lar army. Our boys, as
volunteers, would not submit to it; there was trouble and he resigned. It
was a very unfortunate thing; he was a fine officer and his loss was very
much regretted. In addition to this, all our company officers left us.
Captain Washburn and Lieutenant Williams disobeyed orders and were
dismissed. Lieutenant Sermondy, who enlisted in the company in the hope
that he might become Chaplain of the regiment, having failed in obtaining
the appointment, and doubtless having seen all the fighting he cared to,
resigned and went home. This put Company K in an awkward position. Second
Lieutenant Charles W. Davis of Company A, was promoted to the rank of
First Lieutenant, and put in command of the company.

During the time we remained on the island we drilled a little in addition
to guarding the prisoners who were soon sent to Elizabeth City and
paroled. March 4th we went on board the "Northerner" again. The sailors of
the old ship had her gaily decorated for the occasion and we were welcomed
on board again most cordially.

Not until the 11th did we move, then at night we dropped down the sound to
near Hatteras Inlet. On the morning of the 12th we started down Pamlico
Sound toward the mouth of the Neuse River. We were then told we were
headed for Newbern, and up the river we sailed until we came to the mouth
of Slocum's Creek, a small stream emptying its waters into the right side
of the Neuse about fifteen miles below Newbern. Here we anchored for the
night.

The next day we were engaged most of the forenoon in landing, which was
accomplished without interference, and about noon we started up the right
bank of the river toward Newbern. We soon struck the railroad connecting
Newbern and Beaufort and an extensive earthwork, and farther on toward
Newbern still another, and a cavalry camp with a considerable quantity of
provisions. Later on in the afternoon we reached the immediate front of
the enemy's last line of works filled with soldiers and a fort with
cannon mounted. Here they evidently intended to make a stand. We halted
for the night and our company was thrown out in front of us as a picket
line. That was the first time I had been on picket duty right in front of
the enemy, and if I remember rightly, I kept very much awake that night.
Early in the morning we had coffee and directly started forward to the
attack. The ground in our immediate front was uneven and as we passed over
a little hill we came in s