Reminiscences of the 123d Regiment, N.Y.S.V., giving a complete history of its three years service in the war

Chapter I

CALL FOR TROOPS BY THE PRESIDENT— OLD WASHINGTON COUNTY RE- SPONDS—ENTHUSIASTIC WAR MEETING AT ARGYLE— PATRIOTIC RES- OLUTIONS—WAR COMMITTEE— APPORTIONMENT OF COUNTY— A FULL REGIMENT RAISED— RENDEZVOUS AT SALEM— DEPARTURE OE THE REGIMENT— ARRIVAL AT WASHINGTON,

C’CLELLAN’S campaign before Richmond in June and

July, 1862, resulted disastrously to our army, and carried triumph to the South and to the North dismay. The patriotic but unwarlike enthusiasm of the country, which had hoped to crush the Rebellion ere this, was temporarily stifled. But the \hill was only like that of the first stealthy drops of the thunder ksts upon a raging fire, which breaks out anew and with increased VW when the tempest fans it with its fury, and now burns in SP1 of a deluge of rain. From the great centres of national life weiVorth warm currents of renovating public opinion, which reacN into every hamlet and village in the North. Every true man V graSpjng tiie stirring questions of the day, and was discussing them with his family at his own fireside, and the Rebellion was doomed. In a deeper and broader sense than ever before the country was rising to meet the emergency, and Northern patriotism, now thoroughly aroused, was sweeping everything before it. Everywhere resounded the cry “To arms! and thousands were responding to the President s generous call for 300,000 troops July 1st, 1 862.

It was under these trying circumstances that the citizens of Washington County, feeling that the hour for prompt action had come, assembled at Argyle in mass convention July 22. 1862, to make arrangements for the raising of her quota under the call.

The Convention was called to order bv Hon. K. Dodd of Argyle, who nominated Hon. C. L. Allen, of Salem, as Chairman, who on taking the chair addressed the Convention in a stirring and patriotic atldress. On motion of Hon. Charles Hughes, the following gentlemen were unanimously elected as officers of the Convention :

President — Hon. C. L Allen, Salem.

Vice-Presidents — R. G. Hall, Argyle; 'J'hos. Shiland, Cambridge; Charles Benjamin, Dresden; Adam Cottrell, Easton- Alanson Axtell, Fort Ann ; E. R. Nash, Fort Edward ; P. H. Neher, Granville ; Simon Pratt, Greenwich ; F. Farewell, Hamp ton ; J. M. Northup, Hartford ; D. C. f. White, Hebron : Pete. Hill, Jackson ; Charles Rogers, Kingsbury ; Robert Patterson Putnam ; John McDonald, Salem ; |. [. Gray, Whitecreek ; Michael |. Myers, Whitehall.

Secretaries — A. H. Tanner, Whitehall : D. B. Cole, Salem Alonzo T. Mason, Greenwich.

The Convention adjourned for an hour, and on being calle to order by the President, he announced that there were p-'sent several survivors of the war of 1812, and they were given position on the platform.

Hon. E. Dodd, chairman of War Committee, offe'1 -sev’eral resoultions.

After the most unanimous and enthusiastic adoption of the resolutions by the Convention, the President introduced the Rev. Henrv Gordon of Coila.

The soul-stirring and patriotic address of this gentleman aroused the patriotism of even the most sluggish. Among other things he declared that he had taken the blanket from his own head and given to a volunteer to prevent him from shivering with cold. He had a few things left, which were at the disposal of the War Committee if necessary. He had a horse, and they might tax every tooth in his head, and then if that was not sufficient, every hair in his tail. The whole address was characterized by vigorous argument and impulsive eloquence, that reminded one of the speeches of Curran and O'Connell.

After the conclusion of this speech, Hon. Joseph Potter of Whitehall was loudly called for, and came forward amid loud applause. He believed the Rebellion could and would be put down, and he should believe it until he could be convinced that Slavery made brave men, and Freedom made cowards. Evenone must do something; if they could fight, fight; if they could better pay. let them pay; and if they can pray, let them pray.

