omfortable place
to sleep. We sat on logs around the fire during the day and far into the
night telling stories and entertaining ourselves in various ways. At
night we crept under the roof of our shed, which was about a foot deep
in leaves, and slept as comfortably as any farmer's hogs would do under
similar circumstances.

About the first of January my company was again detached from the
regiment and sent to Orkney Springs, just at the foot of North mountain,
west of Strasburg.

Our duty was to keep a dozen men on the opposite side of the mountain
scouting and doing picket duty. It was our custom to relieve the men
once a week by sending over another detachment and relieving those on
duty.

While at Orkney Springs we occupied cottages that were intended for the
summer guests prior to the breaking out of hostilities. But after
remaining in the cottages some time, the health of the command was so
poor that we were compelled to go back to the woods. In a short time the
sickness disappeared from the camp, showing that the best place for a
soldier is out in the open.

Shortly after this word came that the enemy was advancing up the valley
turnpike, and the whole regiment was ordered down to meet them, our
company in advance.

It was March. The day was a stormy one. It snowed and rained
alternately all day long, far into the night.

When we left camp I was suffering with rheumatism in my hip, so that I
had to use a stump to mount my horse, for I was determined to go with
the regiment. Soldiers lying in camp idle soon get restless, and even
cowards will hail with delight a chance to have a brush with the enemy.

So notwithstanding the weather and physical ailments of some of the men,
all went out of camp that morning bright and happy.

We marched all day until long after dark, and then discovered it was a
false alarm. The Yankees were snug in their tents, many miles away.

We went into camp in the woods. I remember that I was wet to the skin,
and I can see myself now sitting on a log pulling off first one
long-legged boot, then the other, and pouring the water out.

But before this, fires had sprung up all over the woods. In spite of the
fact that everything was drenched and water was dripping from every
twig, in an incredibly short time the whole woods were brilliantly
illuminated by burning camp-fires.

We got out our bacon and crackers and enjoyed a supper that no habitue
of a Delmonico could have relished mo