Espying a house to the right, off some half a mile from this place, we made for it. We were greeted upon our arrival by about half a dozen negro children, who looked upon us with as much curiosity as boys would at home upon the "horned owl" on exhibition. We asked for the woman of the house. She happened to be out of doors at the time, and was pointed out to us. We introduced ourselves, and asked her if she could get us a breakfast. She answered in the affirmative, and asked us into the house. This was a large log-house, and was the one occupied by the owner of the premises. The negroes occupied two or three smaller ones in the same yard, and some five rods distant from the main building.
This is the way the buildings are arranged by the country farmers in this part of the State. The negroes all occupy log-houses. Some of the owners have nothing better, and inhabit the same; but most of them have frame houses, and many of these are large and elegant. The negro women have charge of all the children, both white and black, and the cooking for all is done in the out-houses. We were well entertained at this place. The woman of the house was apparently about seventy-five years of age, and was very intelligent and sociable. Her husband owns a large farm, and some fourteen or fifteen negroes. They raise hemp, keep sheep, spin and weave, as our folks did at home fifty years ago. They have suffered from the raids of the enemy, principally in the loss of horses, not having enough left to cultivate their farms. This is indeed a serious loss to them.
After the lapse of half an hour, our breakfast was brought to us. We had hot biscuit, fried bacon, johnny-cake, butter and milk. We bought five pounds of butter at this place for twenty-five cents a pound, and four dozen of eggs, for which we paid twenty-five cents per dozen. We went beyond here one mile, and procured three dozen eggs more. From here we started on our return to camp. Stopped at a house, and finding the owner absent on an expedition to camp, I prevailed on the negroes to bake us some cake. Here we stopped three-quarters of an hour, during which time the women cooked enough to fill my haversack, for which they charged me twenty-five cents. Leaving here, we called at the place we first stopped at in the morning, and found our bread awaiting us—one large johnny-cake, and one loaf of white bread. This finished our load, and at one, P. M., we arrived in camp, prepared to live again.
We had a most beautiful camp at this place. It was situated in a grove, at a spot where we had every convenience necessary in the shape of wood and water, with plenty of grass to roll and tumble upon. The trees in this grove were perhaps forty feet apart from one another on an average. These consisted of maple, cherry, black walnut, and the common shell-bark, and many of them were of large size. The ground underneath was swept clean, and all brush, chips, &c., removed.
We had "brigade guard mounting" here at nine, A. M. The band would strike up at precisely nine o'clock, and as we watched the movements of the guard as they approached simultaneously from their different regiments to take the place assigned them, we were struck with the beauty of the scene. The guard approaching, take their places, and the music ceases. The "camp guard" upon the right of the line, with nothing but gun and equipments; the "picket" upon the left, with canteen, haversack and blanket, in addition. The line being formed, the sergeant-major, who arranges it, makes a "present" to the officer commanding, and immediately takes his place upon the left. After he gets his position, the order is given "front." Upon this, the commissioned officers march twelve paces in front of the line, the sergeants eight, and the corporals four. The officer in command advances and gives special instructions to all the officers in person. He then returns to his position, and gives the order, "officers and non-commissioned officers, about face," "inspect your guards." The officers return; the corporals take their places in line; the lieutenants inspect the front rank, the sergeants the rear. The band play during inspection. Inspection over, the music ceases, and the officers take their places in line again. Then comes the order, "music, beat off." The band commences playing a "slow march," and, coming to the front, proceed the length of the line. After going through the man[oe]uvres, which bring them to an "about face," they return playing a quickstep, and take their former position. Then the order, "by platoons! right wheel! march!" Immediately upon the completion of the half wheel, which brings them from line of battle into column, the order is given, "pass in review! column forward! guide right! march!" The band strike up, the first platoon make a left half wheel, and march forward, preceded by the band. The other platoons coming up, wheel upon the same spot of the first. After marching forward a certain distance, another left half wheel is made. Marching straight forward from this, they pass the "officer of the day," who takes the position directly in front of the centre of the line, as it was before moving vacated by the officer in command of the guard, who places himself upon the right of the first platoon, and directs the movement of the column. As each platoon passes in front of the "officer of the day," the officers in charge of their respective platoons come to a "present," saluting, and pass on,—the "camp guard" to the relief of the "old guard," the "picket" to the place assigned them—the band cease playing, and the review ends. The brigade guard mounting, of which I have endeavored to give a description, is a beautiful and imposing spectacle.
Although the soldier endures many hardships and privations, still there are many pleasant scenes and associations connected with a soldier's life; and I think that should the war continue, many of the men, looking back upon the pleasant side of their campaign, will have a yearning for the scenes and associations in connection with it, and again enter the ranks.
God grant they may! and with willing hearts and hands, and with the assurance of the righteousness of the cause for which they contend, may they consecrate themselves anew to the cause of Freedom.