Isaac \\ . Thompson of Granville followed, and after “Dixie,” by the Ft. Edward band, Rev. Dr. Lambert was introduced, and he was followed by Hon. Charles Hughes and a Mr. Fowler.

After these stirring addresses ' the following resolutions were passed :

Resolved, That we will raise a Regiment in Washington Co.

Resolved, 1 hat A. L. McDougall, Esq., be nominated as Colonel of the Regiment. •

Resolved, That the camp or depot for the Washington County- Regiment be located at the village of Salem, on the County Fair Grounds, upon condition that the buildings be erected within twenty days, the fence built and the grounds finished, all without expense to the State or County.

Resolved, That James C. Rogers he nominated for Major of the Regiment.

Resolved, That Rev. Henry Gordon be nominated as Chaplain of the Regiment.

The following gentlemen composed the War Committee:

Hon. E. Dodd, Oliver Bascom, William Coleman, Charles Hughes, John T. Masters, A. L. McDougall. J. M. Stevenson, R. Richards, Edwin Andrews, Joseph Potter.

The following committees were appointed to aid in enlisting volunteers in the several towns:

Argyll — Alexander Barkley, John Gillis, James Hall, C. G Harsha, J. McCall, E. Hill, W. D. Robertson, Wm. Lendrum, Henry Shepherd, Wm. Clapp, T. McN. Congdon.

Cambridge — E. McKie, A. Ingraham. J. S. Hall, Abel S. Webb, C. Skinner.

Dresden — A. A. Hulett, T. Slight, O. L. Steere.

Easton — Seneca Gifford, Henry S. Crandall, Lewis Potter, J. M. Eddy, Henry Smith, S. Battie, E. Gifford, Adam Cottrell. Dr. }. C'ipperly.

Fort Ann — C. Adams, Sidney D. E. Golyer, J. M. Barnett, George Clements, S. F. Pike, W. Swift, S. B. Corning, G. 1 ,. Stevens, I. Clements.

Fort Edward — Geo. Bradley, Geo. Satterlee, Daniel T. Payne, William Durkee, William Robinson.

Greenwich^ — Moses White, Morgan Heath, Abram Reynolds, A. Lendrum, Robert Alexander, Alex. Cherry, J. I. Lourie, S. L. Stillman, Jr., D. C. Bodge, Perry M. Selleck, Harvey Reid.

Hartford — J. P. Wood, J. M. Northup, J. Sill, W. H. Brown, Milo Ingalsbe.

Hampton — A. Dailey, A. R. Broughton, }. Green, Fliram Hotchkiss, Thomas Manchester.

Hebron — C. G. White, J. M. Rea, S. E. Spoor, Nathaniel Reynolds, J. S. McFarland.

Jackson — William Thompson, Benjamin C. Bishop, A. W. McLean, Thomas B. Lourie.

Kingsbury — Guy W. Clark. A. Freeman, G. I. Stone, Jr., Walden E. Richards, A. F. Hitchcock.

THF. 1 2 3 1J REGIMENT.

Salem — T. H. Walker, J. M. Williams, I) Woodard, W. Law, John King.

Whitecreek — S. E. Sweet, R. L. Nicholson, M. P. Barton, ]. Van Rensselaer, H. C. Gray, Jr.

Whitehall — E. E. Davis, S. T. Cook, J. Doren, J. F. Billett, G. A. Hall, T. Cowan. J. P. Blakeslee.

The countv was apportioned into ten company districts, as follows :

No. i— Putnam, Dresden, Fort Ann. 2 — Whitehall. 3 — Hampton, Granville. 4 — Hartford, Hebron. 5 — Kingsbury. 6 — Fort Edward, Argvle. 7 — Salem. 8 — -Cambridge and south

half of Easton. 9 — Greenwich and north half of Easton. 10

— WMtecreek and Jackson.

