were. The infantry and batteries were ordered for- ward, and uiiirched into position in front of the enemy, covering the railroad and bridge. After some skirmishing, at about 10 a. m., the battle commenced and continued with short intermissif)ns until tlie middle of the afternoon, at which time we had silenced the enemy's guns and driven them from the field. We burned the railroad bridge, and with the help of the cavalry tore u)> and burned ten or twelve miles of track and tressel work of the Wil- mington and Weldon railroad. Gen. Foster then said the object had been accomplished, and ordered a retreat, Lee's brigade be- ing ordered to cover it. It was near sunset when we left the field, Morrison's New York and Belger's Khode Island batteries alone renniining on a knoll of ground which they had occupied dur- ing the battle, waiting for us to get away, when they woidd fol- low. After leaving tiie field, we crossed the bed of a small creek about 20 feet wide, with scarcely any water, but with steej) banks, except at the ford, where they sloped down to admit ci-ossing. Crossing this creek, we halted at a farm house a little way off to loaer borne on the surface of its swift current. We had got to go through it, and the boys, hold- ing their rifles, cartridge boxes and blankets above their heads, Avaded in. The water was waist deep, and when my coin])anv went in I waited on the bank, thinking I woidd step into the rear as they passed by, but I made a wrong calculation of the bank. When I stepped in, I went in all over, and in trying to I'ecover myself, I let go my cartiidge box, blanket and Sj)itiire, but caught the last between my knees, and commenced ducking to get it. The major was standing on the bank, cautioning the boys to keep their ]»owder dry. When he happened to observe me going through my aquatic performances he yelled vociferously : "What in hell are you doing there? Why don't you keep your powder up out of the water ?" I paid no attention to him, but kept reaching for Spitfire, and every time I reached for it, tlie current would nearly take me off my feet. After I had succeeded in fish- ing it out, I turned my attention to th\^ major, anated ; besides it was an awful poor section of country for pigs, chickens and ap})le-jack. On this little excursion. Gen. Foster''s army has - been out ten days, marching 150 miles, cutting out several miles of blockaded roads, building one bridge, doing considerable skir- mishing, whipping the enemy three times on their own ground, besides other mischief, such as burning the railroad bridge at Goldsboro, burni)ig a train of cars and smashing uj) an engine at Mount Olive station, some ten miles down the road from the bat- tle ground, :nid also tearing uji the track between the two ]ioints. This last deviltry the 8d Xew York cavalry is accountable for. There was also burned a quantity of cotton, several houses, barns and many thousands of dollai's' worth of fencing and timber. A very clever little job for one trip, but the results would have been greater had it been done two weeks sooner ; it would then have greatly hindered the reinforcing of Gen. Lee at Fredericksburg. However, there can no blame be laid to Gen. Foster, as he started on the execution of his orders as soon as the troops arrived. MAJOR PICKETT. Our little major since the two last tramps has become very ])0])ular in his regiment, and. I expect when the e.'igles light on his shoulders we shall feel ])retty proud of him. He is a staving good fellow, and in a fight is always on the leail, inspiring the men with courage by his coolness and daring. On the road he is equally good, letting the boys have it ])retty much their own way, never troubling himself about how they came by their chickens and a])])le-jack, and is often seen trudging along on foot, letting some sick or foot!?ore soldier ride his uii-affe. My Diary. 85 CHAPTER Y. THE NEW YEAK. Janitary 1, 18G8. By the blessing of God we have entered the ])Ovtals of another year. Who knows what storms within it hide ? Wlio can tell how many of us will enter on another year ? but let us not desi)ond ; let us "look with bright liopes to the fu- ture, going manfully forward, overcoming all obstacles in onr path."" We know the hardships, privations and dangers through which we have i)assed the last year, perils by sea and perils by land, meeting death in a thousand forms, but by an unseen hand have been brought safely through. It has now been fifteen months since our regim'ent was organized, and we then thought that by this time the trouble would be over and the rebellion would have become a thing of the past. But not so ; it seems to have taken deeper root and there is no telling when it will end. It is true our armies have met with many successes and have also met with some reverses; the army of the Potomac has met with nothing but disaster from the first and will probably meet with nothing else until let alone by the war ofiice at Washington. The enemy has a number of cruisers afloat making havoc with our merchant marine, and every success of their army inspires them with fi-esh ho])e and courage. I am reminded of what my new-found friend here in town told me a few days after we came here, that I would, if nothing happened to me, serve otit my three years and could then re-enlist. I thought then the man was crazy, now I am not quite sui-e Init he was the better prophet of the two. THE major's eagles. Feb. 1. At last the major's eagles, which have so long been winging their flight this way, have alighted on his shoulders, and he looks as pert and gamy '"as a wildcat. Bully boy! long may you wave! Promotions will now come along right smart, and I have no doubt I have been thought of for some im])ortaut ])Osi- tion, but I shall decline all lu-omotions ; I had rather be a door- l:ee})er at the guardhouse than to dwell in the tents of wicked- ness. WE LEAVE FOR PLYMOUTH. Newberx, Wednesday, JMarch 18. After months of idle- ness in camj), at last comes a change. At 4 o'clock p. m., orders came to break camp, ])ick u)j our ti-aps and be ready to march in half an hour. Dark found seven companies of as on board the steamer Escort, bound for Plymouth. Companies A, E and H were left to follow on another boat. The night being dark and stormv we waited till morning before leaving. 86 My Diary. ]\[AK('n 19. Heavy northeast storm blowing this niornino-. Steamer starts down the river and enters the sound about 10 o'clock, wind increases, the sound grows rough, the boat rolls, the boys grow sick, the water breaks on deck and many of them get wet; altogether the passage is rather unpleasant. "We arrive at the north end of tlie sound, near the entrance to Croaton sound, about 9 p. m., and anchor for the night. March 20, This morning finds the storm unabated. The boat starts at daylight, ])assing IJoanoke island, and enters the Albemarle, arriving at Plymouth late in the afternoon, where we make our (piarters in a large warehouse on the wharf. March 22. The garrison here consists of companies G, Capt. vSwift, and H, Capt. Sanford, of the 27th Massachusetts; com))any D, Capt. Howard, of the 5tli Massachusetts; company C, CajJt, Cliffton, of the 1st North Carolhia Union volunteers, and part of a company of North Carolina cavalry. Several gun- boats lying in the river. The fellows here are telling us bear stories about one rebel Genei-al Garnett (wlioever he is) and his brigade which is hovering around here. I think he must be quite a harmless character to let so small a garrison as this go undis- turbed, but it is possible he has a wholesome fear of Ca])t. Flusser and his gunboats. This town has undergone quite a change since we Avere here last fall. During the winter the enemy made a dash in here, setting tlie town on fire, burning up the central and business portion of it. These peo])le have singular ideas*; they seem to think that by destroy'ng their propert}^ they are in some way damaging us, but if we destroy any property it is a great piece of vandalism, t reckon they will sometime see theii* mistake and rejfcnt of it in dust and ashes. GEX. foster arrives. March 24. Gen. Foster arrived this morning and went to work laying out a fort and other defences which we are to build. That job (lone, he took conq/anies F, 1 and K of the 2r)th and PI of th(^ 27th Massachusetts with a party of marines, and a boat howitzer (on board his boat, the John Ferrin,) and left on some sort of an excursion up the Chowan river. The gen- eral is no idler, he is always on the move and seeing that everybody else is. He is ulnijuitous, turning up at any time in all ])arts.of his domain, and keeping everybody within'fifty miles on the qui vive. PITCHING CAMP. Map.ch 27. We have cleared off the deln-is from a portion of the burnt district and pitched our camp there. The colonel might take a little more pride in showing us up to the naval offi- cers at dress ])arade than he did when we Avere here last fall, but he is in command of the post; J^ieut. Col. Moulton is hi command MV DlAKY. ^"^ Of the re^n„,ent and he .vUl Jo the honors. The 46th Massaehu- tm\^rrWed and .iU^piteh their ean.p on the right ot a^, u. the burnt district. WOKK ON THE FOKT. Work commenced today on the defences. Capt. f^^'f romirinv D is to be sui.erintendent and general boss, i w-is dc- S'l^^Se comnranli of a working party froin -y -"l^^ Now this was all new business to me. ^new nothing^ aln^^ building forts, so I stood witli my men aud ^^"l^;;'..;";^,;*;:^; ,;: not very hard work, but aiter a si-ell the cai.tain ^^'<^ 1;'. ;? ^^ur mLi this way." The order was 1'->>'M't^y ^-P--^-^ , -'^l^ the bovs set to work. I thought they worked well tnougn, ai SouS I^ticed that the bank hi front of them d.d not rise ^y fast 1.ut I supposed that was owing to the hardness o t ^^^ ^;^ ; After a while they complained of feeling tired ; 1 told them to t;' and tl y squatted. After tlmt they seemed to be t--d p^^^^ ymuc-h of the ?ime. The captain would come =«;>;;?-;; .;-\,^; why my men were not working. I would answer him that they we-e ^h-ed and after resting would handle their spades righ ::art! aI night we had a l.nk thrown up about a -; -g and nearly a foot high, but the boys worked well and 1 know tiie> '-''' S,:::;!ortE -nid n amved yesterday, and alscMhe con. panies of the expedition who left with the oeneral, except com- pany I, which remains at Edenton for a tew days. CHURCH SERyiCE. MvRrH29. Church service today for the first time in sev- eral w^s ;; occupied the Methodist church Chaplain James discoursed on neutrality. He said there could be no sue ling a neutrality; a man imist be one thnig or the o be.- m. tW who do not declare for the government, should be t ^ -'^ ^^^ enemies The house was well filled with- soldiers and the gal- iTrie mining around three sides of the house were h led wi h dll^kieJ, who s;.mewhat resembled an approaching thunder squall. ricKET DUTY. \PPIT 5 I fear I was not a])precinted on the fort, as I was supei'seded after my first day's effort and ^^^^\ ^""^^^^ZZ signed to other duty ; but 1 lu.bly seiwed my country, ai d I know ilrit history will do me iustice. Yesterday I was out m the ^;;^tl^ Iming the wild floors. I went out with a^pidc^ gua.^ al,out three miles in a southeasterly direction, to what is called Mill c^^s^'-oads,relievh,g the old picket. After spreading our blankets on the grass beside the feiice, we entered v^ormisly on our duty of waiting and watching for the rebel ^- ; ^'^"'^";; "f^ listening to the sweet warbling ot the smgmg buds. Iheic is 88 My Djaky. iu)t,liinf>- in ]>ick('t duty tliat stirs u)) a great amount of enthu- siasm, but still it is a good steady l)usiness, witli oecasionally a littie ray of excitement, as when a dai'ky eonies along and one has to examine his ];»ass. About the middle of tlie afternoon, we heard the a))])roach of hoi'ses, aHartholomew and Cliff- ton. 1 turned out the guard and extended to them the customa- ry civilities. They said ,they were out for an afternoon's ride and su])posedit was as far as they could go in that direction. I told them they might go farther if they wished, and I should be ])leased to furnish them an escoi't, only it would weaken my lines. I'hey laughed and thanked me for my gallantry, but thought they had better not yoiture fartiier. I inquired if there were any news stirring in town, and they ans\vei-ed, "All quiet on the Roanoke." They then bade us good afternoon and started on the retreat. There is no church service today; all hands are busy at work on the fort, and things are beginning to look as though war was liable to break out at almost any time. NKWS FROM ALOJTG THE LINK. Apkil 10. The siege of Washington on the Pamlico river continues, and Ik avy firing is heard from there every day. We learn they have got Gen. Foster shut up there and he is in danger of being made prisoner. That may be, but I will bet ten to one he holds. the keys and will nevei* take off his ca]) to any general in the Confederate service Apkii. 