nceforth the order of the day is march and starve, and the
story is only of ceaseless fatigue, hunger, and rain. Thus far we have
stood stiff and taken it cheerfully. There was growling before we got
through.

Off again over the mountains.

If I have enough to eat, I can stand anything--if not, I break down. In
two miles I 'caved in.' The captain thought the regiment would return
shortly. So I staid behind. On Monday afternoon, however, they had not
come back, and I started after them. I got a meal and passed the night
in a house on the mountain, and, after some sixteen miles' walking,
caught them on the broad turnpike the next day, and marched some seven
miles farther, to Funkstown, Pennsylvania.

Here an episode. As we started the next morning (in the rain, of
course), I was sent to the rear to report to a sergeant. The sergeant,
with nine besides me, reported to the brigade quartermaster. The
quartermaster distributed the ten, with an equal number of the 23d,
through ten army wagons, to drive and guard. We went through
Chambersburg to Shippensburg, where we loaded with provisions. Here I
heard abundance of the doings of the rebels, who loaded seven hundred
wagons at this place. I bought Confederate money and got meals at a
hotel--at my own expense.

On Friday evening, the 10th, we rejoined the column at Waynesboro', a
welcome arrival, for grub was terribly scarce. Here was the Sixth Corps,
Army of the Potomac, under General Neal--'Bucky Neal,' a 'Potomaker'
called him. For a time we belonged to it, and adorned our caps with the
badge of the corps, cut out of cracker.

On Saturday evening we crossed the line into Maryland, fording the
Antietam creek, the bridge over which the rebs had burned; and Sunday we
footed it back and forth over roads and across lots, bringing up at
Cavetown.

'Earthquakes, as usual,' wrote Lady Sale, in her 'Diary.' 'Rain, as
usual,' wrote we. And such rain! They do a heavy business in rain in
that region, and in thunder and lightning, too. I have heard Western
thunder storms described, but I doubt if they surpass such as are common
beneath these mountains. Four poor fellows of the 56th, who were sitting
beneath a tree, were struck by lightning--one of them killed.

On Monday we camped at Boonsboro', and on Tuesday beside a part of
Meade's army. When I saw all the wagons here, and what an immense job it
is to move any considerable force, with all the delays that may come
from broken w