on brought us to the border, and when our officers announced, "That
house marks the line, boys!" it was with no small gratification that we
shook off the dust from our feet, singing with great empressment the Union
version of "Maryland--My Maryland," together with a number of parodies not
very complimentary to the "men we left behind us."

A few miles from the line, we camped by division. Many, in reading of a
camp by division, imagine a most picturesque scene, of long lines of snowy
tents being pitched, while trees are felled for firewood, and all sorts
of poetic things take place. Nothing of the kind occurs. On arriving at
the selected spot (generally a large field), the regiments file in one
after another, taking their places in the order in which they marched, and
break to the rear so as to form column by companies. The orders are given:
"Halt! Stack arms! _Go for rails!!_" And every man simultaneously drops
his traps where he stands, and makes a bee-line for the tall worm fences,
which are vanishing in every direction, as if by magic. One of these rails
must be contributed to the company fire, and happy is he who in addition
to procuring his quota, can secure a couple more for himself! Serenely
reposing on their sharp edges, covered by his rubber blanket, he defies at
once the rain above and the mud below; or, more ambitious grown, the
spoils of four are combined, and a shelter, a la rebel, is speedily
constructed, which is roofed with two rubber blankets, and the proprietors
lying underneath on the other two, are at once the admiration and envy of
their comrades. The company rails being obtained, are split, a fire
started, and supper cooked (if there is anything to cook), and the men,
after smoking the pipe of peace, lie down, some around the fire, and the
rest where they halted in the first instance, and in two minutes are fast
asleep; blessing the memory of the discoverer of tobacco, and the man who
invented sleep.

At the first streak of daylight all are awake; a hurried breakfast is
made, or not (generally not), ablutions are likewise dispensed with; the
"assembly" sounds; rubbers and overcoats are hastily rolled and slung by
those who are lucky enough to have them; a few hurried orders are passed
along the line; the troops fall in and march off; and in half-an-hour the
trampled ground, the ashes of numerous fires, and the ruined fences, alone
tell that ten thousand men have camped there for the night.

For s