Well, I have had a
good sleep, if I did have a hard time getting it. Our cornstalk bed which
promised so well, did not prove so. The stalks were like bean poles, and the
ears big in proportion. After turning and twisting every way, Walt and I left
the others and started on an exploring expedition. It was pitch dark, and we
had to feel our way, but finally came to a building. We felt along until we
came to a door and went in. It appeared to be an empty barn, but soon after we
spread our blankets and got into bed we found we were in a henroost. We got
outside much quicker than we got into the building and soon after came against
another building. This we felt our way around, and on the opposite side found
it to be a house, and the people not yet gone to bed. We urged them to let us
sleep on the floor by the fire, but while the man seemed willing, the wife
objected, and there was nothing to do but try elsewhere. Finally we decided to
try and find the cornfield again, and by taking the back track we succeeded in
getting back where we started from. We made a bed under the fence and at last
got asleep, being too tired to be very particular. We were not going to say
anything about our adventure, but the others woke up first and in some way
found out about it. We had breakfast, the stragglers were called in, and were
soon in line waiting for the order to march.*
2 p. m. In Hanover, Pa., again. About 8 o'clock we marched through Gettysburg
and tumbled into the cars. We soon reached Hanover, where we have since been.
Along towards noon, we began to wonder if we would get another such feed as
they gave us on Sunday. Somehow the people didn't seem as glad to see us as
they did then. In fact they seemed rather to avoid us. Not all, for some were
handing out everything eatable they had. Rather than ride these free horses to
death, Snyder and I decided on another plan and it worked beautifully. We saw a
house where the people were ready to sit down to the table—a man and a woman
were already at the table—when we set our guns by the door and walking in, took
seats at the table without as much as saying "by your leave." I
passed my plate to the man, who all at once seemed to see a funny side to our
impudence and burst out laughing. We had a good dinner and a jolly good time,
and felt as if we had gotten even with one of them at any rate.
Night. Have stopped,
and the report is that a bridge is broken down somewhere ahead of us and that
we must stay here all night; a lonesome dismal spot, not a house in sight and
only the remains of our army rations for supper.
_______________
*I was in Gettysburg
in 1909 and was told by people who remembered our visit in 1862, that there
were no Rebels anywhere near Gettysburg except in the imagination of the
people, who were scared out of their senses.
SOURCE:
Lawrence Van Alstyne, Diary of an Enlisted Man, p. 51-2
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