16. Work goes bravely on at the fort; one gun mounted today and if we can have two oi- three days more we shall be ready to receive comjiany. Our little force here is being well handlelies. The next evening, with Gen. Foster aboard, he again -ran the guantlet, landing the genera] safely in Ne\tbern. But it is said the Escort looked like a jiepper-box from the shot holes made in her while running the gauntlet. On this perilous trip only one man (the pilot) was killed. The little gari-ison at Washington held out bravely. It consisted of only eight comjianies of the 27th and the 44th Massachusetts regiments, two companies of the 1st North Carolina, one com])any of the 3d New York cavalry and one New Yoi-k l)attery, aided by two or three gunboats on the river. Against this small force was opposed some 12,000 of the enemy as near as we can learn. After (ien. P^'oster got away they did not seem to care to wait for his return, but folded their tents and silently stole away. ALL QUIET ox THE ROAXOKE. April 24. The noise of the battle is over and we are no longer harassed by war's dread alarms, but can now sit down, eat our fresh shad and herring and drink ou'* peach and honey in peace and quiet. 90 My Dim: v. A HKOKKli's OFKK'K. Our provost marslial, Major Hai-llioloniew of the 27lh Mas- sachusetts, has o])eueers and an order for salt, and after being cautioned not to be found breaking their allegiance they go away happy. Tliere are probably some honest men among them who would like to do about right if they dared to, but the whole thing looks ludicrous, for there is evidently not one in a hundred of them who would ever think of taking the oath were it not for the ho\)ii of obtain- ing a little salt. The boys call it the salt oath. A GOOD SEN'SIBLE TALK. April 28. I was out in the country yesterday, doing picket duty, and fell in Avith an old gentleman with whom I had a good sensil>le talk. He was an intelligent, well appearing man, who said he was a farmer, or had been one until the breaking out of the war. He owns a |)lantation just outside our lines, but is not permitted to go into town. He is allowed to purchase in small quantities such articles as he may need \)y sending in his negro man or getting the boys to bring them out. He said at the com- mencement of the secession movement, he and all this part of the state, in fact nearly all of the state, was ojiposed to it, and in two state conventions, to both of Avhich he was a delegate, the ordi- nance of secession was rejected, and not until after South Caroli- na on one side and Virginia on the other had gone out was the ordinance of secession passed. He said: "Situated as we Avere we could not remain neutral, and although opposed to it from the beginning and all the time eA'en after the Avar commenced and all our young men had gone into the army, it Avas but natural that I should sympathize with my own jieopli'." "C'ci'tainly," I re])lied, "-but have you any hoj)es of the ulti- mate success of the Confederacy?'" "Xone Avhatever, and T told our ])e(»p]e so at our conventions. We are a ruined ])eople and the best thing avc can lo is to make peace A\ith tlie government on any terms we can." "Yes, but you know tlie terms are very simple, merely to lay clown your arms and return to your loyalty to the government." "Yes, I knoAv it is simple enough noAv, but I reckon the gov- ernment at Richmond is not Avise enough to accept it, and the longer they kee]) up the Avar the Avorse Ave are off, and in the end we Avill have to acce])t such terms as are dictated to us." A sensible old gentleman that, and I should have liked to go out to his ]>lace ami samjile his i)each and honey, seupjter- nong and things. My Diary. 91 stokes takes his leave op us. An order. was received here today from the war department, discharging 8tokes from the service. When the order was read,, it took liim by surprise as it was his first intimation of it. He- seemed disappointed and said he should like well enough to gO' home a few days, Init did not like the idea of going to stay and thought he should be back with us again in a few weeks. He^ left for home this afternoon. I am sorry to lose Stokes and shalli miss him very much. He was my cliie'f of staff and I i)laced great reliance on him. He was one of our best boys, possessed of excellent judgment, and was unsur})assed in the secret service.' I parted with him with many regrets and shall always retain; pleasant memories of our soldier life. WE KETUHX TO ]SrEWKER]N'. May 3. Attended church this morning. Steamer Thomas- Collyer arrived this afternoon with orders for the regiment to re- port at Newbern. All was bustle and hurrah 1»oysf down came the tents and a general packing u]) followed. At dark we were aboard the boat, and, giving three cheers to Capt. Flusser and Ids'. men, steamed (h)wn the river. We had a beautiful moonlight ni'ght and a si)lendid sail down the AIl)eiiiai-le ; arriving at New- bern in the aftei-noon of the 4th, we went into the Foster bar- racks for the night. ON THE OLD CAMP GROUXD. May 5. This morning we pitched our tents once more on Camp Oliver. ■ This seems like home again. We shall now have little else than guard duty to perform, keep ourselves slicked up and do the town. This is what we call being on waiting orders but as the colonel has not had a hack at us lately, I presume he will want to practice some new evolutions he has been studying- up out of the tactics. At any rate, we shall not long remain idle. THE KOYS' STORY. May 25. For the ])ast day or two I have been a good deal amused and interested in hearing the boys relate their adventures- at Dover and Gum swamjts. Their stories conflict a little, but as; near as I can make it out I fix u]) a little story : To prepare it n little, we hold an outpost and signal station some twelve miles up the railroad, at Bachellor's creek towards Kinston. This is gar- risoned by the 58th Pennsylvania, Col. Jones. He is one of those stirring, active, restless sort of meji, always finding out every- thing and getting interested in it. Well, he had discovered am out])ost of the enemy some ten o'- twelve miles in his front and some six miles this side of Kinstcm, at a place called Gum swamj*^ and garrisoned by a considerable force. Now it occurred to him that it woidd be a capital joke to capture that i)ost. So he comes S2 My Diauv. ■ down and shows his plans to tlie general, asking pei-niis.sioii and ,tro()])s to carry them out. He knew just who was there and how many; he had been around that swanijj lialf a dozen times and Tvnew all about it. That suited the general ; he patted Jones on the back, called him a good fellow and told him to sail in, and he :slionld have all the troops he wanted. On the afternoon of the 21st, the 2r)th, with two or three ■rother regiments, went aboard the cars for Bachellor's creek. Not feeling very well, I was excused from going. Arriving at the -creek. Col. Jones witli his regiment heads the column, and leads tiles and creeping things around them, their condition was indeed pitial)le. Still they j»ressed forward, some of them filtering the slimy, muddy water througli their caps or handker- chiefs and drinking it, l)ut it served better as an emetic than for quenching thirst. About "2 p. m., they emei-ged from the swamp, and nearly dying from exhaustion, reached our lines at Bachel- lor's creek. Here they had rest and refreshment, after which they boarded the cars and arrived back to camp about night, tireil, ragged, covei'ed with mud and completely ])layed out. This was their Gum swamp excursion as they tell it. After the boys had left for home, the enemy still hovered around the vicinity of Col. Jones' cam]>, and in his imi)ulsive way he went out to meet them, and while skirmishing with them was shot dead. The enemy soon afterwards retired. Col. Jones was a brave man but of rather rash judgement. hill's point. July 3. Received orders for the right wing, consisting of comi)anies K, I, ¥, C and B to break canij) and be ready to march at an hour's notice. At noon the baggage was all on the wagons and we awaited orders. At 1 }t. ra., we were ordered into town, and companies F, C and B went al>oard the little steamer Mystic, and companies K and I went aboard the Washington Irving, bound for Washington on the Pamlico river. Left Newbern at 4 p. m., and had a fine sail down the river and through the sound, turning into the Pamlico about dark, and running up to within a few miles of Washington, where we an- <)4 My Diakv. <'.li<)r('(l for tl»e iiii;-lit. EiD'ly tlu' next morning, we rcaclicd our destiniitioii. Soon Jiftei' we were ordered back down the river, .■and companies K ami I landed at Rodman's point, four miles be- low town, while the Mystic kept on and landed F, C and B at Hill's Point, three miles lower down, relieving a New York bat- tery com])any which was on duty thei'e. Our Hrst busines;s was to tote our baggage and camp cnpii- page up the bluff, and under a broiling sun we worked hard, at least I thought it was hard. I carried my knapsack up and was so exhausted T thought T had better celebrate the rest of the day. I started out to explore the surroundings, and soon my eye rest- ed on a board shanty at the foot of the l)hiff. I entered and found a noble scion of African descent; he was running a restau- raiit, his Avhole stock consisting of corn meal, with which he made hoe cakes for the boys, on the bluff. I inquired if he in- tended remaining here or going with the company we had just re- lieved. He said he should stay if he met Avith sutHcient encour- agement f]-om the boys. I gave him a great deal of encourage- ment, telling him I thought he would have right smart of busi- ness and would do well, that I would give him my })atronage and that he might commence now by making me -one of his best hoe- cakes for dinner. He said it would b.e ready in half an hour. I went out and worked hard during that time, watching the boys get the freight up the bluff. I went for the cake^and was shown one al)out fifteen inclies across and of good thickness. I began mentally to size my ']iile, thinking I had been a little indiscreet. 1 inquired the price of that monstrosity, and was told it was ten cents. I felt relieved and handing out the dime, took the cake and went up t\\e bluff'. Here I met Spencer and a.sked him if he had any meat. He replied, "just a little." I showed him the hoe cake and said I thought we had better dine together; he thought so, too. Getting a cu]) of watei', we sat down on a log and ate our F'ourth of July dinner. The afternoon Avas used up in ])itching tents and mounting ])ickct guard. Thus was spent the Fourth of July, 1863. Sunday, July 5. Like most other Sabbaths in the army, so was this; all day busy cleaning u]) the cam]) ground, tearing- down the board shanties Avhich former occupants had erected and using the material for flooring in our tents. We had our Fourth ■ of Jidy dinner today; bean soup, hoe cake and lemonade. Hill's Point is not a ])()int in the river, as the stream here runs straight, but is a bluff some 25 feet higlier than the rivei^ and about 20 rods wide. It is the terminus of the tabledand beyond, and is fornu'd by wide, dee]) ravines on either side Avliich run back and soon ascend to the level of tlie table-land. Heretofore the enemy had a habit of running batteries down here and interce])ting tiie boats coming u|) the river, forming a sort of blockade, causing our gunboats to waste riuht smart of ammunition, or necessitating!