MARCH 1862

Saturday, March 1

Very windy last night and this morning. Ws (sic) no drill of any kind. Was dress parade. Bought one Philadelphia Inquirer. Sent one letter to Jas. Martin. Sent one paper home. J. H. Randolph on guard. The Colonel and Adjutant returned to camp from their visit home to Pittsburgh. They look well. The Adjutant has got a new suit of clothes. Was 1000 pairs of pants came for the Regt this evening.

Sunday, March 2

Guard at Gen quarters. Samuel Myers and W. M. Martin is on guard. Was inspection this morning at nine o’clock. Nixon Wade and myself got a pass and went to Georgetown to Church, was a Presbyterian church, sermon preached by the Rev. Mr. Brown. Returned to camp at two oclock (sic). Dress parade at five. The Regiment all had on their new pants. Inch snow fell today.

Guards Examining Passes At The Georgetown Ferry

Monday, March 3

Misted rain. Wrote one letter to William Bryson. L. C. White is on guard. Am cook have crackers and meat and coffee. James Carson and James D. Martin is appointed mounted orderlies of Brigadier General Pecks. Was no drill of any kind nor dress parade. Is a very disagreeable day to be out. The trees is all covered with ice and snow. All quiet at Tennally.

Tuesday, March 4

I. M. White is on the second relief guard. Was Regimental drill in the forenoon when all the Regiment deployed as skirmishes. Was Brigade drill in the afternoon from one to five oclock. Was very muddy and hard drilling. Capt. McLaughlin returned to camp from his visit home Brigadier General Keys paid a visit to our camp this eve in company of his daughter.

Wednesday, March 5

Reported for picket at Gen Pecks headqr (sic) . Was target practice this forenoon. Samuel Myers and myself was washing clothes in forenoon. Were ordered to cook two days rations this morning. S. Myers is cook. Wrote letter to John Cress. Rec’d a letter from W. C. Martin. All well at home. Wrote a letter to S. A. Martin. Is prayer meeting tonight. Spit snow some. All quiet.

Thursday, March 6

Was Regt and skirmish drill in forenoon. The rest of the regiment is taken to Washington. There was Brigade drill in the afternoon when we was put through about right. Was prayer meeting tonight, and a very good attendance. John Milton White is cook for the mess to day. Those that had no blankets or canteens got them this evening.

Friday, March 7

Clear and windy and cold. I. N. Hays and M. P. Hays and E. L. Hoon is on the second relief camp guard. I am Corp of the second relief at the Gen Quarters, Company C. and K. is there. Was Regt drill in forenoon. Brigade drill in afternoon. Was a patrol sent out along all the roads, searching for liquors, and taking up soldiers that had no papers. Have crackers and meat and coffee and sugar. Temperance meeting tonight.

Saturday, March 8

Relieved at nine o’clock. Clear and cold lass night. Cloudy this morn. No drill in forenoon. The Officers was drilled in afternoon. I. N. Hays is cook for the mess. J. Kaltenbaugh is Corporal of the second relief. M. P. Hays and J. H. Randolph is on a visit to the 103rd P. Regt being at Meridian Hill. Sent a paper to M. W. Shannon. Sent one letter home. Was prayer meeting to night. No letters.

Sunday, March 9

John H. Randolph, S. Myers, and W. M. Martin is on guard, third relief. Was inspection of the Regt in morning. Was preaching at eleven and at three by the Chaplain. Dress parade in the evening when the colors was escorted to its place by Company M. in grand style. There was prayer meeting at half past six. Is great interest taken in the prayer meetings. I give in my name this evening.

Monday, March 10

Sent one paper home. Got orders at three o’clock to prepare to march. Started at nine A. M. The whole division marched nine miles and encamped for the night one mile east of north of the reserves. We carried one hundred rounds of cartridges. The reserve all moved by the 9th Regt. They are in the advance. Was one company out of each Regt sent out as picket for the night. The whole army of the Potomac is on the move. Pickets took a spy last night.

