Litchfield enquirer., 1861-09-12
From tE,c 5tI, Regiment C. V

CAMP SHERMAN
 fear Uyattstown, td., Aug 18th.
 DEAR ENQUIEER:-When l last wrote the Re- their camp among the mountains. Camp duties and pleasures had settled into irregular routine; we had our stated drills, officers meetings, in spections, bathing excursions to the Potomac, etc., etc. In order to make their tents as com fortable and home-like as possible the men with true New England taste had brought hemlock trees from the neighboring forests and planted them in front of their doors in regular rows, so that each man might sit, as it were under his own vine and fig tree." This, and the construc- tion of ovens and sheds for cooking purposes cost them many an hours hard work Friday the 18th, the camp was unusually lively and the tragic part of Birnam Wood seemed to be acting in our midst. But the events of the evening made us realize the uncertain and shifting na- ture of the Arab life we have chosen In spite of cold drizzling rain, the orders came, at half past seven, to strike tents on the instant and in a few moments thc gallant Fifth were houseless and homeless, and sheets, trees, tables, stools, and the rest of our hanliworh, together with boxes, barrels and rails were soon food for the flames of immense camp fires The effect was truly splendid; the lurid glare of the flames as they lighted up the faces of a thousand men and streamed fercely up towards the stormy sky, sho wing magnifcently against a back ground of heavy and gloomy mountain masses.
 n,t tJo rho ,,f+ f nb,r r; oI dead that troop along the shores of the fabulous styx were those picturesque-lookng volunteers. (ltero let me say with all carncstness; let no one with predsposition towards. pulmonary or rheumatic complaints think of becoming q sol der. Let him, if patriotic, spend his strength and courage ill putting down scccssionists and hauling down peace flags at home. Unaccus- toned as most of us are to exposure, l wonder we do not ache in every bone But although so suddenly ordered to strike tents, did not start from Camp until about three o'clock on Satur- day, spending the interim, through succession of showers, in doing nothing with all our might, those addicted to profanity (of which there are several ill our reg imcnt) venting it, now on the slow passage of the baggage trains for which being rear guard of the discussion We had to wait, and HOW on the weather and things gener- ally. At last the hindmost baggage train having dragged its slow length past and away among the hills, we bade farewell to Sandy Hook and it's cnyirons, and took up our march 10 the strains of martial music along the banks of the Potomac We wore frequently obliged to halt on our route and the men wsro glad to rest them selves beside the road and support their heavy knapsacks against the fences We spent the night near Jefferson, wretchcd little village in bivouac among some rather loud-smelling weeds and slept after our march. omitted to men
 ton that took supper with family, portion of which mad just returned from Virginia: hay ing been driven from home and deprived of their property by the rebels.
 A detailed account of our march would only tire your readers. Every house. VIC passed, was bcsieged by the soldiers, looking for pies and milk, both of which were sold in large quantities on the road Rumors of poisoning were preva- lent, but on tracing them to their force I would discover such appalling statistics as the follow ing:-
 Two men poisoned by drinking five quarts of sour milk, three by oyerdoses of bad whiskey, and three by eating unripe apples and water melons.
 Every morning, orders would come to cook two three days fations and prepare for n march. At night we would "pitch our moving tcnts'' and sleep scundly. Our excellent bread was great solace to us on march and one of my greatest pleasures is to lio in my tent at evening, looking eut upon the moon and listen ing to the strains of old familiar music, when my thoughts foai back: how naturally towards home and friends.
 FRIDAY, Aug. 30, Camp near Potomac T was interrupted at the end of the last paragraph by the order to strike tents instanter.
 The whole division was moved fem the neigh borhood of Hyattstown, five or six miles on the direct read to Washington and then on branch road to our present location. This is our sev- enth removal and the third in rain-storm- The mud yesterday was ankle deep and the road, keptin the slovenly condition of Mary land, generally had lords instead of bridges. All day, except when delayed by the innumera- h!e accidents that baggage trains are liable to, we toilel along, slipping back through red mud as bad as that in Hartford streets, soaked with rain end precipitation, and tired with jostling and stumbling against one another. poor so- lace t was, after our tedious journey, to sit down. in the wet grass, and wait for baggage WapshS that came not to, at least, four of our companies.
 Ything was left but to bivouac in the open airy About two hundred of us got into an en- closure among some immense stacks of unthresh /