- My Diary. 95 the mnrcliiiirivates from eacl) company have been detailed to manipulate tlie big guns. I had the honor of being selected from my coini)any, and was as- signed the left gun, a most dangerous an 1 hazanlous position. I feel ])roud of my promotion and am sure I shall sustain the honor of the artillery service. For a day or two we shall be under the instructions of a battery sergeant who will instruct us in loadings and firings. We shall also liave to inform ourselves from a small book, giving instruction in loading and firing, and in calculating distances, elevations and depressions of tlie guns. My gun on the left occupies a very coinuiandiug position, being some ten feet higher than the other guns. From the top of the parapet to the bottom of the ravine, it is some 30 or 40 feet, and a part of the way nearly pei'pendicular. I have a range of the whole clear- ing and covering both the other guns ; because of its great nat- ural strength and commanding position, I have dul)bed it the Malakoff. I being the senior sergeant, am styled on all hands, bj' both officel's and men, as the chief of artillery, a rank I accept and have assumed all the privileges which that rank implies. The little steamer Undine plies between town and this port, making her trips mornings and afternoons, giving us frequent and easy transit to town. I inteiul giving my command two or three passes a d;iy, so they can visit town if they wish to. I am going to be liberal with them, and then if their professional ser- vices should be required, I shall expect tliem to stand by those guns and tight like bloodhounds till the last armed foe expires. whiskey rations. July 10. This being an isolated ])ost and several miles from any commissnry or sutler, the officers feared it would be terribly infected with malaria ; having regard for the health and welfare of the men, they prevailed on our assistant surgeon, Doctor 96 My Diary. Flaog, to order whiskey rations. Up went tlie oi'der and down came tlie whiskey, and now the order is to drink no more river water, bnt take a little whiskey as a ])reventive. This will ])rove a terrible hardship to the boys, but the surgeon's orders are im- perative. The boys in camp get their whiskey at night, and the pickets ill the morning when they come in. After a barrel of whiskey has stood out all day in the sun and got about milk w:irin, it is curious to observe the boys while drinking it. Some of them with rather tender gullets will make up all manner of contortions of face trying to swallow it, but will manage to get it down and then run about fifteen rods to catch their breath. Commanders of comi)anies deal out the whiskey to their men, consequently I deal out to mine, and wlien I wish to reward any of my l)raves for gallant and meritorious conduct, I manage to sloj) a little extra into their cups. That keeps them vigilant and interested and gallant. Meritorious conduct consists in bringing in watermelons, peaches and other subsistence, of which they somehow become jiossessed. A CONFLKJT OF AUTHORITY. July '211. There is among army officers a constant jealousy and strife for promotion and rank, watching and looking after each other, fearful lest some one may be assuming some rank or taking some privileges that do not belong to him. 1 have been giving my men passes out of camp, and these passes have been honored at headquartei's. In consequence of that a spirit of envy and jealousy entered the breasts of the infantry officers ; it made them feel sore and uneasy, so they consulted together and decided that that could no longer be allowed. They informed me that I was exceeding my authority in passing men out of camp. Being in a minority and not caring to exhibit any stubbornness over so trifling a matter I magnanimously waived my authority to issue the ])as^ses, but it was a big come down for the chief of artillery. When I wish to leave 1 simply look in at headquarters and say to the cajitain. "•! propose,going out." If there is anything in t\w pitcher he always says, "You had better come in, and take something before going." The cajttain is as generous as he is brave, and brave men are always generous. A FIELD DAY. August 1. We had been drilling and going through the motions of artillery firing every day for a month, and a few day& ago it was thought best to test our theory by a little practice. Eiich gun was to fire eight rounds. The targets, about the size of a large barn, were set uj) (iOO yards in front of the guns. At noon the j)ickets were called in from out the woods and soon after the firing commenced. I ordered a blank to commence with to see if the old gun would shoot. It spoke out splendidly ; My Diary. 97 I w;is pleased with it ; I then onlered a solid .shot. It was fired and went^somewhere, I don't know where; hut it didn't hit the target. Calctdating that a shell will travel a n.ile in sev(>n ,ec- on.U and the target was ahout a third ..f a mile awav, I thoncvht 1 would try one with the fuse at three seeonds. It was fire.l .viui burst at the muzzle ot the oun. That was not satisfaetorv. I then ordei-ed another with the fuse at fi\ e seconds. This exploded when ahout halt waA- to the target. I began to think tliosj shell were all intende.l tor short range anyway, and ordered one at one seeon.l. It was hiwl and I heard it whizzing <,ff through the ^oods a mile away. I was disgusted with ^hell practice and thought I would try ean.ster. We fire.l one and I eiuld see the . bushes eut away at about 200 yards. Those shots had l,een fired at two degrees elevation. I ordered the corporal to sight the gun at the tops of the trees out in the woods, an.l tried another cW istei . 1 his was better, the shot scatteri.m- about the target VVe had now only one more shot, I thought I would try a solid' ohe, and orrlered the gun sighted at the top of the target. This v<-a's an excellent shot and I know it must have gone very near the far- ^e'l^^Z^^u' "' ' ^"^ ''''^' ''''' ■" "^'^^ ^^••-•^^ - =' -'^--^ On the whole, the firing was not entirely satisfa<-t,»rv, Init the gunnery was all tnat could be desired and I am inclined 'to think tlie fault was m the am.niuiition. I think it must l,avc been shOn- Mt " Hd" "'^- . '^"' '•"V^'^^P^ f <"^^I^t i^ut to rind too much tat as thi^ was our first practice. lam now im,Kitient for an attak tor X know we can hold this i>ost against any force that would be hkely to be broil|-ht against it, an.f denionstnite t', t1 e country that we are heroes descended from heroes. AN I.\SPE(TIOX. ArorsT 12. A few days ago orders came to get rea.Iy for inspection the next afternoon. All was now hurrv and bustle cleaning up cnnip, arms, ecp.ipments and clothim-', and putting everythmg 111 order. The artillerists worked like T>eavers^ cS n g up the gun carnages and limbers, using all the grease in Z k Chen to brighten them up. The old brass guns were p<.lislfed p anrs and we were cong.-at.ilatin^ m.rselve. on being highly complimented ">ei\ts At the appointed time, Lieut. Col. Moulton and Capt. Kawls- o son, ebodys staff put in an appearance. The clpt.in wa. ins].ecting ofticer; a very airv. pomp.ms youno' oentleman wi h aremarkable faculty of makinJ hiJweak'points^::;n ": ous. \\ hen the comj.anies fell in, he noticed thl artillery deta 1 did not tall in and imjuired the reason. Col. Moulton repl ed t • they were expecting to be inspected as artillery. Th J cap an said he knew nothing about that, he was sent herl to inspect' S OR r\Iv DlAKV. (Icliiclmiciil ,is inlMiil i_v :iih1 cNciy iiimm iinist full in. Now that \\ MS :ill riu,lil ciioiijj.li, only il jihiccd nic :it :i (lis:Hlv:nit:i!j,(', for I IkiiI t liken no I lion)j,lit. or vavv of Spit lire since my jironiotion and il, vv:is lookino' |)relly 1>M(1. I>nt I li;i(l no time <<• ele:in it U|», anil I niiisl say it was a soi-ry lookinn' |iiece (o lake out lor M f;lH)w. Iliit as had as it lookeil, I had the utmost eonlir- g(aiit he had ever seen. I nodded asst'nt, venturing the remark that I liad heen in the artillery spots off the sun. lie allowed that that was in- Holeiu'e and any more of it would snhject me to arrest. Imag- in<^ the indignalion of the chief of artillery on heing threateni-d with arrest hy an infantry captain. My first imi)nls(' was to call my «' him, thinking that pi'rhaps he was doing as well as he knew how. The inspect ion ti\er, ho had not long to stay, as the boat was wailing for him. I noticed the ollici'rs diiln't pet him Ncry much .and 1 don't belie\c he got more than oin> drink. MISS (A KIJOI.I,. 'riir<'e (.r four miles out here, ihiough llie woods, lives a Mr. V'arroll. lie has I wo sons in the 1st \(mIIi t"art)liua union vol- unteers, stationed u|i in NN'ashinglon. lie makes freipieiit visits up there to st'c tlu> hoys and is often accompanied hy his daugh- ter, a ratlu-r gootMookiiig yiuing lady of about 'JO years of age. It sometimes happens that they get here eaiiy in I he morning and !ia\ (' to w .•lit ;ni hour or so for the lio.it, and will sometimes stop Hii hour on their return lu'fore going home. \\ these limes they Hre guests at In adipiarters ;ind a It w of us, without the fe.ar of the captain l)eb«re mir eyes, will happen in to have a that with the old genlleman and his daugliler. Slu' expressed a great foml- iiiss b)r literature and claims to he "the only really literary young l.idy in thest- veri' parts." NVi" oeeasionally til her out with such Klory papers ;ind maga/ines ;is we may have lying around, t<)r which slie expresses great pleasure. My Diary. 99 She one day inquired if we had read a certain piece of i)oet- ry in one of the niaoa/.ines we had given her. She was told we had and thought it very nice. Vv'e iniiuired if slie was jileased with it. She' replied she thought it was ''Splendid! beautiful !' AVe asked if she was fond of jioetry. She said, she was exc-ess- ively fond of it and read a great de:d ; in a sly, blushing kind of way, she hinted that she sometimes tried her hand at composing. "Ah, indeed ; would you favor us with a few specimens, some day when you come over ? We should be pleased to look at them." She ]iromi"sed she would, and the next time she came she brought a comi)osition entitled "Lines to the Union Boys." They were the merest doggerel, but we were loud in their praise and told her that by reailiiig poetry and practising composing she would excel ; tha't when the cruel war was over and we had retire('«»!iiteil time, I, in. company with eiglit others from the three companies, h'tt Hill's Point for Massachusetts. I iiad 25 days at home, a part of wiiich I used lip on the lounge, with chills and fevei', and listening to the expressions of sympathy fi-om callers. Ordinarily, when a person is sick, it is j)leasant to be surrounded l»y sympathizing friends, but a person with chills and feve]' does not want sympa- thy; that only makes him mad. What he wants is whiskey and quinine, and the more whiskey the bettt-r. I was asked if the disease ever terniinated fatally. I re])lied that the most provok- ing thing al)out it was, there was not the slightest eneticiaries. Here I found Spencer and Lewis, who were furloughed with me, and who had just ari'ived. The clerk told us we must report to a certain quar- termaster up town for instructions. We re])orted ; he examined our papers, endorsed on the b.