To-day, for a change, we had permission to drill outside the lines, and Orderly White, at the earnest solicitation of some of us, took the company to Dedham on a double quick, Dedham is about four miles from camp, and after the first hill, close to the old house where we used to run guard and get pies and cakes, it is a very level and easy run; we never stopped the steady jog till we reached the Phoenix House. Only one man fell out; but nothing but pride kept many of us in the line. It was the first attempt at such work, and came like drawing teeth. The orderly was level-headed enough not to let us drink anything for sometime, but after we had rested about fifteen minutes and cooled off, he obtained some lemonade, which was excellent.
We then formed line and started back to camp, returning by a different road, arriving there about four o'clock P.M., and then the orderly thought of the battalion drill, ordered at half-past three. As we looked down on the camp from the old railroad track, back of the barracks, we could see the regiment in line, and the grounds crowded with our friends. We had no conversation with the colonel on this subject, but soon found out he was mad, for we were put in the street next our barracks, and guards placed at each end, not even being allowed to go into the barrack to wash up, and our friends were denied us. We stood there in disgrace till dress parade. We were very much afraid the whole company would be discharged the service. There were some rumors of breaking the orderly, but they did not do so. We did not run away much after that.
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. 8-9
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