ll Run. The
regiment marched to Fort Ward, a distance of five or six miles from
Washington. That night it rained terribly, and the tents not having
come up, we were compelled to sit in the rain all night; this we
thought soldiering with a vengeance. The next day was spent in drying
our blankets and clothing in the sun. During the week we had little or
no drill, and but few instructions in marching. On Saturday we
received orders to be ready to march in light marching order. The next
morning (Sunday, Sept. 7th,) we had the regular army Sunday Inspection
with arms. At noon we took up our line of march, and went directly
back to Washington, arriving there at sunset; this was a terrible
march for us, being very hot and so dusty that we could barely see the
second file ahead. Halting in Seventh street, we had a long rest where
we ate supper, filled canteens, and flirted with girls in the windows.
Resuming the march we started to join the Army of the Potomac, which
was several miles beyond, and heading towards Frederick City,
Maryland. At nine and a half P.M. we halted for the night, having made
nineteen miles since one P.M. This was good marching for new troops,
and showed what we would be equal to when necessity required. The
regiment encamped for the night in the woods, but when we came to lie
down on the ground with little or no covering it seemed rather tough.
Having been ordered to move in light marching order, we left our
knapsacks in Virginia, and therefore the men had only a blanket or an
overcoat, whichever in their judgment would be the most useful. The
next morning at an early hour we proceeded to Leesboro, a distance of
three miles, and a report being among the men that we were out of
rations, Colonel Beach refused to go further until we had some. The
men commenced to forage on a small scale.

September 9th the Baltimore papers gave us the startling news that the
rebels had occupied Frederick City, and were invading Pennsylvania.
During the day some shelter-tents were issued, which were gladly
welcomed, as we had lain on the ground without any shelter for eight
nights. On the evening of the 10th some rations came, and the cooks
went to work and cooked during the night three days rations. In the
meantime the men lived on the farmers near by.

The next day we started "on the march" at seven and a half A.M.,
marching steadily until three P.M., when we halted, being about a mile
and a half from Brookville, and havi