Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-03-11

Val" "P ih WIS 1uoitCi tHis Coips ID "
give good account of itself, as it has done
in the past Our battery is not as efficient
now it should be, but a short time will on
ly be required to render il as sery iceably as
any in the corps.
l remain as ever, yours. w.R.B.
CAMP OF l49rH REG. PExS'A VoLuSrEERs !
Near Belle Plain, Va, Feb, %, 1868.
Mr.. S. j. Row SIR AS 1 wrote to you
on the 18th, we received orders to report to
Gen. Joe Hooker and here are, in the lst
Brigade in the Sd Division, 1st Army corps
Army of the Potomac.
On Friday evening the 18th, our company
was relieved from Provost duty at Lincoln
Hospital, Washington, and ordered to report
at Barracks at 23d Street and Penn's Avenue
where the regiment was assembled on Sat-
urday. On Saturday morning the regiment
was formed and marched to 9th Street wharf,
to embark for Belle Plain, Va. 1t rained from
the lime We left our quarters until we had
embarked with all our equpage and baggage
on board the Louisiana, splendid steamer,
which carried two regiments, the 149th and
l50th Penn'a Volunteers. We were crowded,
bnt all made themselves comfortable. We
had rather pleasant trip down the Potomac,
as the rain ceased about the time we LETT the
wharf. As most of US had never been down
the river, the decks were crowded until dark
with officers and men, enjoying the scenery.
Others amused themselves BY shooting at W lid
ducks with revolvers and guns. Sometime
before we reached Acquia creek it became
Il, 4 IL
On reaching the creek the boat cast anchor
and lay too all night.
On Monday morning about daylight the an
chor was raised, and we started, galy tor
Potomac creek, on which, about two miles from
its mouth, is Bell Plain. In ying to run in
the boat stuck on the bar, where we lay several
hours, when we were relieved by some small
ler boats coming along side and taking US of
ard landing at Bell Plain. Here we formed
in line and marched back from the landing
about two miles, where we halted, and soon
our camp fires were lit along side of a piece
of Pine woods. The boys were soon engaged
in putting up their shelter-tents, gathering
cedar bonghs tor beds, and preparing their
rations. The day was very fine and warm un-
till night, when it began to get cool-and all
went to bed pretty well tired ont with their
days labor.
On Tuesday morning we were not little
surprised, on waking up. to find or inches
if snow on the ground, and still showing.
About 10 a.. M. it turned to rain, and all had to
turn out to build huts for their protection
against the storm. By the time night came on
they had put up brush shelters, and had large
fires burning before them. Toward night it
commenced showing again, and We gathered
around the fires to dry ourselves--all feeling
pretty uncomfortable, l can assure you.--
Some time after dark an order came for a de-
tail from our regiment for picket duty the
next day, on the line in front Of our division.
The detail from company E was ten men four
corporals, two sergeants, and one commission
ed officer-to report Immediately at Commits.
sary's department. for two days rations and
forty rounds of ball cartridge, which We did.
The next morning wednesday, at seven
O'Clock, we were formed into line in front of
Regimental Headquarters-then marched to,
the camp of the 150th Penn'a through snow
about six inches deep, and still coming down,
with plenty of mud underneath. Here we were
joined by a detachment from the 150th, and
also from the l5lst-making in all over 600 men.
The arms of the whole detail were then in
spected, when We took up our line of march to
the out post to which we were assigned. The
route was much farther than we could have
made it in, had we gone direct from our camp.
We travelled about miles in going out, and
coming back we made it i1 about 81 miles
However, it eonld not be avoided, as We had
to report to Gen. Doubleday, our Division
commander. On tho route We passed the old