-icks "reported back all right and on time," and told us we must report at the trans] tortation office 104 M\ DiAuv. down iK'aitlic IcitltTv pai'k. We i'('))»»rte(l, and witc informed 1\h'Vv. \va,s no ti"\!is|iortation waitinti', hut we must report every iiioniiiiii- ill oi-(K'r to a\ ail ourselves of the tirst boat tliat left. i;i:(i,iN!N(; o\ oiru MIUTAUV. Tlicre wert.' lIHI or more soldiers waitinn' transjiortation to Newberu, hi'sides huudi'eds of otliers for all parts of the army. The otHcer in chai'^'e of the ofHce would no more than get his coat off and sleeves rolled uji, ri'an the door with ''No ijoat foi- Xi'wbei'n." One morning the card was off and all hands made a grand cliarge inside. He g;ive us the cheei-ing inforniition that (jien. Foster had mo\ed his old brigade from Xewbei-n to Fortress Monroi', and lie would give transportation by way of Baltimore to ;!S many of us as belonged to tha.t !)rig;ide. X"o one seeuied to know just what t(» do, and no reply was made to the statement. After waiting a few monjents, he in(juired what we were going to do. As no one spoke, I ventured the remark tluit I li:.id re- ceive?! no official inform itioii of the removal of the brigade or of my regiment and until furtliei" ordei's, I thouei'n i-ducated, sir." That ([uestion settli'il, we wi-re soon on the pave again. Mv DiAKY. 105 AX ENCOrXTEH VVJTH A POLIOEMAX. Durinir our Ioiil;- wait for transportation we liaed to look at liiiii. He had an lunhrclla and ] asked him to stir the creature up and see him go into the water. But he thought he had better not, saying it was probably against the rules for visitors to disturb him. I said that was probably the case, but we had ])aid our monej'^ to come into tlie show and wanted to see all the tricks, and if he would let me take the um- brella 1 would stir him up and take the resjtonsibility. But he declined, aiul moved on. A bright thought now struck me ; I would fill his eye with tobacco juice and see what effect that would have. I chewed up a large ])iece of tobacco ; tilling my mouth wath tl)e juice and getting a beautiful range on his left eye, let drive, covering it com- pletely, and to my utter astonishment that creature never so much as winked. I was dumbfoundeil at the result of my experiment, as this was the first creature I had ever seen which had eyes that a little tobacco juice in them would not make things lively for a few minutes. I can account for my failure in no other way than that, being a marine animal, there is probably some kind of film or covering over the eye that protects it from foreign substances while in the water. Spencer laughed at my discomfiture, and said perhajis we could tind something else I would have better luck ex]>erimenting with. Strolling around up stairs we came to the mummy cabinet, Now 1 like inunnnies and am always interested in them ; they have a habit of minding their own business the steadiest of any class of people I ever met with, besides the}- are always civil to callers and are free from the disputes, quarrels, gossipping, slan- ders and other vices with which our generation is atHicted. They are a very ancient people, and in their time were doul)tless an in- telligent and highly resjiectable class of citizens, but they don't ann>unt to much now ; they are too far behind the times and I don't think it would be of much use for them to try to catch up. In this cabinet was quite a large collection and they lookele but could not. I called the attention of an attendant and in([uired of him if there was any. lie i-eplied there was none that lie knew of. I then asked : "Is Mr. JJarnum about tlie ])lace? I shoidd like to see him." He stated that Mr. Hai-num was away and in- quired my business with him. I said f wanted to suggest to Mr. IJarnum that if he would hang a biography on every one of these mummies it would be the most taking thing he ever had, not ex- cepting the What-is-it. This attendant somehow didn't seem to :\rv Diary. 107 get intcrestcMl in Barnaul's interests, and dodged off out of the Avay. I jioiuted out the largest one to Spencer and said: "That gentleman was once a soldier and did provost duty in the city of Thel)es oUOO years ago." He made no re|)ly bnt kept looking at it and presently I heard him muttering to himself : "Can that be possible ? Brave old fossil I" We got up into the exhibition room, near the close of the ])lay ; they were jilaying the .ghost. I should think it might be a good enough jday, but the acting was not all that a connoisseur would acce])t, but then it was good enough for soldiers and the price. I thought the ghost illusion was very cleverly ]ierformed, but Sjiencer said it was tame comi)ared with tlie Gum swamp trick. OFF FOR XEWBERN. After waiting thirteen days a boat arrived and we were now off. The boat leaves in the afternoon and all hands go down to the transportation ottice to get our orders and say good bye to the genial ofhcer in command. I noticed that m}' draft for rations was on the Park l)arracks. Now I had a dim recollection and a sort of instinctive hcu-ror of those barracks, and it occurred to me that I had seen down on the Battery park, near the water, a small building wliere was ke])t h'rst class rations, which were dealt out to officers, and other attaches of the army as department and sutler's clerks and such like nobility. I suggested to Spencer that we go down there ; we could fix u}) some kind of a story and perhaps succeed in getting oui' rations. Now S]iencer is a conscientious young man and objects to anything that does not dovetail in the exact line of right and honor. He objected to going, saying we should have to tell some extravagant stoiies and then getnotliing, and ])erhaps get ourselves into some troul)le. I said we would make only a [)lain statementi^ of facts; that we are living in ])erilous times and tliat the end would justify the means. We went doAvn there and the only regalia the supervisor of the phice had on that denoted any rank in the army was a pair of blue ])ants; just what rank he held Ave were unal)le to determine by th(»se ])ants. We showed him our orders. He looked at them and said: "What are you liere for? Go up to the Park barracks Avhere your orders say." "Yes, I know; but we have just come from there; they are all full u]) there and are running short of rations ; they sent us doAvn here." "Don't believe a word of it; they haA^^ no Inisiness to be short of rations u}) there and have no business to send you here anyway, and I don't belicA'e they did." "You, sir, have a perfect right to believe just what you please, but here is an order for rations ; the boat leaves in about an hour 108 Mv Diary. smd if we doiTt have the rjitioiis wc shall not i^o in lior, and if wa •don't n'o it will \h' somebody's fanit/' Thinking perhaps that tracing out faults might prove un- [((leasanf, he pointed us to a tul) of boiled corned beef and a bas- ket of soft bread, telling us to take as little as would do us. To allay any fears he might have on that scoi-e, we said we did not «care to bui'den ourselves witii any superHuous freight. We not 'Only took the meat and bread he told us to, but helped ourselves Jibei-ally to some boiled ham and raw onions that stood near by against his most em|)hatic protest. So, with some lying on our part and considerable swearing on his |)art, we succeedeil in suj)- plying ourselves with first-class rations. A\'hen we came out, Spencei' said: "I was shocked to hear Aou lie so." ''Ibit T have not been lying." "Well, then, I should like to know what you would call it?" "•What I said might possibly be twisted and contorted into scjmething that would give it the appearance of lying, but I have only made a few |)ositive. statements, and as I said before the end justifies the means." 'JMiat statement seemed to satisfy him, and a little while after we were aboai'd the steamer Albany, bound for Newbern. .Stand- ing on the quarter-deck as we steamed doAvn the harbor and :thi'ough the narrows, W'c watched llie biij city with curioii.-- oyc, "Pill the last towering dome had gone out in the sky. We arrived at Newbern aftv,-r a four days' j)assage and re- ported to the ])rovost marshal, Capt. Di'nny of oui- regiment, who welcomed us back and gave us the liberty of the city. He in- •foi-med us the regiment was at Fortress Monroe, and if we had •only known it while in New York, we could have saved ourselves* Ihe trouble of coming here and having to go back. AVe were i?omewhat surprised at this intelligence, and disapi)ointed a-t not knowing it while there, and saving ourselves all this unnecessary Irouble and delay. But, however, we niust put u]> with it, and take the next boat l)ack which leaves for Fortress Afonroe. After a four days' a isit here we went aboard the little steamer Vidette. bound for Forti'ess A'onroe. We hjid aboai'd about iJOO ^soldiers and about 100 Confedei'ate j»risoners. We left in the af- ternoon and the next morning were at Hatteras inlet. The sea was jiretty rough, and in crossing the swash we fouled with a schoont'r, carrying away her l)owsprit and losing one of our an- <.di(jrs. The old captain, who by the way was a jolly old fellow, said he never had so good luck before in getting through the in- let ; he had only lost an anchor and taken off a schooner's bow- , *i])rit. .\s we went past the battery, he yelled out to them to tish np his anchor against lu' got back. My Diary. 109» The following morning we were at Foi'tress Monroe and here- learned that «ur regiment was at Newport News, at the mouth of the James river. We re-shi])ped on another boat, and an hour after were receiving the ovations and congratulations of our com- rades, after an absence of nearly two months. NKWPORT NEWS. Dec. 10. I am now on the sacred soil of old Virginia, and my first care will be to seek an introduction to some of the F. F.. Vs. What this place derived its name from, or why it was named at all, I have not l)een able to learn. Tt was simply a plantation before its occupation l)y Federal troops, and jjerhaps thn name is as goo 1 as any to distinguish it l)y. Our camp is near uie river, and oidy a few rods from us lie the wrecks of the frigates Cum- berland and Congress, sunk by the rebel ram Merrimac. The Cumberland lies in deep water out of sight, but the deck of the Congress is seen and often visited l)y the boys at low water- Since the occujiation of this place by F'ederal troops it has grown into what they call down this way a town, containing quite a col- lection of rough Ijoard store-houses, sutler's sho[»s, negro shanties^ and horse sheds. A boat runs from here to Fortress Monroe every day, and ^iree times a week to Norfolk ; the distance to either ])lace is about the same, some twelve miles. For the first time since the war began, the oyster fishing i» being jtrosecuted, and Hampton Koads are alive with oyster schooners. The oysters have had a chance to grow, and are now abundant and of good size and flavor. Newport News was the first ])lace in V^irginia, except Washington, tliat was occupied by Federal trooj)S, and it was from here that a part of old Ben's IV mous Big Bethel ex])edition started. During my absence, this military de2)artment has gone all wrong. (4en. Foster has been ordered to Knoxville, Tenn., and Gen. Butler has su})erseded him to this command. I am not ])leased with the change. Gen. Fostei" was a s]»len(lid man and fine ofiicer, and I would rather take my chances with a regular army officer than with an amateur. The first year of the war Gen. Butler was the busiest and most successful genei-al we had, but since then he has kind o' taken to niggers and trading. As a military governor he is a nonesucii, and in that role has gained a great fame, esj»ecially in all the rebellious states. He is a lawyer and a man of great executi\e ability, and can not only make laws but can see to it that they are observed, but as a commander of trooj)s in the field, he is not just such a man as I should pick out. He had a review of our brigade the other day, and his style of soldiering caused consideral)le fun among the boys who had been used to seeing (tcii. Foster. He rode on to the field with a great dash, followed by staff enough for tw^o major-generals. He looks very awkward on a horse and wears a soft hat ; when he salutes 110 My Diaky. "the colors lie lifts his h;it by the crown clear off his head instead of simply touching the rim. The boys think he is liardly up to their ideas of a general, but as they are not su])posed to know anything, they will have to admit that he is a great general. He is full of orders and laws (regardless of army regulations) in the government of his department, and his recent order in relation to darkies fills two columns of news])aper print, and is all the most fastidious lovers