Reveille beat at 6 o'clock this morning, and all hands
turned out in the midst of a driving snow storm, elated at the prospect of getting
away. I cannot say I was very exuberant in spirit as there was work in it and
things began to look like a reality. An hour or so sufficed to pick up our
traps and load our camp equipage on the wagons, drink a cup of hot coffee and
declare ourselves ready to march. The companies were formed in their company
streets; the rolls called, and we marched out on the parade ground and formed the
regimental line. Col. Upton said he should like to fire a few rounds as a
parting salute to old Camp Hicks, and gave the order to load. The firing over,
there came the order, “By companies right wheel! forward march!” and we turned
our backs on our old home. Passing the camp of the 27th Massachusetts, we
halted, and, wheeling into line, honored them with a salute of a few rounds,
which was responded to with hearty cheers. We then marched to the Naval
academy, where seven companies, with the field and staff, their horses, band
and all the camp equipage, went aboard the steamer New York. Two companies, D
and H, went aboard the gunboat Zouave, and company I aboard the schooner
Skirmisher. All aboard, the New York steamed out into the harbor a short
distance and anchored till further orders.
AN INCIDENT.
A little incident here occurred showing the good nature of Col.
Upton. While waiting for the baggage to be got aboard, a small party of us
thought we would go up to the academy grounds, and see the 4th Rhode Island
boys who had just arrived. We had not been there fifteen minutes before we saw the
boat leaving the wharf, and the way we put for it was a caution to travelers a
little too late for the cars. We readied the wharf all out of breath, and the first
man we saw was Col. Upton. He appeared a little cross at first, and then putting
on one of his good-natured looks, asked us where we had been. We replied we had
been up to see the Rhode Island boys. “Well,” he said, “yonder goes the boat,
what are you going to do?” Some one suggested that under the circumstances we
had better stand by the colonel and take our chances. “Ah!” he replied, “I will
soon have you fellows where I shall know where to find you.” He then procured a
boat and crew, told us to get aboard and put for the steamer. As we pushed away
from the wharf, we left the colonel standing there, looking as good-natured and
happy as though it was Sunday afternoon and he had just heard a good sermon.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the
25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 17-8
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