Lewistown gazette. [volume] (Lewistown, Pa.) 1843-1944, 1862-09-10
Cofre&poRi,ace u the Gozctt..
Brook STATION, Va.

Cdmp VrigAt, Sept. 81, lS62.
Mr. EDITOR: / have tp the conclusion
to drop few lines for the press having often
thought Of doing so. In the first place will
let you know that we, with the exception
of few of the boys of Captain Biglow com
pany, are we'll. We are guarding the railroad
from Acqnia Creek landing to Fredericks
burg, and we have to go out on picket every
two or three days, and on camp guard every
day or so. We have to stay out on picket
far three days at "A time and At night we have
to quarter on the ground. All ". have to Law
on is an oil cloth blanket, and we have our
woolcn blanket to cover over us. and still we
get cold, for the nights are mdilins chilly.
\ soldier gets very uncomfortable standing
guard without heavy clothes on. We have
rriiefs, viz, first second, and third. The first
relief stands from until III s'clock the see
ond from IL until l O'clock third from un
I'll O'Clock, and on through tho night,
changing every two hours. Tho curporals
have soma fine times Mt nj 1ht in gathering up
their rellefs. Sometimes the guards get into
very sweet sleep and do not like to be dis-
turbed. The second relief has to stand the
most Of the night. We manage it to get on
either the first or third. We hAYe very strict
orders in our camp. which are as follows: We
dare not 90 out of camp without d pass from
our commanding officer and if we transgress
this rule We are Immediately put into the
guard house fer two or three DAYS, fed on
bread and water and if we go on q mnrch we
dare not forage any. We dare not take even
an apple without leave. Some regiments de
stroy nearly every thing that they can while
passing through the country. We get toler
ably good living here to what we have had
in other places. We get plenty Of good hard
crackers and rotten meat to spoil our stnm,
achs. That is good, is it not? In South Car
olina we often eat crackers that were full OF
worms but we are soldiers, you know, and
a soldier is expected to eat anything of that
kind. but do not feel inclined to feed on such
truck. The weather is very pleasant to-day.
not too warm nor yet too cold very good
weather to fight in. and think they are at it
not very far off to day, for at intersals we can
distinctly hear very heavy cannonading On
last Sunday night two companies of our reg,
ment went cut towards Stafford Court house
on picket and we had some fine times. This
is great country for peaches. We have an
excellent captain. lie is liked by nearly every
one. We have done no fighting yet, and we
are not anxious to get into one, though if we
have to do some fighting we will do it right,
for we have a good colonel Welsh is our
commander and we would almost follow him
through fire. If had time would describe
to you the whole of our travels and voyages
from Camp Curtin until we arrived at this
place. Keep up the relief fund for the benefit
of the poor soldiers wives. Lancaster county
has sent US some potatoes and other vegeta-
bles, and think Little Miffin ought to pitch
il and send her sons something.
H. S. w.
Another letter, dated at the same place,
after alluding to that part in the above
which speaks of the regiment not being
anxious to get ints fight, as the sentiment
of the writer only, who he thinks lacks
soundness in the upper story-jokes we
presume-says
consider that we have done as much as
any regiment in the field, although we have
not been in as many fights as some others
have been. Part of the regiment was in the
! fight at James Island, which was sad affair,
and is long to be regretted by the command
] ers who were said to be under the influence
! of whiskey at the time.