Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1861-09-09
FROM THE SECOND MASSACHUSETTS.


On one of our marches as the column was
passing through a small hamlet in Virginia,
your correspondent asked lady sitting at
door, What town is this Gently clothing
her face in smile of the most supercilious
contempt-such as Pluto might have bestowed
upon poor Tantatus, she answered-Lord this
amt no town. This is marvelously true Of
the locality in which we are now taking
short rest from our nomadic lite. All that
can be said is we are somewhere in Columbia
county, Mary land 1t is within very short
march OF the Potomac, and within about TWEEN
ty miles OF Washington.
Day before yesterday the second brigade
passed in review before Gen. Banks. The
brigade is composed OF the second and twelfth
Massachusetts regiments, the fourteenth and
sixteenth Indiana. aud Deableday's hatiery--a
brigade which we think will prove formidable
e mos l,---. sIIs IT, raatte
" Win sfeDeldom. Gen. Doubleday has already
spoken to the southerners from the walls Of
Sumter. When he speaks next the forces
will be more evenly divided
Every hill top for miles is dotted with the
white tents OF soldiers, while the smoke curl
ing up among the trees indicate the bivouac
of some cavalry company. Near Gen Banks
headquarters are the Massachusetts second,
on a hill directly opposite the Massachusetts
twelfth. On the slope of the hill below
the second are the two Indiana regiments.
The view of the different encampments at
i,lt indie Of
ton night. The cooking fires, the light in the
tents, the lanterns fitting to and fro, present
an appearance that l have gazed at for hours.
The Massachusetts regiments are daily be-
coming Injured to hardship. The poetry of
war is fast wearing of. Yesterday, after
weary march through mud and pouring rain,
we were obliged to lie down on the wet ground,
without tents, around our camp fires, with
nothing 10 eat except what had been all day
soaking in our haversacks. Notwithstanding
such exposures there is but little sickness in
the army. Colds are somewhat abundant
But the hospital is far from full, We are
dreading the effects of the equinoctial storm,
width is now close upon u.s.
You at horne probably know more of the
movements of the army than we who are ac.
tors. We lie in our Sibey tents, laughing
and chatting in true soldier STYLE drowning
the memory OF past fatigue and borrowing no
trouble Tor the future, when comes the order
to strike tents, pack up and be off, we know
not where, for how long a time, or to encoun.
ter what dangers, We march until ordered
to halt, pitch tents and reenact the same
scene. The striking OF the tents of a regi-
ment is sight interesting TO the unmilitary
! All is got ready, and the drums begin to beat,
and the "ear piercing, &C." begins to squeak,
the signal for every man to be at his post
The last note sounds, every tent drops as if
moved by the same hand, and the field which
was but now white with canvass, looks like
disturbed anthll.
| very romantic incident occurred in one
! OF the regiments of the first brigade. A sol.
! der in an Indiana regiment. who had always
since leaving the state faithfully performed all
his duties, was found to be her. Whether
love of adventure or of some "brave solder
boy impeled her to share this rough life,
am unable to say. Next week we move again.
few days may bring great change in mat.
ters Till then, au reUoir. E.w.P.