of darkies in all New P^ngland could desire. Hunter and Fremont are the merest pigmies beside Ben in their care of darkies. RK-EXLISTING. January 1, 1864. We have now entered on the last year of our sohner service and are looking forward to the end, and may it not only end our service as soldiers, but the war as well, when both sides can meet between the lines, shake hands, smoke the pipe of peace and together sign a long and lasting truce, and all «ay homeward bound. But I am sermonising, and however much that haj)py end may be desired, the indications now are that it will not be realized. For a month past our regiment has been a good deal excited. About thirty days ago orders were received from the war department at Washington, soliciting re-enlistments from among the soldiers of the old regiments pf 1861. Liberal money inducements were offered, and in addition the present term of service would end on re-enlistment; the 1100 bounty due at the expiration of the three years term could be drawn, together with a thirty day's furlough. Lieut. Woodworth of company H was appointed recruiting officer, but uji to the present time there have been but few enlistments. We all understood the terms and all thus far have been left free to act according to their own judg- ment. The officers have not seemed to take much interest in it and have not used their influence to get the boys to enlist but have given advice when sought for. If a man re-enlists he has some motive for it ; if he does not he has his reasons, and both may be equally patriotic. I shall not re-enlist, and my reasons are, first, I have no desire to mono])olize all the patriotism there is, but am willing to give others a chance. My second reason is that after I have serA^ed three years my duty to the country has been perfoniied and my next duty is at home with ray family. Jan. 14. LTj) to this date about 200 of our men have re- enlisted, and today the first detachment left for home on their thirty days' furlough. They were accompanied by three of the officers, one of whom was Lieut. McCarter of company B. I hope they will have a good time and enjoy themselves. Orders keep coming from headquarters at the fort to hurry up enlist- ments and some of them are of a rather threatening character. Jan. 17. The balance of the re-enlisted men left for home today, several of the officers going with them. We have now My Diary. Ill got our ultimatum, either enlist or go into exile. An order was received intimating that as enlistments seemed about through in this regiment, we would be more useful at Yorktown than here, and foi- us to be ready to march in heavy marching order at any time; but enlistments still drag. Jak. 18. The order' has arrived and we are under heavy inarching orders for Yorktown, which is 30 miles distant and where, it is said, we shall jn-obably all die of malarial fever or other contagious diseases. But there is one redeeming feature to the order; that is, if we will enlist, or three-fourths of those re- ported for duty will enlist, then they can all go home together as a regiment, while those not enlisting will be sent into banishment, the non-coms reduced to the ranks and permanently assigned to other organizations during their terms of enlistment. Jan. 20. Yesterday and today have been busy days at Camp Upton. The idea of going home as a regiment has found favor with the officers, and ^is this is the last day of grace they have been raising heaven and earth to get us to enlist. They have had us out on the parade ground using all their powers of persuasion and eloquence for enlistments, and have succeeded hi enlisting nearly the whole regiment. I have reported these speeches and when I get them fixed u)» with all the necessary embellishments and illustrations, they will make an intei'esting chapter of litera- ture. Jan. 21. It now appears there are 225 of us wlio go into exile. We are to take all our earthly effects with us and get them along as best we can, notwithstanding a boat goes around with our camp equipage and might just as well take us, but that would be no punishment for our stubbornness. In justice to our officers, however, I learn that they endeavored to get transporta- tion for our knapsacks but were not successful. We took our last dinner with the boys at Camp Upton, and at 2 p. m. were in line awaiting marching orders. Cajrt. Parkhurst is in command; Lieuts. Johnson and Saul, with Assistant Surgeon Hoyt accom- pany us. As we stand waiting orders the officers and boys gath- er around us and a feeling of sadness seems to pervade the whole crowd at the thought that this is the dissolution of the old regiment. jNIutual handshakings and best wishes are exchanged, we say good-bye and move off. And so they parted, The angel up to heaven and Adam to his bowei-. THE FAMOUS MARCH OF THE FAMOUS TWO HUNDRED. Williamsburg, Va., Jan. 25. Leaving Newport News on the afternoon of the 21st, we made a march of about ten miles, reaching Little Bethel just before dark, when we halted and put up in an old church building for the night. Little Bethel contains beside the church an old grist and saw mill, a blacksmith shop 112 My Diary. and three small houses, all in a rather dilapidated condition. There was no enemy within 100 jniles of us, V)ut Ca])t. Parkhurst, either as a matter ot" form or thi'ough force of hahit, put out a few pickets. I'he old church had long- ago been stri])](ed of its seats and pulpit, if it ever had any, leaving the whole lloor unob- structed. After sui)per and getting a little rested, a dance was proposed. A gallery extended across one end, and on the front of this the candles were thickly set, lighting up the old church in fine style. One of our German comrades of Company G had a vit)lin and furnished the music. Sets were formed and the fun commenced. The pickets outside, hearing the sounds of revelry within, left their posts and came in, and standing their riHes in a corner threw off their equipments and joined in the dance. The captain remonstrated at such unlawful proceedings, Init the cry was "Never mind the pickets! on with the dance! let fun l)e un- restrained." The dance was kej)t up until the candles burned low, when we spread our blankets and laid down for rest. In the morning we found outside five men with their horses and carts, waiting to sell us oysters. Fortunately we were the possessors of a few scraps of paper bearing the signature of Uncle Samuel. With a portion of this paper we bought the men's oysters, and after l)reakfast we chartered them to carry our knaj)sacks to Yorktown, thereby nullifying the order of the great Mogul at Fortress Monroe, and I have not the slightest doubt that if he kncAY of it he would hang every one of those men for giving aid and comfort to the incorrigible. J^eaviuff Little Bethel we marched over McClellan's famous corduroy road through white oak swamp, coining out at Warwick court house. Tiiis is a county seat, containing a small court house situated in a j^retty grove of trees, a jail, church, half a dozen houses and a blacksmith shop. We arrived at the forks of the roads, a mile l)elow and in full view of historic old Yoi'ktovvn, about the' middle of the afternoon. Here we were met V)v an officer and commanded to halt till further orders. I thought this was as near as they dared have us come the first day for fear t'.ie malaria would strike us too suddenly. From here the dim outlines of Washington's old intrench ments could be traced and near by was what ap])eared to be an angle in the line on which guns were j)rjbably mounted and which commanded the whole open plain between here and town. Now it did not require a great stretch of the imagination to go back to those days and see those brave men toiling and suffering behind those works, to build up for themselves and their jiosterity a country and a name. I could see in my mind the haughty Cornwallis march out u])()n this ])lain, surrendering his army and his sword to Wasiiington, in the last grand act in the drama of the American revitlutitMi. But how is it today V Yonder rebel Mv Diary. 113 fort tells in thniider tones how well their degenerate sons iip})re- ciate the legacy. About dusk an orderly rode uj), bringing an order for us to proceed to Williamsburg, some fifteen miles further up the coun- try. We tried to get the captain to stop here till morning and go through the next day, but it was of no use; lie had got his c>rders to march and was going through tonight. I could not see that it was a military necessity to force the march, :md after we had gone three or four miles my knapsack began to grow heavv and I grew tired. 1 halted by the roadside and said 1 was going to put up for the night and if any one Avould like to keep me company I should be pleased to have them. About twenty rallied to my standard. After the column had passed we ste])ped through a low hedge of bushes into a small o]>en s])ace, surrounded by high bushes which served as a shelter from the winds. Here we spread our blankets and laid ourselves down to forget in our slumbers the weight of our knapsacks. The stars looked down on us and the watchful eye of the Almighty Avas the only sentinel. When we awoke in the morning the rising sun's bright ray was peeping through the bushes. The lirst object which met our gaze was a lean, lank, sandy-complexioned, longdiaired native, who stood peei'ing ovei- the bushes at us. The first salutation that greeted his ears was, "Who are you an 1 what do you want':"' He replied, "I seed you was down yere, and thought I would come down and see if I could get some 'baccer?" i.ookin^- up we saw a house out in the field some distance off, and asked him if heresided there. He said he did. We gave him some tobacco and inquired about the roads and distance to Williamsburg. We in- qtiired if there were any bushwhackers about Iiere? He said "There mought be once in a wdiile one found." Then we put on a ferocious look :md said they had bettei- not be found by us unless they wished to join the antediluvian society and have tlieir bones scattei-ed in every graveyard from hereto Jerusalem. The old chap's eyes stuck out and he began to edge off, thinking jter- haps we had got on a thick coat of war ];»aint. We made our coffee and started on our journey, and by easy stages caine up with the boys in the afternoon. They had ])itched the camp and got it all fixed up and named Camp Ilancock. . I thought the ca])tain was as glad to see us as, anyone, but he put on a stern look and inquired wliei-e we liad b.'eu an 1 why we fell out. We told him we were tired and lay down by the side of the road to rest and take a nap. He lectured us on the enormity of such proceedings, telling us we had committed a very flagrant breach of good order and military de)s molasses would answer for a substi- tute. Finding they had come on a fool's errand, they then want- ed Surgeon Hoyt to j>ut as many of us on the sick list as possible, thereby increasing the working force at the News. The surgeon told them that men who could make a fifty mile march, carrying- heavy knapsacks, were not supposed to be very seriousiy indis- posed. Finding tJie leopard hadn't changed his spots, they left, taking with them ta^o cajitives. A CHANGE OF COJIMANDERS. Jan. 29. Today we were paraded and invited to give our attention to orders. Major jNIulcay of the 139th New York vol- unteers appeared on tlie ground, and read his orders relieving Ca]>t. Parkhurst of the cdmmand. He then assumed command, and had a short drill and dress parade. Of course we ])ut the best side out, to give the major a favorable impression. He coni- ])limented us for our good drill and neat aj>])earance. Orders were read for a long an some guerilla bauds. It would seem from what these fellows say tliat tiie prin- ciple business of these guei'illa bands is to look out for ])risoners escaping fi'om Ivichmond, and in connection witli l)uslnvlia(,-kers, to harass small parties of troo])s who are sent out to look after them. The scouting parties which go out seem to think tliat the j)roj>er way to deal with bushwhackers is to capture them, but scarcely a i»arty goes out without bringing back one or more of their own number either dead or wounded. It is only two days ago I saw a funeral from the camp of the New York First Mount- ed Kities of a man who had been killed up there. 