Camp Hicks, Near Frederick, Md.,
December 8, 1861.
I take the opportunity of Captain Williams' going home to
send a letter direct. Last Tuesday morning, about half-past twelve o'clock, I
was fast asleep as usual, but was awakened by some one saying, “Mr. Morse.” I
answered, “What?” and got the following order: “Send a circular around to the
commanders of companies, saying that reveille will be beaten at half-past five,
the men to be ready to march as soon afterward as possible, with three days'
rations.” I asked if that came from the Colonel; the answer was, “I'm the
Colonel.” I begged his pardon and got up, lighted a fire and wrote the circular
and sent my orderly round to the captains. Everything was executed as per
order, the usual lively scene of striking tents and packing wagons, and by
half-past seven, we were ready to start.
It was a very cold, clear day; so cold that, though I had a
horse, in my capacity as adjutant, I hardly mounted him all day; we all had to
wear overcoats. We marched between seventeen and eighteen miles to the village
of Barnsville, arriving there near four o'clock. We pitched tents in a thick
wood, and the men were immediately employed getting their dinners and making
arrangements for a comfortable night. I got a very nice dinner at General
Abercrombie's headquarters, a house in the town. It was an awfully cold night;
water froze nearly an inch thick.
Reveille was beaten Wednesday morning at half-past four, and
we left our camping ground as soon as there was light enough to see our way
through the woods, about half-past six. The weather was so cold that we marched
ten miles without a halt, through a very rough, mountainous country. After a
short rest, we went on five miles farther through a splendid farming country, a
pleasant thing for us to see after the desolate region we had been living in.
We camped a short distance from Frederick. The next morning, after a very nice
breakfast at a miller's, the regiment marched to its present camp, situated in
a wood about three miles from the city. It is a very pleasant place, with a
warm southern slope, and is a neat looking camp. We are near enough to the city
to get anything we want from it, which is very convenient. I haven't been in
yet; several of the officers have, and find it a very pleasant and civilized
city.
SOURCE: Charles Fessenden Morse, Letters Written
During the Civil War, 1861-1865, p. 32-3
No comments:
Post a Comment