The rain is continuous: over a week now of steady weather, and nothing but inside drills, under Lieut. Newell, who is always trying, and generally succeeds, to "PUT IN MORE SNAP, MEN!" interspersed with bayonet drills on our own hook, and occasionally, when it holds up for a few hours, Col. Lee stretches our legs with a drill outside.
At dress parade
lately the order was read directing the following victories to be inscribed
upon the flags of the regiments, batteries, &c., which were on the
Goldsboro expedition:
KINSTON, DECEMBER 14, 1862.
WHITEHALL, DECEMBER 16, 1862.
GOLDSBORO, DECEMBER 17, 1862.
On account of the
resignation of Captains Lombard and Reynolds, the rank of Capt. Richardson is
advanced, he becoming third. Consequently "E" is color company, a
position not only of honor to the captain and his men, but in some positions in
which we may be placed it means dangerous work. We hope we may carry them well,
and when we give them up either to some other company or when we are disbanded,
it will be with the same pride that we take them now.
Several of the
company are a little under the weather, but no fever cases yet. We have been
fortunate, while other companies are having quite a number of sick men.
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. 34