The following were designated captains by the War Committee:

Dist. No. 5 — Geo. W. Warren. No. 6 — S. R. Potter. No. 8 — O. S. Hall. No. 9 — Abram Reynolds. No. 10 — Henry C. Gray, Jr.

d’he following gentlemen were authorized to recruit : George Robinson, Argvle : Harlan P. Wait, Hartford.

Enthusiastic war meetings were held in other towns in the county, and the enlisting of men was pushed rapidly forward. The raising of a Regiment in this county was more than her proportion of the full quota, but the people were thoroughly aroused. To the town of Greenwich and the north half of Easton belonged the honor of taking the right of the Regiment, being the first to fill up her quota.

At a subsequent meeting of the War Committee the following additional appointments were made : Quartermaster, John King, Salem ; Surgeon, Dr. Clark, Sandy Hill ; Assistant Surgeon, Dr. Kennedy, North Whitecreek ; Assistant Quartermaster, Charles Warner, Whitecreek. Col. McDougall appointed George H. Wallace Adjutant of the Regiment.

The Regiment rendezvoused at the Fair Grounds in Salem, the camp being designated as “Camp Washington,'" and was mustered into the United States service Sept. 4th, 1862.

In obedience to orders from the Adjutant General, the 123d Regiment broke camp September 5th, 1862, and took their departure for Washington. The embarkation of the troops on board the cars and the departure from the depot was delayed until about 10 o’clock in the evening, at which time the Regiment left amid the shouts arid cheers of the immense throng of people, who had assembled to testify their respect for and interest in this noble offering of the patriotic sons of old Washington County.

Just before leaving camp the colors were presented to the Regiment, Co C of Whitehall being color company. The day before the departure of the Regiment, Hon. j. I. Lourie, on behalf of the citizens of Greenwich, in a neat and appropriate speech, presented to Capt. Abram Reynolds and Lieuts. James C. Shaw and Alonzo T. Mason each an elegant sword. Similar presentations were made to other officers of the Regiment.

The following is a list of the officers that went out with the Regiment :

FIELD AND STAFF OFFICERS.

Colonel, A. L. McDougall, Salem; Lieut. -Colonel, Frank Norton, (in the field); Major, James C. Rogers, (in the field); Adjutant, George H. Wallace; Quartermaster, John King, Salem; Surgeon, John Moneypenny; First Assistant Surgeon, L. W. Kennedy, Cambridge ; Second Assistant Surgeon, Richard S. Connolly, Easton ; Chaplain, Henry Gordon, Cambridge ; Sergeant Major, Walter L. Martin, Fort Ann ; Quartermaster Sergeant, Charles D. Warner ; Commissary Sergeant, Clark Rice ; Hospital Stewart, Leonard Corning, Fort Ann ; Clerk, A. A. Buell, Whitehall.

COMPANY OFFICERS.

A — Captain, Abram Reynolds, Battenville ; First Lieutenant, Alonzo T. Mason, Greenwich ; Second Lieutenant, James C. Shaw, East Greenwich.

B — Captain, George W. Warren, Sandy Hill; First Lieutenant, James Warren, Sandy Hill ; Second Lieutenant, Samuel C. Burton, Sandy Hill.

C — Captain, Adolphus H. Tanner, Whitehall : First Lieutenant, AYalter G. Warner, Whitehall : Second Lieutenant, John C. Corbett, Whitehall.

I) — Captain, John Barron, Fort Ann; First Lieutenant, Alex. Anderson, Putnam; Second Lieutenant. Edward P. Quinn, Fort Ann.

L — Captain, W. W. Weer, Hartford; First Lieutenant, Geo. R. Hall. Hebron; Second Lieutenant, Seth C. Carey, Belcher.

F — Captain, Duncan Robertson, Argyle; First Lieutenant, Donald Reid, Lake; Second Lieutenant, George Robinson, Argyle.

G — Captain, Id. C. Gray, Jr., North Whitecreek; hirst Lieutenant, James Hill, Coda; Second Lieutenant, Charles Archer, North Whitecreek.

