Our camp in Baltimore was on open ground in front of Fort Marshall. The fort was occupied by the Fifth New York regiment of heavy artillery. Its guard-house and sutler's shops were outside the earthwork, and both of them were more or less patronized by our regiment, although not, of course, with an equal relish. Although the two regiments were within a few feet of each other there was not much intercourse between them.
Regiments are clannish, and companies are clannish.
It does not seem possible that ten companies of men can live in the small compass of a regimental camp even for a few days and not know each other, and yet three years together keep each company perfectly distinct, and find many of the regiment unacquainted with each other. The first death in our company took place on Thursday, October 2 nd . The comrade was Charles Small, aged twenty-six years. The remains were embalmed at the expense of the company and sent on to Danbury. Comrade Small was of a lively temperament, and was very popular in the company.