1 tell the My Diary. 117 Brooklyn Vtoys that the best use a bushwhacker can be put to is to make a target of him, and be sure to hit the bull's eye when you draw a bead on iiim ; never make a prisoner of one. The Brouklynites are asking our boys a thousand questions, and the latter are telling them bloolif_y (•.iiiiiol stMiid e\ cryl Imiil;' miiv more fli;iii u Hl.one dr;i^. The iiii^lil wore on, llie lioys were well iiiLili e\ li.'iiisled mihI iiijidc IV('(|iieiil Ii.mIIs. 'I lie eoloiiel woidd s_v iii| lilt lii/c wil li llicni, Mild ('ii<'<)iii":'!j,<' IImiii I y s.iviii^ l;e lio]ied llic d.'ty's ni.'ircli vviis iiciirl V o\ cr, lelliiiL: llieiii to k((|> ii|i eoiirnuc :iiid :i lew miles HKtrc IIh' end would Ic re;ie|i( t. I'hillips kept up his suppressed wliistle of thnt smiie strniii of IJnlly MJound the h'lnu'. I tried to niUy him nnd t;el him to t:ilkiii;x, hiil it wns of no use; he wns en tirely nhsorhed in his own relieeiions, riiminnt inn', ns I thought My Dixiir. 121 over tilt' ])vob;il)le clianccs of leiivinu' ;i widow and oi-|(liaii cliil- dreii as a lc'o:u-y to his count i-y. Before noon wc reached what is ealh'd the IJahiniore cross roads, about two miles from Bottom bridge which crosses the Chickahomiiiy ri\ci-. Here we met the cavah-y coiiiini;' l>aci<, atid Col. Spear reported to (Jen. Wistar that on reachinVith our small force and only one battery he thought it would be useless to at- tempt to force the passage of the ri\-er. On learning this I felt relieveroinised to faithfully attend to that impor- tant duty. He then dismissed the guard and rode over to call on a lady friend of his. My Diap.y. 129 A FltlGHTEXED DARKY. I now had a Yery important trust imposed on me, and I nat- urally felt a sort of womanly cnriosity to explore that sacred realm. Soon after daylight the next morning, 1 took three of the boys and went around to the back side of the house and effected an entrance, but it was evident Ave were not the first explorers. We found nothing but a few articles of he;ivy furniture until we went into the sou.th\vest corner room next to the veranda. Here was a rich find, a lai'ge library. This room was auout lo feet square, and on all sides were bcx^ks from the floor to the ceiling. Here was history, l)iogra])hy, travels, fiction, religion, law and miscellaneous works, magazines of all kinds, j>ublic docunients, reports on all manner of subjects, and a large (juantity of letters and jn-ivate ])a]>e]'s. We tarried hei-e over an hour, and on coming out met a darky on the veranda. He put on one of his ugliest looks and said: "Wot doin' in dar"? Mus kecj) out dar !" "What's that to you, you black cussV" "You fine out, you go in dar. Colonel West tole me look out for dis yer jiroperty an' tole him wot 1 sees goin' on roun yere." "And do you tell Colonel West what you see done here':'" "O, yas sail, yas sail, Ize tole him ebery ting Ize sees." "Look here, boy, do you want to live to be old V" "O, yas sail, yas sah." "Well then, if you are cherishing any such desire, you must be a little careful what you say to West, for if he ever comes to lis with any stories from you, we will take you out here into the woods and leave you for the l)uzzards to eat." "O, lorra golly mity, boss, Ize neber ses nosin' bout de sogers, it's on'y dese yere citizens roun yere Ise looks arter, fore de Lord, boss, Ise done sa nosin bout de sogers." "That's right, boy; you stick to that and keep it right on your min, so that we could neither go ahead nor back off. This caused a delay of about two hours, as cutting out floats by the light of a lantern is a slow job. A mile or so further on a similar accident happened. This time they M'Cnt to woi'k cutting out the stump which was of considerable size, and took with a large amount of swearing, until after day- light to get clear. The ])ort wheel had now acquired a ])rovoking habit of fouling with all the stum])s and snags along the bank, and not until late in the afternoon of the 23d did we come out to a lake, sound, bay, or ai any rate a large sheet of water, which we crossed, and just before night again entered the canal. We now enter the eastern edge of the great dismal swamp. I have sometime re:\d a legend of the phantom or witch of the lake of the dismal swam]), Avho all night long, l)y the light of the firefly lamp, Avould ])addle her liglit canoe. On each side of the canal is a cypress swamj), and as the officers w'ere abcmt retiring for the night in the house on deck, the colonel charged the boys to keep a sharp lookout for guerrillas and bitshwhackers who 136 My Diary. niiglit be lurkin<2: there. About niied anchor at Fortress Monroe at dusk. The next morniny- we started up the James .river. Tlie river was alive with boats, schooners, tugs, gunboats, monitors and everything that couM float, all loaded to their fullest capacity with troops, horses, artillery and all theparai)hernalia of war. We passed Jamestown in the afternoon. Nothing now remains to mark the spot where the fii'st settlement in Virginia was made, but a pile of bricks which com])Osed a part of one of the buihlings. We reached City Point just before night. Gen. Heckman's brigade landed on the Bermuda Hundred side and bivouacked a short distance from the landing, all the other trooj^s remaining aboard the boats. Tlie gunboats and monitors commenced fishing for torpedoes and working their way up the James and Ai»])omatox rivers. The next morning, the 6th, the troops commenced to land and Heckman's brigade was ordered to advance. We marched up the country six or seven miles, getting on to high ground and wdiat is called Cobb's Hill. From here the spires of the churches in Petersburg can be seen, while in front of us is a kind of valley. At this ])oint the Appomatax river turns in a soiithwest- erly direction. On the banks between us and Petersburg was a battery. This is called a good position and here we halted. We sat here under a burning sun, watching the long lines of troo]>s come up and file off to the right into the woods towards the James river until past the middle of the afternoon, at which time the whole of the 18th and 10th corps, comprising the army of the James, under (jen. B. F. Butler, had arrived. heckman's briCtADE leads off the daxce. About 4 i>. m.. Gen. Heckman is ordered to make a recon- noisance towards the Petersburg and Pichmond railroad. We moved down the valley in a southwesterly direction, and Avhen about three miles out the 27th Massachusetts were advanced as skirmishers. A mile or two farther on we bei>-an to hear scatter- ing shots, indicating that our skirmishers had found game. We hurried on and found the enemy in a shallow cut, on a branch railroad running from Port Walthal to the Petersburg and JJich- mond road. A shar]) skirmish ensued, lasting till near dark, when Heckman withdrew, having accom])lished his pvii"pose of finding tlie enemy. In this skirmish the '25th lost four killed and several wounded. The next morning, the 7th, we moved on them in force. Gen. Brooks' division moving directly on the Petersburg and liich- mond railroad. Heckman's brigade, with a section of a battery, were ordert'd to occupy the ground of the night before. The My Diary. 139) enemy were in strong force and o])ene(l on us with artillery, Hecknian i^aid no attention to that, but moved his battalions into line on the field in columns l)y division, and ordered them to lie- down. The lJ5th were partially covered by a slight roll of ground in our front, while the 'Ilth Massachusetts on our left were badly exi)osed to the enemy's fire and were suffering severely. Heck- man saw the situation and ordered Col. Lee to move his regiment to the rear of us. He then ordered forward his artillery, ])lacing, them in battery in our front and set them to work. Xh^.Y niade the rail fences and dust fly right smart. After a Jew shots had been fired a loud explosion was heard, followed by a bier cloud of smoke, dust and debris in the enemy's line. One of their cais- sons had blown up, and our boys rose up and gave rousing cheers. Our guns continued shelling them, but got no return fire, their ammunition was probably exhausted and their guns j^erhaps dis- abled. There was no infantry firing on either side, we simply hold- ing our line and watching events. Heavy firing was heard over on the railroad. Brooks was at them and a fight foi- the railroad was going on. We were masters of the situation here and were able to protect his flank. About noon the enemy got an old gun into position and commenced throwing chunks of railroad iron at us. This caused considerable sport among the boys and they would cheer them lustil}- every time they fired, but a few shots- from our guns, put a quietus on that sport. I have often read and heard of that kind of practice, but never saw anj' of it until now. In the afternoon a battery of four 20-pounder parrott guns- drove u}), takiyg positions on a roll of ground some 20 rods iit our rear and commenced firing. I at first thought tliey were shelling the enemy in front of us, and was a little surprised at it as all was quiet on. both sides. But I soon noticed they werefiot, I got i)ermissiou from Cai)t. Emery and went up there. Here was a signal officer, and nearly half a mile away to the northwest Avas a group of men signaling to this battery. The guns were at quite an elevation, and they would train them a little to the right or left, as directed by the signal officer. They were throwing: shells over the woods and drop])ing them among the enemy oA'er on the railroad, some two miles away. Those shells were report- ed to be very annoying to the enemy and of great service to> Brooks. It was s])lendid artillery practice and I was greatly in- terested in it. While watching them shy those shells over the woods I wondered where those devils over there thought they came from. Towards night it was signaled that Brooks had accomplished his purpose, tearing up sevei'al miles of road and was drawing: back to our line. The day's work was ovei- and we drew back to Cobb's Hill. In this day's fight the 27th Massachusetts sustained 140 My Diary. 4l)e o-reatc'st, loss, while the 25th suffered the worst in Inst niglit's •iiffair. The heat was intense, and the men suffered sevei-ely, 3iiany of them being prostrated and carried back in ambulances. ox THE SICK LIST. May IX. Since the affair over on the railroad, I have been on the sick list and have suffered severely with chills ;vnd fever and from other causes. I am not yet able to do much and I fear I shall not be able to go on many more excursions with the boys. The regiment lias l)een out nearly every day, and has suffered a loss of more than 200 men, killed, wounded and prisoners. In the fight at Drury's Bluff, two mornings ago, we lost heavily, some 150 men being killed, wounded or taken prisoners. Heek- Tiian's brigade was almost annihilated. He was taken prisoner together with Ca))t. Belger, who lost four })ieces of his battery, •and Col. Lee, with nearly the whole of the '27th Massachusetts regiment, besides a good many officers and men of the 23d Mas- sachusetts and 9th New Jersey. 18th Corps Hospital, Point of Rocks, Sunday, July 10, 1864. I Jiave been here a little more than a week and begin to ieel a little rested. I have not written a letter for more than a aiionth and about everything has been neglected. I hung around the regiment as long as Ass't Surgeon Hoyt would allow me to, and the first of the month he piled me into an ambulance and :sent me here, saying I could have a much better celebration here .than I could in the trenches. This was my first ride in an ambu- lance and I didn't enjoy it worth a cent. I have«filways had a Btrong aversion to that kind of conveyance and have always clung .to the hoj)e that I might be s])ared from it. ]My health began to fail early in the S})ring. I said nothing about it, thinking I should improve as the weather grew warmer, but instead of im- proving I grew worse, until now I am unfit for anything. At :tirst I was terribly afflicted with jiiles, then chills :uui fever, and a^iow I have a confirmed liver complaint which no amount of blue mass, calomel or acids affect in the least unless it is to help it ^long. I reckon if I can keej) pretty quiet and can hold out till I get home I shall stand a chance to recover from it, but it will be ii slow job. hospital life. July 20. Thus far T have been una1)le to discover any .charms in hosi)ital life. "With fair health the active cam]) is far preferable. This hospital is divided into three de])artments. The first is the officers' ward, the second is tlie liospital for tlie wouiuled and very sick, and the third is the convalescent cam]\- The Urst two are in large hos])ital tents and are furnished with cots, My Diakt. 