H — Captain, John S. Crary, Salem; First Lieutenant, Benjamin Elliott, Salem; Second Lieutenant, Josiah H. Culver, Salem.

I — Captain, Orrin S. Hall, Centre Cambridge; First Lieutenant, Marcus Beadle, South Easton; Second Lieutenant, Albert Shiland, Centre Cambridge.

K — Captain, Henry O. Wiley, North Granville; First Lieutenant, Hiram O. Warren, Hampton; Second Lieutenant, Geo. W. Baker, Middle Granville.

The Regiment reached New York about 3 o'clock, on the morning of the 6th of September, Saturday, and marched through Broadway to City Hall Park, where they remained until 3 o'clock next day afternoon, when they took the steamer Transport for Amboy, and there took the cars for Camden. They were ferried over the Delaware river at this point to Philadelphia, where they found breakfast awaiting them at the Cooper Shop Volunteer Refreshment Saloon. This eating house was established on Otsego street, below Washington Avenue, in May. 1 8 6 1 , and in one year furnished meals free to 87,513 soldiers on their way to the front. The building was large enough to admit of a whole regiment eating at once. After a hearty breakfast the regiment marched up Washington street to the Park and after resting awhile, started for the Baltimore and Ohio depot.

IO

The regiment reached Baltimore about 6 o'clock p. m. Alighting from the cars they started for the Washington depot, their march leading them through the principal streets of the city, thereby giving them a good view of the public buildings and business portion of the city. Remembering the reception given the Massachusetts troops at this place, the boys were agreeably surprised on reaching Washington depot to find awaiting them a substantial meal, prepared by the patriotic citizens of Baltimore.

Again taking the cars they reached Washington in due time and were marched to Camp Chase, on Capitol Hill, where was commenced the real life of a soldier. I'he camp was laid out in company streets, the little shelter tents put up and a strong guard placed around camp. No soldier was allowed to go outside the camp limits, and especially into the city, without a pass from the commanding officer.

The ride from Salem to Washington was a grand excursion for the boys, and they enjoyed it most heartily. But to one poor soldier it was his last. Evander Burtis, a soldier in Co. A, from Greenwich, was taken sick while on the way and left in the hospital at Philadelphia, where he died on the 9th of September, 1862. His remains were taken home and deposited in the beautiful Cemetery at Salem. He was the last man who enlisted in the companv and the first one to die.

I I

Chapter II

AT CAMP CHASE— MARCH TO ARLINGTON— AT FREDERICK CITY, MD— IN CAMP AT PLEASANT VALLEY AND LOUDON VALLEY — MARCH TO THE OCCOQUAN— IN CAMP AT FAIRFAX STATION.

SOOX after reaching Capitol Hill the boys received their first arm}- rations, consisting of beef, rice, beans, bread, coffee, sugar, salt and vinegar, and also their guns and accoutrements. The first accident in the Regiment occurred September nth. Charles Lapoint, of Co. A, was wounded by a shot from a Colt's revolver in the hands of Benjamin Rodier of the same company. They were sitting down about three feet apart. Rodier held the pistol in the right hand, was turning the cylinder with the left, when the pistol went off. Lapoint was sitting sideways to Rodier, and received the shot in the right side. The ball passed about seven inches under the skin, and lodged against the skin on the " posterior aspect ” of the body. The ball was extracted and he was properl}' cared for by Drs. Connolly and Kennedy.

While at Camp Chase Capt. Reynolds was appointed Quartermater in place of John King, who resigned October 25th. This gave Lieut. Mason the command of the company. 1st Lieut. Walter G. Warner of Co. C also went on the staff of Gen. Paul, Brigade commander, about the 1 9th of September.