Tuesday, March 11—Prospect Hill

Rained some last night. I staid in camp till four oclock when our company was sent out on picket about one mile and a half from the Regiment on the Jackson Farm in Fairfax County. Wrote a letter to Mr. H. H. Cratty. It is said that Manassas is evacuated by the Rebels and that Gen. McDowell is in possession of that place. To day is cool but pleasant for march weather.

Wednesday, March 12—Prospect Hill

Was at prayer meeting. The day is very pleasant. Sun shines out warm. The Pennsylvania Reserves is all in the advance of General Keys Division. They are as far on as within five miles of Centerville. Our Company was

relieved from picket at five oclock by the fifty fifth New York Regiment. Came to camp and lay on the ground with the Heavens for a covering. All quiet along the potomac (sic).

Thursday, March 13—Prospect Hill

Is cloudy and cool. We did not do much but build shelters out of brush to sleep in. In camp all day. Was a parcel of beeves killed for the Regiment. Had no meet (sic) since last night until this evening when we drew some salt pork. Was at prayer meeting this evening at six o’clock in the woods. The Chaplain, A. M. Stewart led the meeting.

Friday, March 14—Prospect Hill

The Revallie (sic) beat at four A. M. Got ready and marched towards the chain bridge. Stoped for dinner when we had marched four miles. The whole Division moved. Gen Graham’s Brigade moved on handy the Chain Bridge. The day is somewhat cloudy, but the roads is dry. Is nice marching. The Whitestown boys is all well. We waited all afternoon for orders to move again, but are here yet at nine oclock P. M.

Saturday, March 15

Corporal Douthard, Samuel Myers and my self slept together last night. It rained some last night. Rain hard, and blew nearly all day, the soldiers just had to take it. Lieut Crooks, and Sargeant (sic) Stewart, and Alexander Wally, and myself went out a quarter mile from Camp and built a shanty. Is no fences in this part of the Country.

Sunday, March 16

Rained considerable last night. Came into camp at nine oclock and they ready to march. We marched to the old camp at Tennally and found our old tents taken down. We put them up and carried boards for a floor in the tent. Was very muddy and hard marching. Recd a letter from William Bryson. All well. Washed one pair of socks. Drew pair of shows.

Monday, March 17

Camp Tennally. Cloudy and windy. Am cook today. Wrote one letter Home. The guard is mounted at four oclock P. M. L. C. White is on Guard. Webster

Matthews is on a visit here from his regiment the 101st. We are scouring our old harpers ferry muskets, are very rusty. Recd one letter from home. We spent the evening till bedtime in reading in the Bible.

Tuesday, March 18

Day is nice. Wrote one letter to Wm. Bryson. Had no drill. Cooked Three days rations. Put one pair of pants in a box to be taken to Washington. Got my commission as 7th Corporal of Co H 102nd Regt P. V. from Col Rowley. Mr. Wm. Campbell was to our Camp on a visit. Dress parade. I. M. White is on guard. Mounted at four oclock. Brinker Is Lieut of the guard. Put my hat in a box to be taken to Washington.

Wednesday, March 19

Is cloudy but pleasant. Was Regimental drill in the forenoon when all the companies was sent out as skirmishes. Companies B. F. and L. returned to the Regiment from the great Falls. Capt McLaughlin is Officer of the guard to night and tomorrow. Orders was given this evening at dress parade that Co H, is the sixth com. Drew one pair of shoes. Prayer meeting to knight.

Thursday, March 20

Cloudy and rained some to make it muddy again. There was no drill on account of the bad weather. Am cook. We got two days rations of meat, and sugar and beans. Wrote on letter to Alice Ann Martin. Was no dress parade this evening. Was prayer meeting this evening at seven oclock. Captain Falwood is Officer of the day. All right.

