Page 51: March 10Camp Franklin, Va.
5 o’k a.m. Jimmie has come
and woke me up saying that
we are to move. Get up and
go to Major’s tent. He says that
orders are to move this morning
“at 9 o’clock, with two days rations
in our haversacks.” Gen Slocum was at our
dress Parade yesterday and he
also visited the other regiments.
I saw him with his staff looking
at the 27th N.Y. as they drilled.
Where are we going? Col. Geary’s
success at Leesburg is significant
in this connection. Either to join
him at that place by rail or
get in between the enemy and
Manassas on that side. Have been writing letters
to L. and bro. Charles.
Page 52:
Lieut. B. got off a fine thing.
Excited and earnest he jumps
up and rapidly dresses himself.
“Now,” says he, “let us see, where shall
I go to find out whether we are going
to move or not.” Rushes out the tent
and pretty soon I hear him waking
the Captain. “Captain, Captain, why
ain’t you [Carrot: get] up? Going to move
at 7 o’clock this morning.” Pretty
soon Geo is back again. “Now,”
says he, “Where shall I go to find
out.”? I laugh heartily at him,
and off he goes.
10ok a.m. The column has halted
for a rest on the Little River turnpike
out regiment being ahead. Genl. Slocum
is here with us and the men all
feel splendidly.
Page 53:
It began to rain about five this
morning + continued up to within half
an hour. This has given us
a pretty good soaking but
our spirits remain good. The men are all provided
with light tents which they
carry in their packs. This makes
them heavily loaded. I carry
beside my sword a haversack
a woolen and rubber blanket
and my overcoat. The line
officers are to have four tents
to sleep in nights. Now we fall in again.
12m. Another stop and very
nearly to our outer picket, too.