REMIX fSCEXCKS OK

I

Until the 171I1 of September the Regiment remained in camp on Capitol Hill drilling and equipping and doing camp guard duty. On the morning of the above date orders came to strike tents. Without one dissenting voice this order was enthusiastically received and obeyed. The Regiment tiled out of Camp Chase, and with drums beating and colors flying marched down Pennsylvania Avenue and across die Potomac river via Long Bridge, and reached Arlington Heights about 2 o'clock p. m., footsore and weary, and camped in the vicinity of the Arlington House, on a ridge commanding a splendid view of the Potomac and the surrounding country. This place of historical interest was well calculated to awaken the enthusiasm of young soldiers, and to recall the patriotism and noble life of him who stands before the civilized world the epitome of soldier, patriot and Christian.

The march from Camp Chase to Arlington was not over six or eight miles, and many of the boys in looking back to that first march, and remembering their Georgia and Carolina marches, will laugh when they think of their falling out by the wayside from sheer exhaustion. But the day was dreadfully hot, and every soldier was loaded down with many things then considered indispensable, but which experience taught them they could not carry.

The Regiment remained on Arlington Heights drilling, doing guard duty, clearing off camp grounds, &c. , until the 29th of September. Here it was the boys made their first effort at washing shirts and stockings. They got along very well, however, the starching and ironing being dispensed with. It may be their washing would not have been acceptable to the mothers and sisters at home, but the boys were satisfied. Their favorite washing place was in a small stream, about one mile from camp, on the Leesburgh turnpike. In going to their washing grounds one day they discovered, in a lonely hollow below Fort Richard-

*3 son, a soldier's grave. There was nothing to mark the spot ; and a soldier in speaking of it said that he never passed the lonely spot without praying that his fate might not be like the one buried there — away from home and loved ones — perhaps forgotten.

September 29th orders came to march, and instructions were given the boys to take only an overcoat or blanket, one piece of shelter tent, haversack, canteen, gun, and forty rounds of cartridges. About sundown the Regiment marched out of camp, down to the Potomac, across the Long Bridge and through the City of Washington to the depot. The cars not being ready the Regiment marched up a street, and some of the boys wrapped their blankets around them and lay down on the sidewalk and slept until nearly morning, while others took a stroll around the City. Some of them went into a store where the music of a violin was heard, and a lively time they had dancing for a few moments, when crash went the floor, falling a distance of three or four feet to the ground. Fortunately none were hurt, and the boys crawled out and sought fun elsewhere. About daylight they were marched to the depot and boarded the cars for Frederick City, Md. The cars were large freight cars, and from thirty to forty soldiers were placed in each. About 8 o’clock the train started, making some thirty miles an hour. The road from the Relay House for several miles resembles the G. & J. R. R. very much, continually winding between the hills. It follows a beautiful stream, the Patapsco ; Mount Airy is the summit ; afterwards it descends the slope towards the Monocacy.

The train reached Frederick City about dark, after having made several stops, and the Regiment remained during the night near the village. At the time the regiment was there Frederick City was a fine place of 8,000 inhabitants, well built, healthy, and the water equal to that of our own Washington County. The

REMINISCENCES OK next morning the Regiment marched about two miles out of the place and camped for two days, when orders came to march.

Going back to the depot they took the cars for Sandy Hook, which is about one mile from Harper's Ferry. The train stopped some time at Point of Rocks. The rocks are perpendicular, and some extend over the track. The wall extends over a mile but decreases in height. After remaining at Sandy Hook about two ■hours the Regiment marched north about two miles and pitched camp in Pleasant Valley. Maryland Heights, the scene of Col. Miles' surrender, were on their right, the Potomac in front, and the Virginia Heights on the other side, while to their left was another range, beyond which was the south mountain battle field, and Antietam was northwest of them. Here the Regiment was assigned to the 2d Brigade (Brig. -Gen. Thomas C. Kane), 1st Division (Brig. -Gen. A. S. Williams), 12th Corps (Maj. -Gen. H. W. Slocum). The regiment remained in Pleasant Valley a month or so, doing picket duty. Several died of disease in the hospital at Harper's Ferry, one soldier accidentally shot his thumb off while on picket, and another was found with his throat cut, supposed to have committed suicide.

