June 20, the ladies of our native county, sent us a full complement of Havelocks, and a useless appendage they were. Barney D. said, they were "Moighty noice to corrie me tobaccy in." We sent home thanks and threw the "head-bags" away.
Drill, drill, drill! was the order of the camp, and we soon became proficient in all company movements, principally under the command of Lieut. Bailey.
Col. Roberts took command of the Regiment, and also of the camp, on June 20th, and on the 21st, Capt. McPherson visited Gettysburg, returning on the 25th, bringing five recruits for the company, which added to the 69 who had passed the examination previously, increased our number to 74.
June 28th, we again received a donation from home, consisting of needle-cases, which were very convenient, but one of the boys said, he wished his sister, or somebody else's sister, had come along to do his mending.
On Monday, July 1st, the regiment was partly uniformed; white duck pants and flannel shirts, furnished by the state, and a fancy gray Jacket, sent from home, while Caps and Overcoats, were issued by the government; arms and accoutrements, were also distributed.
"The Glorious Fourth," came on, and with it came an invitation to a neighboring grove, where the good people of Westchester furnished us with a No. 1. dinner. After dinner the "shoulder straps" gallanted the girls, while the "low private" soldiers looked on, or perhaps thought of "The girl I left behind me." Some took a bathe in the Brandywine.
July 5th, an order was issued, requiring all companies to be filled up to the maximum number, by recruiting officers, sent out for that purpose. It should have been stated before, that at the original examination, a number of men had been rejected, on account of physical defects, even the slightest, as only men of perfect physique were taken to fill the quota.
Sergeants Stewart and Minnigh were detailed accordingly, leaving camp on the 8th, and returning on the 19th, with twenty recruits, who were mustered in on that date, increasing our numbers to 94 all told.
While we still lacked seven of the full quota, the very best material, however, composed this command, men of muscle, nerve, and courage, as well as brain, men of whom Gov. Curtin could well say, "They are the flower of the state." All volunteers, none forced into service, no bummers, no bounty-jumpers.
Another fact should be stated here; the men in the ranks were not inferior, in physique or social standing to the officers. Hence, the duty performed, and the work done by this command.