Diary of Private John J. Wyeth, October 27, 1862

We worried through the dismal, wet night, and morning found us hungry again, so we scattered. Our breakfasts were picked up here and there, but there was such a novelty about everything that nothing would do but to have a walk about town. New Berne is a very fair sample of a Southern town, splendidly laid out in regard to the streets and trees, but the buildings have a deserted, forlorn look, probably from want of paint and care. We had a good time for a while, but soon found the provost guard obnoxious They asked too many questions, and finally ordered us out of the town altogether. We went back to quarters, and found the company gone; only a sergeant left, to pick up stragglers. We straggled with him towards camp, appreciating the thoughtfulness of the captain in leaving some one to show us where the head-quarters were.

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. 15-6