day sun you can guard with
a blanket and two muskets, and at any other time you need no shelter.

That night I went on guard. Two hours you watch, four for sleep, and
then two hours you watch again. All quiet, save that two or three
prisoners are brought in from the front to be deposited in limbo, and
gazed at in the morning by recruits who have never seen a live rebel.

The most surprising thing I learned in these first days, was that
everything one has will certainly be stolen by his own regiment, even by
his own company, if he does not watch it carefully. This practice is
styled '_winning_.' It is simple, naked stealing, in no wise to be
excused or palliated, and utterly disgraceful. It imposes, moreover, the
grievous nuisance of remaining to guard your property when you would be
loafing about, or of carrying everything--no light load--with you,
wherever you go. Of course, all colonels should prevent this, and one of
any force and energy could easily do so; but Colonel ---- is not of that
kind. An excellent company officer, as I judge, he has not the activity
and nerve required in the commander of a regiment, and many a wish did
I hear expressed in those thirty days that his predecessor, Colonel
Martin, were still in command. Confidence in his bravery before the
enemy, was universal; but many things necessary to the decorum,
discipline, health, &c., of the regiment devolve duties finally upon the
colonel, for whose discharge other qualities than bravery are needed.

The next afternoon, the 24th, our laziness is disturbed by orders to
take three days' rations; our knapsacks are to be sent to Harrisburg; we
are to pack up everything, to be ready to move, Nobody knows, of course,
what it means; but a decided conviction prevails that 'something heavy
is up.' Presently a hollow square is 'up,' formed of the 8th and
ourselves, field officers in the centre. Colonel Varian advances.
Unquestionably a speech. Perhaps a few Napoleonic words on the eve of
battle. No; Colonel Varian wishes to explain that it was nobody's fault
that our left wing was deserted at Chambersburg, in order to prevent ill
feeling between the regiments. He does so, and appeals to our
lieutenant-colonel. Our lieutenant-colonel verifies and indorses.
Perfectly satisfactory; in evidence of which the two commands exchange
cheers.

Henceforth we and the 8th are fast friends. We have other friends
also--Captain Miller's battery, of Pennsylvania, has been in