About the 1st of November, 1862, the Regiment broke camp, and leaving the sick in camp went on a scout. They crossed the Potomac and the Shenandoah, remained in the Valley a few days guarding the latter river, and then crossed the mountain in a heavy snow storm and went into camp in Loudon Valley on the 8th of November. The regiment remained in camp at Loudon Valley through the months of November and December, and were thoroughly drilled, guard and picket duty being regularly performed. The boys built good log houses, many of them having very fine ones. Harvey Bosworth, John Richards, John Hornibrook and Eugene Cowan especially had a snug hut, having spent a great deal of time in its construction. They had the pleasure of sleeping in it one night after it was completed when orders came to march, and they had to leave it. One squad in Co. C had a small box stove, and when orders came to march, not knowing but it was simply to change camp, they took the stove apart and each carried a piece for half a day when they cast it off, and well they did.

December nth the Regiment received marching orders, and started in the direction of Fredericksburg. They were seven days on this march, passing Hillsboro, Whiteland, Leesburgh, Green Spring, Fairfax Court House, Fairfax Station. Fairfax Court House is in Fairfax County, which derived its name in honor of Lord Fairfax, an English lord, who owned a large tract of land in the northwest part of Virginia. The Court House is the capitol of the county, and was quite a business place before the war broke out. December 15th they reached and passed over Occoquan river. It was a cold, rainy, muddy march, and this night in particular, the boys having no tents, their blankets and clothes were completely soaked with the rain. On the morning of the 1 6th the roads were in a much worse condition than before. They returned to Fairfax Station, marching in one day what it had previously taken them two days to march. At Fairfax Station the Regiment went into camp. They had made about 100 miles on this march. Quite a number were left in camp at Loudon Valley, sick. The guerillas made a dash on them one night, and captured two or three, but released them after destroying their arms. The Regiment guarded the railroad at Fairfax Station, now and then being marched to the Occoquan river, crossing at Wolf Run Shoals, and then back to camp.

On the 27th firing was heard in the direction of Dumfrees, where four or five regiments and a section of artillery belonging to Geary's division were stationed, which proved to be a fight

1 6 with the Rebel General J. E. B. Stuart, who, with over 3,000 cavalry, had crossed the Rappahannock for a raid through the Union lines. This was the occasion for another move to the Occoquan by the Regiment, and it is doubtful if the boys will ever forget the tramps from Fairfax Station to this river. They had three days' rations with them this time, and remained at the river two days, sleeping on the bank of the river rolled up in their blankets. The weather was very cold at night, and they suffered severely.

The 29th the Regiment moved back to the Station. During the absence of the Regiment a squad of Rebel cavalry made a raid on the lower station at Fairfax and took prisoner the telegraph operator.

January 1st, 1863, found the Regiment stationed at Fairfax Station, with streets handsomely arranged, and in snug winter quarters, built of logs, arranged with huge fire places and all the conveniences that only a soldier knows how to arrange. And some of these fire places were certainly novel. They were made by driving sticks into the ground at one end of the tent in the shape of a horse shoe, and then plastering inside and out with mud. Around these some of the mischievous ones would gather after dark, and while the occupant would be busy frying his bacon they would drop two or three cartridges into the fire, the explosion of the powder causing the poor fellow to turn a back handspring, blowing frying-pan, bacon, ashes and wood all over the tent, and as soon as the frightened soldier could gather his senses he would lay hold of his gun or the first thing Iris hands reached and start for the guilty ones, but of course none were to be seen, and the very ones who did the mischief would soon come around and be his greatest sympathizers.

Chapter III

THE “MUD MARCH” FROM FAIRFAX TO STAFFORD COURT HOUSE— IN CAMP AT STAFFORD— SICKNESS AND DEATH OF SOLDIERS— FURLOUGHS GRANTED.

