ch crosses
the road about seven miles out from Fort Washington; though when we
think of the weight we bore, of the warm afternoon, and of our being
totally unused to such hardships, it is a little remarkable that we got
through so well. The following tabular statement exhibits the actual
avoirdupois weight of our equipments--a fair average being taken, some
being more and some less than the estimate.

lb. oz.
Musket, 10 8
Belt, etc., 1 10
Forty rounds ball cartridges, 3 6
Knapsack, packed, 9 0
Haversack, containing two days' rations,
with a few trifling extras, 2 0
Woolen Blanket, 5 8
Rubber Blanket, 2 8
Canteen, half-filled, 2 8
Overcoat, 5 0
A half shelter-tent, 2 0
Total, 44 lbs.

This is about the weight of a healthy boy, eight years old. Some
carried even more than this, viz.--an extra pair of heavy government
shoes, together with an assortment of tins, such as cup, plate, teapot,
etc.

We were halted in a clover field a little after ten o'clock. The night
was dark, the sky being overcast; and here we had our first bivouac. No
sooner had we reached the spot than we saw what convinced us that we
had entered in good earnest upon the business for which we professed to
have left our homes; for far away to the front rose the heavy boom of
artillery firing, and a bright light reflected from the clouds
indicated that a conflagration was raging in the same vicinity,
probably at Carlisle. This proved to be a demonstration of the rebel
General Fitz Hugh Lee against the small force of militia under General
W. F. Smith then holding Carlisle. The former it appears was escorting
a train which was on its way toward Chambersburg, and fearing an attack
from General Smith made a show of taking the offensive and demanded a
surrender of the place. This was refused; whereupon the rebel officer
contented himself with shelling the town, which resulted principally in
the burning of the government cavalry barracks situated there. At
length having by his audacity gained security for the train he
withdrew. In recognition of the