Here, we were to do frontier duty, assisting in protecting the people of
Kentucky from raids by Confederate cavalry and guerrillas which had become
very common. The march to Mt. Sterling was through the blue grass region
and over a fine turnpike--the first fine road we had seen since leaving
New England. Mt. Sterling is the county town of Montgomery County and has
about 3000 inhabitants. But as we marched through the town we saw not one
of the 3000. The streets were deserted, the blinds on the windows were
closed and the doors barred. We marched on through the village out on one
of the main roads and went into camp. A strong guard was put around the
camp and no one was allowed to go in town.

During the evening the day after we reached Mt. Sterling, the cavalry
pickets were driven in by a guerrilla band, but they got no farther than
our picket post. There they came to a very sudden stop. The next day we
changed camp, going to a large pasture on high ground finely drained and
with a grove of beautiful trees in it, about a mile from town.

The reason for the cold reception we received from the people of Mt.
Sterling on our arrival there, was because we were from the black
abolition state of Massachusetts. They preferred, we were told, to remain
unguarded rather than be guarded by Massachusetts men. However, it was our
fortune to see a most remarkable change in the sentiment of the people
toward us in a very short time. Colonel Clark, the commander of the
regiment, was an Amherst professor, a man of intellect and culture, and a
man of an exceptionally fine presence. He was a fine example of New
England culture and must have made a superior impression on the leading
men of the town and county. As soon as we reached there a strong guard was
put on the court house, the jail and every other public building and piece
of public property that required guarding. Not a soldier was allowed in
the village excepting the guards on duty; no one was allowed to touch
anything he did not buy and pay for in the regular way. Raiding the town
by guerrillas was stopped, perfect order was maintained. And as a result
on the 17th we were invited, by the civil authorities, to move down into
the village and camp in the beautiful grounds in front of the court house;
and there we remained until early in July.

This period of three months was the most delightful period we had during
the war. It was a veritable campaign of peace. Confidence returned t