We crossed the river at Parkersburg on the railroad ferry boat “Webster,” and moved out to the farm of a Mr. Hutchins, adjoining Judge Stephenson’s. We were the first to camp on this ground, afterwards throughout the war known as “Camp Union,” the name given it that day by Captain Buell.
Our tents and baggage did not arrive until about 11 o’clock P. M. During the night a cold rain set in and some of the boys, John T. Booth and others, got one of the tents pitched, which was the first tent put up in “Camp Union.”
The other tents were pitched early in the morning and soon things began to look more cheerful. The 14th Ohio, Col. Steedman, from Toledo, had encamped in Parkersburg previous to our arrival, but they occupied the railroad depot, being without tents.
Today, the 29th, an election for field officers of the regiment was held with the following result:
Colonel, Timothy R. Stanley, of Athens; Lieut. Colonel, Capt. William Bolles, of Company C, Ironton, and for Major, our Second Lieutenant, William H. Bisbee, of Marietta.
We received our first accoutrements today: knapsacks, haversacks, canteens, caps, socks, etc.
Thursday, May 30th—Early this morning orders came to “strike tents” and prepare to move. We marched down to the railroad track and there waited until about 2:00 o’clock P. M., when our train arrived and we started off eastward. During our wait Col. Stanley addressed the regiment. The people of Parkersburg gave us a good dinner, today. We moved slowly out, while our friends who had congregated to see us off gave us hearty cheers and God speed. We were now in high spirits as we were at last “in the field,” after five weeks of weary waiting, and disappointments. Our train, however, soon stopped when a corporal and six men were told off and left to guard the trestle near by. This was repeated until well toward evening Capt. Buell and his remaining 20 men were disembarked at what was afterwards known as the “Burnt Bridge,” over Walker’s Creek, half a mile west of Petroleum station. Co. A, Captain John McMahon, was also left here with us. This bridge, about 60 feet in length, had been burned by the enemy, two nights before. After a meager supper we were taken up and stationed for the night on the top of an abrupt eminence overlooking the bridge, where we spent the night anxiously waiting for a prowling enemy. Practically every man of the company was on guard. Two prowlers came to the neighborhood of the bridge during the night and one of Co. A fired on them, but without known effect.
May 31—About dark the Captain with a detail of men made a trip down the railroad track, about three miles, to a tunnel, guarded by Corporal Holden and a squad of six men. He talked with the dwellers along the line and after hearing the corporal’s report of an attack upon him the night before, which he and his command gallantly beat off, we returned to camp, arriving about 11 P. M.
After supper we camped down as best we could for the night, receiving orders, however, to be ready at daylight on the morrow to go on the march.
Today, (June 1), contrary to expectations, we remained in camp all day.