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Page 33
Tuesday morning by daylight we were in Harrisburg, and marched from the
cars to the Capitol grounds through the just awaking town, escorted by
one policeman armed with a musket. There a wash at a hydrant refreshed
me--then to breakfast in a temporary shed-like erection near the depot.
An army breakfast! Huge lumps of bread and salt junk, and coffee. To
this I knew it must come; but just then, after spending the night in the
cars, the most I could do was to swallow some coffee, scorning however
to join those who dispersed through the town for a civilized
breakfast--wherein I intended to be soldierly, though before long I
learned that your old soldier is the very man who goes upon the plan of
snatching comfort whenever he can.
But the regiment was at Chambersburg; so for Chambersburg we took the
cars, a distance, I believe, of about fifty miles.
Chambersburg, however, we were not destined to reach. Along the route we
met all sorts of rumors: 71st cut up; six men in the 8th killed;
fighting still going on a little in front, &c., &c.;--a prospect of
immediate work. So in ignorance and doubt we came to Carlisle. Here we
were greeted by part of the 71st, and the truth proved to be that the
8th and 71st had retreated to this place the night before. 'Not, not the
six hundred,' however, for the left wing of our regiment had somehow
been left behind, and nothing was certainly known of it. At all events,
we were to go no farther, and out of the cars we came. Old members
exchanged greetings, and recruits made acquaintances.
But what were we going to do? I could not learn. We waited, having
stacked arms, some sleeping beneath the trees in the College grounds,
until the lieutenant-colonel appeared upon the scene. Then we marched,
back and forth; toward the cars--'going back to Harrisburg;' past the
cars--'no, not to Harrisburg'--through the main street, and turned away
from the town, still unconscious of officers' intentions. We privates
never know anything of plans or objects. We never know where we are
going till we get there, nor what we are to do till we do it, and then
we don't know what we are going to do next. I soon got used to this; and
although conjectures and prophecies fly through the ranks, of all kinds,
from shrewd to ridiculous, I very early learned it was sheer bother of
one's brains attempting to discover anything, and ceased to ask
questions or form theories--getting up when I heard 'Company I, fall
in,' without seeking to know whether it was for march, drill, picket
duty, or what not. Company officers seldom know more about the matter
than their men, and I speedily came to content myself with trying to
extract from past work and present position some general notion of the
'strategy' of our movements. Nor is this ignorance wholly unblissful, as
leaving always room for hope that the march is to be short or the coming
work pleasant. Well, in the present case, just out of the town we halted
in the Fair grounds; an ample field, a high tight face around it, a
large shed in the centre. We all stacked arms--most went to sleep. I
always took sleep when I could, because, in a regiment constantly on the
move as ours was, if you don't want it now, you will before long.
By and by, in came the left wing, weary but safe, and were greeted with
three tremendous cheers. I hastened to find Company I. The first
lieutenant had come on with us--the captain I had not yet seen. To him I
was now introduced.
Very soon the Fair ground was a camp; we on one side--the 8th N.Y.,
Colonel Varian, opposite. Tents were up, fires blazing, and cooking and
eating going on. As I had not started with the regiment, I had no tent,
and none could be had here, so my camping consisted of piling my traps
in a heap. But I needed none, and indeed, throughout the whole time was
under one but twice. Tents are all very well, when you are quietly
encamped for any length, of time; but when, as with us, you are on the
more continually, I consider them a humbug and nuisance. You must carry
half a one all day, and at night join it with your comrade's half. The
common shelter tent, which is the only one that can be so carried, is a
poor protection against heavy rain, for the water can beat in at the
sides and form pools beneath you; against midday sun you can guard with
a blanket and two muskets, and at any other time you need no shelter.
That night I went on guard. Two hours you watch, four for sleep, and
then two hours you watch again. All quiet, save that two or three
prisoners are brought in from the front to be deposited in limbo, and
gazed at in the morning by recruits who have never seen a live rebel.
The most surprising thing I learned in these first days, was that
everything one has will certainly be stolen by his own regiment, even by
his own company, if he does not watch it carefully. This practice is
styled '_winning_.' It is simple, naked stealing, in no wise to be
excused or palliated, and utterly disgraceful. It imposes, moreover, the
grievous nuisance of remaining to guard your property when you would be
loafing about, or of carrying everything--no light load--with you,
wherever you go. Of course, all colonels should prevent this, and one of
any force and energy could easily do so; but Colonel ---- is not of that
kind. An excellent company officer, as I judge, he has not the activity
and nerve required in the commander of a regiment, and many a wish did
I hear expressed in those thirty days that his predecessor, Colonel
Martin, were still in command. Confidence in his bravery before the
enemy, was universal; but many things necessary to the decorum,
discipline, health, &c., of the regiment devolve duties finally upon the
colonel, for whose discharge other qualities than bravery are needed.
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