While the Regiment lay at Fairfax Station, three soldiers from Co. C concluded they had served Uncle Samuel long enough, so one dark night they quietly stole out of camp, by the guards, and started for Washington, or some other place, and arrived safely home, as was supposed, not being heard from afterwards, and they were set down as deserters. One of them was a con_ stant grumbler. He carried a heavy load in his knapsack, and would often say while on the march to Fairfax, “Who can have the courage to fight wid dat dam ting on his back ?'" But the Company and Regiment were much better off without such men, their grumbling having a tendency to cause a feeling of disquiet and discontent among the men. These three Canadians were of but little use, and they were not missed very much from the company.

When the Regiment left Sandy Hook to go into camp at Pleasant Valley, several were sent to the hospital at Harper’s F erry. William Skellie, of Co. I, died of camp dysentery, Oct i8

REJIIXISCEXCES OF

31, 1862. December 30th, news reached camp of the death of Fdson Whitney and Joseph H. Dilts, both members of Co. C. Zachariah Hastings of Co. A also died at Harper's Ferry Dec. ■25th, 1862. We think George Mattison, Co. D, died about the same time at Harper’s Ferry. Quite a number were left in camp at Foudon Valley but returned to the Regiment about the 1st of January, 1863. Two soldiers from Co. C, Shields and Carrol, received their discharge for disability.

A short time before the Regiment left Fairfax, they carried the remains of a soldier from Co. F to lay him in a grave in the old church-yard. It was in a grove of venerable oaks, beeches, &c. , on the road to Fairfax Court House. (Fairfax Station is three and one-half miles west of Fairfax Court House.) While they were performing their duties to the dead, an old man, apparently some 70 years of age, came from his dwelling near by, and looked on with melancholy interest. After the burial he talked with Capt. Robertson about the war, &c. , and about the then demolished church. He said that it had stood a hundred years; that Gen. Washington contributed towards the building of it; and tears were in the old man's eyes as he told of the hopes so fondly cherished, that times would change, and permit a harmonious action in reconstructing it. He told what Massachusetts regiment tore out the inside, and what Vermont regiment from Fairfax Court House broke down the walls and drew away the brick.

The Regiment remained at Fairfax Station, nothing occurring to relieve the monotony of a soldier's life, until the 19th of fan" uary, 1863, when orders came to get ready for a march, and at nine o'clock in the forenoon the Regiment started on the great “mud march." The roads were in a very good condition, and the first day the march was unbroken until night when the Regiment went into camp. The second day thev reached Dumfrees,

*9 the second village settled in the United States, it is said, and judging from its appearance we have no good reason to doubt the assertion. The Regiment bivouacked near the village.

About midnight a terrible rain storm came on, and the boys were flooded out. To sleep was beyond question, and they made the best of the weather until the storm had passed, and then made fires and solaced themselves with a cup of hot coffee. The next day the roads were in a terrible condition, and they made only about three miles. The weather was severely cold, but hope and labor kept their bodies and spirits warm, and they pushed their way through as best they could. If Bunyan’s Pilgrim had half as hard a task when struggling through the Slough of Despond as the Regiment did in marching those three miles, we feel to pity him, and glory in his perseverance and success.

The mud was fathomless. In some instances a six mule team was required to draw an unloaded wagon out of a mud hole. A little fellow from Co. C, being loaded down with his knapsack and accoutrements, became imbedded in the mud, and two of his companions had to go to his assistance and pull him out. Tired and sick at heart are some who drag themselves wearily along into camp that night; wet to the skin, blanket and tent soaking with the rain which has been falling all da}', the ground wet as well as wood, but in spite of all these discomfitures and drawbacks, huge fires were soon blazing all around, the old coffee pot is boiling, and while the soldiers drink their coffee and dry their clothes, the incidents of the day are related amid much laughter. Tents are put up, gradually the yelling and swearing of the teamsters dies away, the roars of laughter cease and sleep, ‘‘tired nature’s sweet restorer, " comes to drive away their cares and to put their sorrows in oblivion, and the soldiers now wander through dreamland, where kind friends are met, loved ones held in fond embrace; battles are fought, and bloody victories won, until the morning breaks, when they find that their feet have lain too near the fire, and the bottom of their blue pants are scorched and burned.