We have had two practice-marches lately, one a long one, in Milton Hill direction, where we found plenty of dust, but were assured we were making muscle; and the last to Dedham Village, were we were very pleasantly received by the people, especially the ladies. Those of us who could, cleared out and introduced ourselves (temporarily) among the first families, and were feasted right royally. We had hardly arrived at camp again from this expedition, the object of which we accomplished, when we were startled with rumors that our regiment was ordered off. Some said to the Potomac, some to New Orleans, and others to North Carolina. The general idea seems to be that no one knows much about it, and one young lady was heard to say, "Well, I am going to New York Tuesday, to be gone three months, and I don't believe, but that the boys will be in Readville when I come back; any way, I won't say good-bye for good." If we go to New Berne, it is expected and hoped by the 4th Battalion men that they will be brigaded with Col. Stevenson, giving him a star. There has been quite a discussion about our knapsacks. The boys don't want the army style, but if the other companies have it, we probably will have to put up with it, many would care nothing for any kind, and probably whichever we have, some will throw them away. There is talk that all the companies will have "Shorts."
Wm. Cumston, Esq., father of our second lieutenant, has presented the boys with five hundred dollars, as a fund to use in case of sickness, to buy fresh food with. It is a noble present, and the boys fully appreciate it.
SOURCE: John Jasper Wyeth, Leaves from a Diary Written While Serving in Co. E, 44 Mass. Dep’t of North Carolina from September 1862 to June 1863, p. 10
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