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

camps of the Penn'a Reserves. Some of these
huts had rather a comfortable appearance af-
ter passing night, as we did the one just
previous-and no doubt they were when occu-
pied by troops. We also passed through the
camp of the 135tb PeDn'a who arrived the
day before and had taken possession of one of
the camps vacated by the Reserves, and were
pretty we'll fixed up Before we reached our
destination (about IL a. ny it commenced
raining. After relieving the pickets on duty
we were ordered to make ourselves com
Portable as possibly could by going into
shelter some two three hundred yards in
the rear of the picket line. We soon reached
the shelters of the former pickets, and found
the rain coming through them about as fast as
it fell outside. Our detachment was stationed
on the extreme left Of the line in an open field
and the shelters were too close to the picket
lines to have fire, We had to go farther
back into hollow and build new ones. Some
of the boys took possession OF couple of
shanties occupied by negroes. and small shed
where they were sheltered from the rain dn-
ring the night.
On Thursday morning at about 8 O'Clock il
ceased raining, and the Lieut-Colonel com
maDding the pickets had new line cut thro'
the woods for them, for about two-thirds of
the way, which gave the pickets better pro-
lection than they had before-the old line
having run along a road with thicket in
front. The right and left were not moved
however, as they were in open fields and near
ly in direct line with the new road cut thro'
the woods.
Everything passed of quietly until about
hall past two O'Clock on Friday morning, when
one of the men on the right Of the line dis
charged his gun, whereupon nearly the whole
line followed suit-which was signal for a
general alarm. The officers promptly called
out their men and advanced to our second
line, which was composed OF a corporal and
two men, direcly in the rear of our pickets,
and about two hundred yards from them. We
had an admirable position. Our second line
was on the edge of wood with road in
front, upon the other side OF which was an
enbankment with brush on it, and had served
the former occupant as farm fence. Small
pines have grown up along this enbankment-
forming complete breastwork. Lieut.. Row,
who had command of our detachment, com
posed of men from our company (E), some
from company F, and relief from 151st, bro't
the men up in fine style and deployed them
behind the breastwork. After remaining in
this position for about hour, (anxiously
hoping and waiting to see the enemy come in
sight) and on the return of our officers from
the picket line without finding out the cause
of the alarm, we were ordered back to our
shelters, where we took good snooZe until
morning. We were relieved about 9 O'Clock
on Friday morning, and II m. found us again
in camp. But, what a change had come over
our camp in the two and half days We were
brush, we beheld a piece of land pretty well
cleared out-and rows of tents composed of
logs and covered with bushes and mud occu-
pying theirplace. Under the superintendantce
of our exec ilent captain, q. c. Mccullough,
the boys had put up fine quarters. where We
soon made ourselves at home.
Saturday morning was clear and pleasant
and all felt refreshed by good nights rest.
AT O'Clock we marched outside of the camp,
where our Captain drilled us until 10, when
we were dismissed and went to improving our
quarters. At 5 we had dress parade, when we
found our overcoats quite comfortable. A de-
tail was made on Saturday evening for to-day,
and a bad time they will have, as the morning
broke in with almost the worst snowstorm |
have ever seen, and has continued all day
without abating. This Sunday evening the
snow is about II inches deep.
At II O'Clock national salute of 81 guns
was fired, IN memory of Gen. Washington.
We have been cooped up in our tents all day.
| must close this hasty scrawl, as 'staps" have
been given for sslights out.'' Yours, x.