141 mattresses and other necessary conveniences. In the third are- more than 6(1(1 men, qnartered under slielter tents. I am in this department. It is not sui)})Osed that there are any sick men here^ They are all either dead beats or afflicted with laziness, and a draft is made from among them t^\•ice a week for the front. I had been here only four days when I was drawn, hut Garland o£ company C, who is an attache at Doctor Sadler's office, saw my name on the roll and scratched it oft'. Although there are none here supposed to be sick, there seems to be a singular fatality among them as we furnish about as large a quota every day for the little cemetery out here as they do from the sick hosi)itaL But then in a po})ulation of 600 or more, three or four deaths a. day is not surprising. I have been here three weeks and have been drafted four times, but with my friend Garland's helj) I have escaped. I should be ]>]eased to be back with the boys if I was- onl}' half well, but I reckon I shall not be trou))led with any more drafts. Doctor Hoyt sent a man back the other day. The next morning he was sent up with a sharj) note to Doctor Sadler^ saying that he didn't send men to the liosi)ital that were lit for duty and didn't want them sent back until they were. That roused Doctor Sadler's ire, and he says when Hoyt wants his- men he can send for them. Doctor Sadler has the whole charge of the convalescent camp, and has several young fellows, assistant surgeons so called, on his staff. Some of these fellows I should think had been nothing more than druggists' clerks at home, but by some hook or crook have been commissioned assistant surgeons and sent out here. Every morning all who are able in all the ten wards go up to be examined and prescribed for by these new fledged doctors,, and those not able to go seldom receive any medical attendance,: but it is just as well and perhaps better that they do not go, as the skill of these young doctors is exceedingly limited. Doctor Sadlei" is a line man and a skilful surgeon. He comes around oc- casionally, visiting those who are not able to go out and .prescribes.- for them, and for a day or two afterwards the assistants will at- tend to those cases. These assistants make the examinations and draft the men for the front, after which they are again examined by Doctor Sadler and frequently a number of them will not be accepted, and the assistants oftentimes need not feel very mucb flattered by some remarks of the doctor. This convalescent camp holds its owni in spite of all the drafts made on it. liecruits arrive daily and the drafts are made twice a week, sending back 50 or 100 at each draft. When a draft is made one of the assistants comes into a ward and orders it turned out, and every man not down sick alted turns out. The ward-master forms them in smgle rank and the ins])ection begins.. They commence on the right and go through the w^ard, making 142 My Diary. Tthe s.ime examinations and asking the same questions of eA'ery man in the ward. They feel the pnlse and look at the tongue, and if those are right they are booked for the front. They re- mind me of horse jockeys at Brighton, examining horses. Some of the boys who are well enough but are in no hurry to go back, ^ APPOIXTMEXT. August 1. The Avard next me on tlie left is a colored one, and contains from 60 to 80 men, according to recruits and drafts. Until recently they have been pretty much on their own hook, no one seeming to care for them. Some days ago Doctor Sadler asked me if I Avould take charge of them. I 'said I should like to do anything Avhere I could be of any use. He gave me my in- structions and some blank reports, and set me up in business. My duties are to attend roll-calls, surgeon's calls, keep an account of arrivals, diseliarges, desertions, deaths, march them up to the kitchen three times a day for rations and make my report to him My Diary. 143 every morning. Entering on tlie discharge of my dnties the first thing I did was to set tliem to woi'k cleaning and fixing n]) their quarters, so they woukl Ije more comfortable. A cou])le of hours' work showed a great improvement in the condition of things, and while it was being done it gave me a chance to find out who among them were the worst off and need- ed the most care and favors. A sick nigger is a ciirious institu- tion and you can't tell so well about him as you can about a sick mule. He can put on the sickest look of anvthing I ever saw and appear as though he would die in seven minutes, but a nig- ger is never really sick but once, and is then sure to die. There is no more hel]) for one than there is for a sick pig. I have three tliat are sick and I have no more faith in their getting well than I have that Gen. Lee will drive Gen. Grant from before Peters- burg. Two of them are now unable to attend the surgeon's call in the morning and the other I exjject will be in a few days. I have about 40 hobbling around with canes, si)avined, ring-boned and foundered. The others are simply a little war-worn and tired. The kitchen is about 30 rods from the camp, and when I march them up there tliere are so many lauie ones they straggle the whole distance. Doctor Sadler called my attention to this and said he should like to see them march in little better order. I replied : "Surgeon, come out in the morning and see the parade; you will see them marching a 28 inch step and closed up to 18 inches from stem to stern." He promised he would. The next morning at breakfast call I formed every one of those darkies that carried canes on the right, and the very lamest I put at the head of the column, and gave them a send-off. It was a comical show, they marched at the rate of about one mile an hour, and those in the rear kept calling out to those in advance : "Why don ye goo long dar! Hurry up dar; shan' get breakfas' fo' noon." They kept closed up a good deal better than they kept the step as the rear crowded the advance to push them along. We were cheered along the route as almost everybody was out to see the fun. We marched in review before the doctor, and by the way he laughed and shook himself I thought he was well satisfied with the parade, at any rate he complimented me on my success when I carried in my morning re2:)ort. One day one of my fellows came to me for a pass to go fish- ing. He said he could catch as many bull-heads as would do us two for three days. I gave him a pass, but didn't see anything of him again for four days. When I asked him where he had been so long, he looked pretty sob er for a minute or two, and then rolling around the whites of his eyes and showing his teeth, said : "Yah, yah, yah ! ize no idee ize don gon so long ; yah, yah, yah." 144 My Diaky. ked carter the blacksmith, August 8. Wlien I first came here I was ])retty well used up, l)ut thanks to my friends, Garland of comi)any C and Whee- lock and iVldrieh of my own com])any (who are attaches of this liospital), and also to Miss Dame for their attention, kindness ,ind favors, 1 am feeling- the l)est now I hav'e any time this snminer. For their sym])athy, attentions and kind offices, I am under a debt of everlastino' gratitude. ^ Within a week two of my sick men have died and another is fast going. One of them was a character in his Avay. As near as one can" guess the age of a darky I should judge he was about 60 years old, and rather an intelligent man. He always called himself Ned Carter the blacksmith, and delighted in having others call him so. He would talk by the hour of old times, about his old master, and the good times and good cheer they used to have at Christmis time. When I first took this ward I saw that Ned was a sick darky and told him to have things his own \\'ay ; if he felt like sleejung in the morning and didn't want to come out to roll call I would excuse him. I noticed that he seldom went for his rations, but Avould send his cup for his coffee and tea. lie said there was very little at the kitchen he could eat. I asked him what he could eat. He said he thought some cracker and milk would taste good. I took his cup up to Miss Dame and asked her if she would give me some condensed milk and a few soda crackers for a sick darky. She gave them to me, and Ned Carter the blacksmith was happy. The convalescent camp is not alloAfed anything from the sick kitchen, except by order of Doctor Fowler, so any little notion T get from there is through the kindness of Miss Dame or my friend Wheelock. I have of- ten carried Ned a cup of tea and a slice of toast, with some peach or some kind of jelly on it, and the poor fellow could exjiress- his gratitude only with his tears, he had no words that could do it. One morning after roll call I went to his little tent and called Ned Carter the blacksmith. I got no response, and thinking he might be asleep I looked in. Ned Carter the blacksmith Avas- gone, l)ut the casket that had contained him lay there stiff and cold. THE CHRISTIAISr AND SAXITARY COMMISSIONS. Au(4UST 20. T have read a great deal in the i)aj)ers of the Christian and Sanitary commissions, of the noble and humane work they were doing and tlie immense amount of money con- tributed for their suj)])ort by the ])eople throughout the north and west. I have taken a great interest in these commissions and liave sup]K)sed they were a kind of auxiliar}- to the medical and surgical department of the army, carrying and dispensing some: My Diary. 145 sini])le ine- wounds, giving coinfort and consoliition to the sick, weary and distressed; but in all this, so fai" as my oljservation has gone, I find I liave been hvboring under a dehision. Since I have been here is the first 1 have evei' seen of the workings of these com- missions, and I have watched tlieni witli some interest and taken some pains to find out about them. Here is a branch of eacli, located midway the convalescent canijj and sick hospital, and I find they are little else than sutler's shops, and ])0()r ones at that. These places are said to furnish witliout money and without ]»rice to the inmates of this hospital and the hoys in the trenches siu-h little notions and necessities as we have l)een accustomed to buy of the sutlers, and in consequence of this no sutlers are al- lowed to locate anywhere in this vicinity. The Itoys are not suj)- posed to be fooling away their money to tiiese thieving sutlers when our folks at home are willing to supj)ly our little needs, free gratis for nothing. So when we hapj)en to want a lemon or a pencil, a sheet of paper or a jdece of tobacco, or whatever other little notion we re(iuire, all we have to do is to ap]!ly to one or the other commission and make known our wants; after answering all the questions they are pleased to ask we are given a slice of lemon, a half sheet of paper or a chew of tobacco. These are not wholesale establishments. Foi'tunately for me I have stood in very little need of any- thing within their gift. I seldom solicit any favors and those are granted so grudgingly I almost despise tiie gift. My first ex|)e- rience with these institutions was one day when 1 was out of to- bacco, I called on the Christians and told them how I was situ- ated. I got a little sym])athy in my misfortunes and a short lec- ture on the sin of young men contracting such liad habits, when I Avas handed a cigar box containing a small quantity of fine cut tobacco and told to take a chew. I asked them if they couldn't let me have a small ])iece that would do me for a day or two. "•Oh, no ; that is not our way of doing l)usiness." "Will you sell me a piece? I would as soon bu}' of you as of the sutler." "Oh no; it is against our orders to sell anytliing. All liiere is here is free, it costs you nothmg." He then put uj) a small quan- tity and gave me. The next day I sent down to tlie Point and bought some. My next call was for a pencil. 