After a day or two in the negro church, camp was made in the woods near by in connection with the 4th Wisconsin and the cavalry. Sibley tents were given out and as one of the privates writes home: "They are real nice and comfortable though there is no means for hanging up clothes. We have purchased a camp kettle and are cooking by detachments."
The appearance of the country was unfamiliar to our New England boys and one writes: "I've scarcely seen anything that deserves to be called a hillock and the soil is either wet, sandy, or swampy." Quite a change from the rock ribbed hills and mountains of the homeland. However, while critical of soil and landscape, Maryland oysters met with universal approbation. Baked beans too had a familiar taste though sometimes when baked in a Dutch-oven underground the sand found its way in, giving a flavor not approved by Bostonians.
The purpose of this Eastern Shore campaign as it was called was to make a demonstration of Union forces in Somerset and Worcester counties, Md., where the feeling was strong for secession and where troops for the Confederacy were being recruited. On November 14, camp was broken at Snow Hill and the battery marched sixteen miles to Newtown, Md., where it joined the larger body of troops under General Lockwood.
The whole force now consisted of detachments from the 4th Wisconsin, 21st Indiana, 6th Michigan, 5th New York, 2d Delaware, Pursell's Legion of Maryland, 17th Massachusetts, Richard's Cavalry and the 2d Massachusetts Light Battery all in command of General Lockwood.
November 13, General Dix had issued a proclamation[[1]] to the inhabitants of Accomac and Northampton counties, Virginia, urging them to peace and loyalty. To enforce this proclamation General Lockwood with his brigade left Newtown and went by way of Drummondtown and Belleville to Eastville toward the end of the peninsula.
The battery arrived at Drummondtown, November 21. This was Thanksgiving Day and we read, "Poultry very plenty on the way. Bought (?) two turkeys and a goose for our dinner. Grand mistake of Corporal S. in boiling a chicken with a bar of soap."
On the way from Drummondtown to Eastville scouting parties were sent out and in these the members of the battery took part capturing seven six-pound guns, several hundred muskets, ammunition, and a brass twelve-pound Howitzer which had been buried in the woods. December 1, a grand review was held by General Lockwood.
As it was evident the Confederate forces had left the country and the purpose of the expedition had been accomplished, preparations were made for the return to Baltimore.
Accordingly on December 12, the battery again went on board the Pocahontas and returned to its former camp in Baltimore after an absence of forty-seven days during which "the only sanguinary occurrence was the capture and slaughter of turkeys, geese, and other fowls for which severe punishment was meted out by General Lockwood."
One of the men in a letter written home at this time writes: "We were amused somewhat at one time on the trip by the astonishment of an old darky who seeing our brigade inquired, 'Has all you genn'men got names?' and while we were waiting several days near the landing for transportation we spent our time out of doors and bathing in the waters of the bay which we thought pretty good for December."