Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1861-12-25
From the 49th Pennsylvania Regiment
OAHF NhIFFIN, \.
December, 10Th, 1861.

CAMP GRIFFIN, VA.
December, 10Th, 1861.
Friend Gotzette Knowing that your read
ers out in the Valley are always glad to hear
from their friends and Old neighbours now in
the army, especially rs our company (Capt.
Maclay's) was formed in Milruy and neigh
borhnod. aud some une over the signature
of \. has given your readers good report
of us, it is the earnest wish of all our mem
bers to keep our good name, and it will not
be because wO do not try if We do not keep
it, and our friends can always expect to hear
OF us doing our whole duty. The 49th Regt
P V is composed of men from central Penn,
syIvania, ut least the ma ar part Of it, and
better men are not found anywhere. The
18th has always had good name here at
least we have the post of honor in Gen. Han
cocks Brigade. Ever since we came t old
Virginia our duties have been nearly the
same: pick"ting, wood chnpping, and good
deal of drilling. to keep US out of mischief:
in fact we have done more duty than is usual
ly required of regiments, but we have done
il without gru.nblng, and will continue to do
all that We are asked to do, and that most
checrfully. For how can any one refuse when
our Colonel requests US to do anything? lie
does not even have to command, but IT he
requests anything to be done, that is all that
is necessary. for no Colonel was ever obeyed
more cheerfully by his men than Col. Irwin
Somehow | cannot explain it, but If man be
ever so stubburn, if the Colonel only speaks,
it is enough-he cannot help but obey.
The health of the regiment is very good,
considering the climate and the mode Of llV.
ing. Though for the last two weeks the weather
has bean more like summer than winter. We
moved our camp week before last to higher
ground We have raised our tents about
| feet above the ground, filing in below with
| logs, which make them very comfortable. We
have made frc-places in the rear of them,
making chimneys out of mud and sticks; they
draw very we'll if the wind blows the right
| way, but if it does not the smoke goes every
| other place but out Of the chimney. Our ra-
! tions are abundant and good. There is little
! growing about the pilot bread being so hard,
and lasting so long, for it seems we cannot
| eat Uncle Sam out of hard crackers. Some
of the boys say the Government will have to
! get them new set of teeth, for their own are
worn down to the gums-a few will say d-n
the crackers-but still they will take them.
When We we're fixing up our tents one OF the
boys said he wanted good lot Of them to use
as clapboards for his roof. Our friend Holmes
NJ, at Milroy, received package one day
which looked good deal like picture, and
he thought it was too, for he was very careful
opening it, but you may judge how he looked
when he found it was an army cracker OF the
hardest kind. He thanked those whom he
thought had sent il to him, and said his fam
ily was ont Of bread at the time, and it lasted
two whole days. Well, / think it was one
that was left over from the war of 1917. Some
of the boys say they have found crackers
stamped B. G. Whether it is their age OF
hard baking. certain it is some of them are
about az hard ss bricks; but without joking
the pilot bread we get is of most excellent
quality, except box now and then that are
as hard as they can be made. If you would
ask soldier how he liked anything what DC
you think would be his answer If he did
Why, "Bullyw Well, Bully with soldier
means good deal, and if he don't say bully
you may set it down he does not like it. Il
you would ask one of our company how he
liked soldering? he would say, Bully" How
do you like your Col? Bully" What kino