In the months in camp near Falmouth, Co. K endured hardships, severities, exposures and privations that tested physical endurance to the utmost, and in them had a schooling that was to tell in the future good record of the Regiment. But there were always a sufficiency of spice and source of merriment and good cheer among the boys. Receipt of news from friends, substantial tokens of love and care in boxes of good things sent by them, camp fire chats and musings, little banquets together, sometimes at the expense of the scanty income and to the profit of the army sutler—all these were as "Lights among the Shadows" in soldier life.
Co. K was favored in February with another visit from Col. Sam'l Magill, of Cross Creek, the father of James K. P., one of our best members, and a model in many excellent qualities of the true soldier. Col. Magill had visited us while in Monkton. The Captain and Orderly Sergeant were specially favored by visits from three of their schoolmates, Rev. Messrs. McC. Blayney, Ewing and Wotring.
Another quotation from the writer's journal will show the temperament and spirit of the boys of K, who did their part in giving the Regiment its high standing in the army. "A soldier's Saturday night—Dec. 27. The boys of K are now pretty comfortably housed in their booths. Take a look in upon that of the sergeants, and we have a fair sample of the sixteen in our Company, eight on either side of the Company street. The sergeants with Drummer McConnell are snugly seated around a bright fire. Boyd is leisurely smoking his pipe, sending out with each ascending puff a loving sigh or thought of 'the girl he left behind' in old Washington. Alexander is 'cogitating,' giving his mustache a twist now and then, possibly thinking of some evening spent among the 'peach blossoms.' It may be, however, only an endeavor of his to discover some plan by which he can further contribute to our present happiness. He has been faithful in this respect. Hayes is seated on his knapsack coolly writing to ——. His look betokens a clear conscience, having as usual performed his duty to the letter. His sage remarks settle many points in dispute. In true affection his heart turns to loved sisters and a beautiful home he left for his country's defense. He's with us from purest love of country. Were it not for Shindle the spirits of our mess would sometimes run low. His sly remarks would make round the most elongated face on most occasions. The drummer boy, too, he fondly turns to a dear wife at home and hates the recreants that drove him from her, but he'll be with us with his rattling Yankee Doodle till the last one of them be subdued. The 'Orderly' can only glance hastily into the other fifteen, with a cheering 'how d' de?' The occupations are various. The booth of the Candor squad for neatness and convenience takes the lead. In it Will Powelson is quartered, who at his country's call bid adieu to wife and little daughter. And there's Corporal Wm. Pry, who left quite a family. The country may feel secure with such soldiery between it and its foes."
The Company was noted for its cleanliness and good order, and for its attentiveness to military discipline, under frequent and ofttimes most exacting inspections. In the Adjutant's competitive inspections of guard details Co. K frequently won, and on one occasion carried off all the honors; on another, four out of the six. For excellence in work and neatness in appearance it was often complimented.
On Feb. 28th, Silas Cooke, J. C. Lyle and Wm. Porter, left in hospital at York, Pa., Dec. 10th, returned and were warmly welcomed back into camp.
Corp'l Wm. L. Pry and Serg't Hayes were granted furloughs home for ten days. While in camp near Falmouth the hearts of the Powelson brothers were saddened by the news of the deaths of their two brothers, Samuel and George, who were members of Co. D, 32nd Regiment of Mo. Vols., in the army near Vicksburg.
On the 31st of December, '62, K records her fifth loss. This time a desertion. We have only the official record: John Fulton, "deserted Dec. 31, 1862, Georgetown, D.C." Our next loss was Harrison McConnell, discharged Feb. 13, '63. In this case it appears that Harrison was a minor, enlisting without the consent of his parents. They applying to the U.S. courts, in Pittsburg, Pa., got a decision of release. On the 14th day of Feb., '63, Corp'l Isaac Donaldson died in camp of typhoid fever. His death was one of triumph in Christian faith. But it cast a gloom over the Company. We mourned the loss of a good soldier and a kind companion.
The other losses up to the time of our breaking camp, April 28th, were as follows: Corp'l John D. McCabe, discharged Feb. 13th, '63, on surgeon's certificate of disability; Henderson Scott, discharged March 12, '63, special order War Department; Robert Lyle, discharged March 14, '63, surgeon's certificate of disability; Benjamin B. Buchanan, discharged March 20, '63, surgeon's certificate of disability; Isaac Golden, died April 15, '63, at Mt. Pleasant, D.C., and was buried in the Military Asylum Cemetery, D.C., and David W. Corbin, died April 21, '63, in Stanton hospital, D.C., and buried in the same Military Asylum Cemetery. These losses cut the roll of members down to 82.
John A. McCalmont was promoted to Corporal to date April 15th, '63, the time of Donaldson's death. Jos. Smith Graham was made Corporal, to date the time of McCabe's discharge, Feb. 13, '63.
When the Company marched out from camp on April 28th, Lieut. Sweeney was in Washington, Pa., on leave of absence, and Musician McConnell was at home on furlough. Robert McClurg was with the Pioneer Corps. J. H. Fordyce, Ezra Conaway, Michael Daugherty and Ben. McCullough were on detached duty as teamsters. Colin R. Nickeson, Owen McElfish and John Makeown were sick and left at Falmouth. The sick in hospitals in Washington and other places were: D. J. Butterfoss, Ben. Cummins, John Day, Geo. Hanlin, Geo. Morrow, Enoch Mounts and Wm. A. Ruffner. In all absent from the ranks 17, leaving 65 to cross the Rappahannock and enter the battle of Chancellorsville, as follows: Capt. Stockton, Lieut. Cook, Sergeants Powelson, Boyd, Alexander, Hayes and Shindle; Corporals Cooke, Powelson, Ralston, Pry, Gardner, Hanlin, McCalmont and Graham; Musician Morris, privates Allison, Abram Andrews, Peter Andrews, Arthurs, Berryhill, Briggs, George Carter, Jesse Carter, Thomas Carter, Chester, Chisholm, Jos. Corbin, Cochran, Dickson, Dungan, Earnest, Frazier, Geary, Guess, Hawthorn, Hull, Johnson, J. C. Lyle, McCurdy, Magill, Maloy, Meldoon, Metcalf, Wm. Miller, Isaac Miller, J. W. Nickeson, Noah, Porter, Robt. Pry, David Pry, Rea, Wm. Scott, Seese, Geo. Sprowls, Jesse Sprowls, Staley, Star, Stollar, Toppin, Virtue, Wheeler, Wilkin, Worstell and Wright.