1 w.-is hinided a third of one. I said if that is the best you can ray most fervently for the boys who hold them. We are never short of visitors, as soon as one party goes, another comes, and they all seem to be good Christian men, tak- ing great interest in the welfare of our souls. A CHARACTEK. Among our visitors is a tall, lean, middle-aged man Avhom I know must have seen right smart of trouble. His face is snarled and wrinkled up in such a way that it resembles the face of a little dog when catc])ing wasps. Although there is no benevolent expression on his countenance, he yet has more sympathy to the square inch than any other man I ever saw. He takes a great in- tei'est in this convalescent camp and seems to have taken it under liis special chai-ge. He will be in this camp all day, calling on all hands, inquiring after their health and needs, praying with them, giving them sympathy and good advice. He will come round giving a thin slice of lemon to all who will take it, and will some- times go through the cam[) with a l)asket of linen and cotton rags anl a bottle of cologne, sprinkling a little on a rag and give it to any one who will take it and at the same time will distribute religious tracts. Some days he will come round with a bottle of brandy and sinto the cainj) of the 9th Vermont — a sick, ragged, dirty, lousy crowd. The Yennonti'i-is gathered woiideringly ai'ound us, extending us every sympathy and hospitality tliat lay in their {)ower. The old regiment was divided off into three or four small companies, one of which undei" command of Cajijt. Emery, was sent out to Price's ci'eek, about a mile from here, to go into quarters and do some light i)icket duty. We have once more got ourselves cleaned up, our bail- trimmed and dressed in clean, whole cloth- ing, and begin to look quite like ourselves again. We are again on our old stamjnng ground, lint, alas, how changed! Only a small remnant n(Av remains of that grand old regiment that left Worcester three years ago. They lill honored graves On half a hundred buttleiields, they are inmates of every hospital from Boston to Newbern, au'l are wasting away in rebel j)risons; a handful only remaining to tell the sad tale. In a few days more they will be still further decimated by a luuidred or more whose time will be out and go home. The whole south for the past three years has been singularly exem])t from the scourge of yeilow fever, but it has now l)i-oken out in Newl)ern, and is raging to a great extent, 30 or 40 dying daily. It has not yet reached the camjis outside the city, and hopes are entertained that it will not. OFF FOK HOME. On the 5th of October, two days before the ex])iration of our term of service, an order came to Price's creek, ordering all those who were entitled to muster out to turn over to the proper authorities our arms and equipments and re])ort at the railroad station near B'ort Sjtiuola. This was just aftei- dinner. Cajjt. Emery sent to the })ickets across the creek for all those who had not re-enlisted to re])ort at quarters. In a few minutes we were all there ; the captain read the order and the boys cheered. 1 was all ready to com})ly with the. order, and bidding faithful Spit- fire a long and final farewell, I handed it to the ca])tain. It was soon found out what was up, and for the next half hour the ene- my was left to take care of themselves, and all hands gathei'ed at quarters to say their good-byes and see us off. We went aboard the cars at Fort S])inoIa and picked up others along the road, ar- riving at Morehead about dusk. There about 100 of us w^ent aboard the steamer Dudley Buck, and soon after were sailing out the harbor of Beaufort, leaving behind us the scenes of our triumidis and hardships. The next morning we were around Cape Lookout and out to sea. Pretty soon we saw the officers come up out of the cabin, they were talking among themselves and seemed to wear a troubled look. It was soon discovered that there was a lot of citizens aboard coming down with yellow fever, 150 My Diaky. .111(1 before noon one was brought up out of the cabin dead and laid in a boat tliat liung on the davits. A>r IXDKIXATION MEETING. The boys held an indignation meeting, declaring it was Avrong and cruel on the part of the government or other autliori- ties to allow these men to come aboard, and it seemed to l)e the evident intent of the government or some one else to murder us. They had just tried to drown us and failing in that had now, af- ter having gone through one of the most unheard of cam])aigns, and as though were too obstinate to die, would give us one more chance, and smuggle aboard a lot of yellow fever stricken devils to go home with us. The captain disclaimed all knowledge of how the}' came aboard, but it was evident they were here and couldn't have got here without the knowledge and consent of somebody. They still further declared that those citizens were of no earthly use nor hadn't been of any, they were simply buzzards who had run away from the draft in New York, and were now running away from the yellow fever, and as a measure of safety and self-])rotection it was voted to throw them all overboard. 'J'he captain thought that would be most too summary a way of disi)osing of them, besides we •would be liable to a charge of mu- tiny and murder at sea. It certainly Avas no lack of will, but only our better judgment that prevented their being thrown over- board. AVe reached Fortress Monroe on the forenoon of the 7th and were detained several hours by some quarantine regulations, but were finally permitted to resume our journey. IN QUARANTINE. On the morning of the 9th we sighted Sandy Hook, and on getting nearer we could see quite a fleet of vessels lying there. This was the loAver quarantine. We ran through this, arriving at the u]>{)er quarantine at Staten Island about 10 a. m. We Mere now in sight of New York, and were buoj'ant in hoj)e that we should soon be there. As we neared a l)ig steamer lying in the middle of the channel we Avere hailed with "Steamer ahoy!" Wv slowed down and ran alongside. Some kind of an othcial came to the middle gangway and said : "Where are you from?" "Beaufort, North Carolina." "Any sick aboard V" "Yes, sir." "Any deaths?" "Yes, sir." "How many days out?" "Four." My DiMiY. lol "How many deatlis?" "Four." "Four deaths in tour (lavs. About ship and his leave, but if he could have looked through the side of the boat he would have seen half of ns down by the time he was in his 2,'i])ened to him? Can it be possible that he ha.s de- serted us? Avere questions that went unanswered. I said it Avas possible something may have happened to him, l)ut I a/niiot be- lieve he has deserted us. He is not that kind of a man, besides he would not miss takini;- us into Worcester for half the wealth 15-2 My DiAUY. of the city, but if he don't come tonight, we will send Captauis I'arkhurst and Emery to see what has become of him. About 3 [). ni. we sighted a large tug coming through tlie narrows, and soon after it headed towards our boat. Long before it got witliin hail we saAV a man in the bow, waving his cap. It Avas Caj)t. Denny. Deliverance had come, and 1 reckon wlien that hospital doctor heard our cheers, he must have thought we were not very badly affected with yellow fever. I had known Capt. Denny for several yeai's befoi-e the war, butcannot remem- ber a titne when I was so glad to see him as I wtis on that afternoon. The tug came alongside and we were not very long transferring ourselves aljoard of it and it was again heading for the city. We ran along the starboard side of the Norwich steamer, and boai'ded her at the forward gangway, and were hustled among the cotton bales and freight like so many lepers. We were not al- lowed abaft the forward gangway, and were not troubled with visitors as no one cared to see the brave defenders. But we careil nothing about that so long as we were going towards home, and the accommodations were as good as we had been accustomed to having. We reached Xorwich about 2 a. m. on the 13th, and went aboard the cars, arriving at Worcester at 4 oVdock. At this liour Worcester people were still wrapt in the arms of Morj>heus ami of course we didn't meet with a very enthusiastic reception. Our Ijttle ])arty formed on Foster street and noiselessly wended our way to the City Hall. A few sti-agglers who were around the depot rei)orted our arrival and an hour after we received an invi- tation to go back to the depot refresliment room for lunch. This invitation was readily accei)ted and a famine was created in that refreshment room soon after our entraiu'C. We had a good breakfast of hot coffee, cold meats, bi-ead, pies, cakes, etc. After breakfast we returned to the hall to receive visitors, among the first of whom was Col. Pickett, who Avarmly welcomed us, shak- ing hands with all. ■ We were right glad to see our colonel, and learn that he was getting the better of his wounds received at Cold Harbor. By 8 o'clock the hall was filled, and welcoming speeches were made by his Honor Mayor Ijincoln and others. After which it Avjis i»ro])osed we make a parade and show oni-selves over the city. This was onjected to, not because Ave didn't wish to please our AA'orcester friends, but because we were sick and tired, and had had enough of i»; r.ides and marches; our thoughts AA^ere of home and Ave Avere in a hurry to get there. Free tickets Avere furnished us on all the r;iilroads, ;md we were dismissed for a Aveek or until our muster out. I arrived home at noon, agreeably surjirising my family, who Avere not exi)ecting me for a week to come. • My Diary. 153 On the 20th of October we ag-ain met in Worcester for mus- ter out and discharge papers. I was once more a free nian, hav- ing been under the care and keeping of others a little moi-e thaa thirty-seven months. CLOSING SCENES. Two months later we again met in Worcester to be paid off. This was to be our last meeting, henceforth we should travel in different paths and our meetings would be only by chance if eyer. Shaking hands and wishing each other all m;inner of good fortune, we said our good-byes and })arted. I liave been through it and have had a great experience. I shall have no regrets that I did not go and have brought back no sorrowing memories. I have done what I could to preserve the union of the states. I have met the enemies of the country face to face, and done what I could to roll back the tide of rebellion, and if I have been of any little service to the country, I am glad of it. With all the officer* of the regiment my relations have always been on the most ami- cable footing, and I am vain enough to believe that they will all bear me witness that I have always cheerfully obeyed all their commands and done all the duty required of me; that I have al- ways treated thera])olitely and shown them all the respect due their rank. In mj' little sports and jokes I have shown no 2:)artiality, and I trust there is no one who bears any malice towards me on that account. I have brought from the field no resentments or animosities towards anv, but shall always hold in pleasing re- membrance all, both living and dead, with whom I have been as- sociated. Let him not boast who puts his armor on Like him who hxys it ofif, his battle done. THE END. hill bu ^mSkx ■<^. ^s-^ -^^ :¥ o V « ^;\ ^s^^ r^^c X ^ms ^'% •: .s^ O V ^^-^^^ ao- V ,i^ •^ o V ^i? .■^- -^0^ ;^^ o °-i. "oo V ••^' N^^ .. "V • « o "^^ "^^ . > a g .e. ^- ." -^^0^ ^^' %, 4 O. vV. 1 • o > K-^^ .40. <0 -r. O N ^^- vO- '^0^ «<^ .o-o ^.^^'^|\^** ^%. '^^^vpy '^'^\ ^% o. ,0 .^ % ^-^.;> < ^^ r ^ V ','^ '^. "o'^i/ -^lAR 30 N. MANCHESTER, >^ A-^^ A