have been lost sight of in a short time. However, we accepted the situation, believing that it all made up the three years of a soldier’s life. We arrived in Washington on the 19th, at 6 o’clock in the morning, very much fatigued by our wearisome ride in the cattle cars, wishing, longing, hoping, for what the soldier calls “a good square meal.” We expected Washington would not be behind Philadelphia in this respect, and after stacking our arms and waiting patiently for about two hours our ears were startled by that sound so welcome to every soldier, “Fall in for rations.” They marched us into a building having a sign over the door reading “Soldiers’ Retreat.” Visions of cold ham and soft bread appeared unto us, and that beverage, which always cheers but does not inebriate, we thought we smelt afar off; but alas, for a soldier’s hopes. What a sight greeted our eyes as we filed into that building. Three long rows of tables, running the length of the building, were piled up with chunks of half boiled pork which looked as if they had been cut from the hog when just killed, for the bristles were long enough to lift up each piece by. A quantity of stale and musty bread and some very muddy coffee, completed our bill of fare. We had not anticipated such a re-treat as this; however, we felt that it was nothing like getting used to these things, and we did retreat and got our breakfast at the eating houses. We had a few hours to see the
sights of the city, and improved them by a visit to the Capitol and House of Representatives, also the Senate chamber, where some of the boys sat down in the chair which Jeff. Davis had vacated, just to see how it would seem. Others made impromptu speeches on the great questions which were agitating our country.
The camp which was assigned to us was out to Meridian Hill, about four miles from the capitol, and thither we marched and pitched our tents, and were quite willing to enjoy a comfortable snooze when the drums beat the tatoo.
The Sixth was brigaded with the Fourth and Seventh New Hampshire and the Seventh Connecticut, which arrived the next day, all under command of Brig. Gen. H. G. Wright.
A member of Co. “B” was taken ill when but a few days in camp, and was removed to Columbia Hospital, where he died of congestion of the brain on the 26th of September. This was the first death since our organization. Death claimed another victim in a member of Co. “F,” Theodore Gibbons by name. He died on the 7th of October.
The twenty days of our camp life in Washington was one unceasing drill: morning drills by the sergeants, before breakfast; company drill after that meal was over; then the brigade drill after dinner, taken with our other duties, made our time pretty
much all occupied. We began to see in these extra duties the inner life of a soldier, and our proficiency in drill was manifest from day to day, yet as we heard of the clash of war and read the accounts of skirmishes, we longed to be at the front where we might participate in those stirring scenes. Several times during our camp life here, we were called into line and extra rounds of cartridges given us, with the orders to hold ourselves in readiness to move at a moment’s notice, but as often dismissed to await the next call.
On the 8th day of October we left Washington by rail for Annapolis, Maryland, and arrived there after a wearisome ride of twelve hours. We were quartered in the Navy Yard for a few days, which gave us an opportunity of seeing a few of the relics of the war of 1812. Many ancient looking swords, old flintlock muskets and wooden canteens were among the collection. A few days passed and we went outside the town and pitched our tents near a grove of fine old trees, where we might have better facilities for drilling, &c. We were inspected several times by prominent officers of the regular army, which gave evidence of some movement or other on foot, and a short time elapsed ere it was noised abroad that we were going on an expedition.
The 19th of October found us all packed up and tramping up the gang-planks of the steamers to sail
on the great expedition, with sealed orders, under Gen. Sherman. The right wing of our regiment was assigned to the steamship Marion, the left wing to the steamer Parkersburg. There were seventeen regiments in all, and thirty-three steam transports to hold us, besides quite a fleet of gunboats, made up the entire fleet. Such formidable looking boats presented to our vision, gave evidence of something else beside a mere excursion. We knew that hard work and fighting were before us and that only a few days would elapse ere we should see the rebel soil.