Friday, March 21

Rained considerable last knight. Put one letter in the office this morning for Alice A. Martin and one paper from home. I. M. White is cook. Was no drill. Was dress parade at five oclock when new orders was given by the colonel (sic) about the company places. Company A 1st F 2nd D 3rd L 4th 5th C or color company H 7th E K 9th M 10th G 11th B the 12th or left company.

Saturday, March 22

I am 23 years old today. Rained some last night. Was inspection this forenoon by the Chief of the Ordinance Bureau. I. M. White and myself went over to Meridian Hill on a visit to the friends in the 103rd and 101st Regts. We saw Jas. Fletcher and Jeremiah Bales and all the rest, was all well. We had no pass, was chased by the patrol. Found a small hatchet. Prayer meeting tonight.

Sunday. March 23

Cloudy. Was inspection at eleven by Capt. Morris. Lieut Otto and Lieut Cratty and others of the 103rd Co E. is at our camp on a visit. All look well. S. Myers is cook. I. N. Hays and E. L. Hoon is on guard. Is mounted at four oclock. Was preaching in forenoon and afternoon by the Chaplain. Prayer meeting at the preaching tent at seven oclock in the evening. Dress parade at five. Drew one cap and one knapsack.

Monday, March 24

Is cloudy and rained some in the afternoon. S. Myers and myself went to Tennally and put a handle on a hatchet. Was company drill in forenoon. Our company went out on picket at four oclock on the camp Holt road. Drew three days rations, had orders to cook them. All right about Tennally.

Tuesday, March 25

We were called in at one oclock last night. Slept till morn. The Regt started at ten oclock and marched one mile and turned back to camp. Each man drew one gum blanket this morning. Started again at two oclock. Our Regt went aboard the steamer—state of Maine. Our Company lay on deck for the night. Company H was rear guard. I. M. White and myself was wagon guard. Night is clear.

Wednesday, March 26

We started down the Potomac at nine and stoped (sic) at Alexandria till four oclock then steamed three miles father and laid (sic) over till morning. Is troops being taken on board ship at Alexandria all afternoon. This is the Flag ship of Pecks Brigade. Peck and staff is on board of her. Last night was pretty cold. To day is clear and nice. Is prayer meeting at seven.

Thursday, March 27

Cold last night. Clear all day. Started at eight oclock this morning. Saw ####### point and other places where the Rebels had their Batteries planted. Is a great many sails on the river. We get along very beautifully. Went to bed at seven oclock. Are still steaming yet. Officers all day up on the pilot house with spy glasses.

Friday, March 28

Steamed all night. Are opposite Fortress Monroe at six oclock A. M. Sun rose clear. The troups (sic) began being landed at nine oclock. Our Regt landed at twelve. We marched through Hampton towards Newport News about five miles and camped for the night. We drew one days rations. 13th is the right of the Brigade. The last Regt camped with us at eleven P. M. Was prayer meeting this…

Saturday, March 29

Sun rose clear. The Regt all built shelters out of rails and our gum blankets and kept quite comfortable. It clouds up and rains some in the afternoon. John Kaltenbaugh and myself tented together. Samuel Myers was left at the warf (sic) to guard ammunition and did not return to the Regiment till after this evening. The troops burnt all the fences within reach of camp.

Sunday, March 30

Rained steady all night and was pretty cold. Was inspection of arms at half past nine oclock. Rained some. Was repairing our shantys (sic). All is quiet about camp. Was dress parade at four oclock. Was orders read at dress parade that the companies had to fall out at tattoo and ravalie (sic) with their cartrige (sic) box and gun. Sweet potatoes is $1.00 per bushel.

Monday, March 31

Cloudy but pleasant. Was inspection and company drill in forenoon. All the Regt moved their shantys and made streets for the companies. Was inspection of arms in afternoon. Dress parade in the evening. Washed one shirt. All is quiet about here at present. Is said there was forty thousand troops landed at Fortress Monroe