ARRIVAL AT BALTIMORE.
We reached Havre de Grace about noon. A heavy storm has set
in. It is raining hard and the wind blows a gale. We crossed the Susquehanna
river at this place, on a big steam ferry boat, and I must confess to some
fears, as I looked from the car windows down to the water- a distance of nearly
fifty feet, and wondered why we did not capsize. Here I saw a government mule
pen. Several acres are enclosed, and I was told that the pen contained about
10,000 mules. A large number of negroes are employed taking care of them. I
think this must be a base of supplies. After waiting here an hour or so to make
up our train, we again started. An hour's ride brought us to the famous
gunpowder bridge, which crosses an arm of Chesapeake bay, not far from
Baltimore. This bridge the rebels attempted to burn, and partially succeeded.
Many of the charred timbers are still to be seen on the bridge. There we saw the
first soldiers on duty, a picket guard being kept here to protect the bridge.
We reached Baltimore about 3 p. m., and left the cars in the midst of a
drenching rain, and marched about a mile through the rain and wind, to the steamboat
landing, the band playing The Campbells Are Coming. No boat being in readiness
to take us to Annapolis, Col. Upton told the captains of companies that they
must find quarters for their men, and be ready for an early start in the morning;
Captain Clark obtained a loft in a grain store for his company, where we passed
the night very comfortably.
SOURCE: David L. Day, My Diary of Rambles with the
25th Mass. Volunteer Infantry, p. 10
