But at length, about 2 o’clock P. M., we were all on board the cars and on our way to Washington, where we arrived early the next morning. In about two hours we embarked on board the steamer Keyport and started down the Potomac.
We sailed under sealed orders, not knowing for a certainty where we were going until after passing Fortress Monroe, though our destination had been pretty well guessed.
We experienced very rough weather while on the voyage, and a great many of the men were sea-sick, and we were compelled to anchor for the night off the Rhappahannock river, the steamer having four feet of water in the hold. It was a disgrace to our country thus to jeopardize the lives of men. We, of course, had no option in the matter; on this vessel we were to sail and that ended the matter; if the steamer had gone to the bottom with us—and it was a wonder that she did not—the verdict would have been as usual—a terrible loss of life, and no one to blame. But this was only one of ten thousand cases, where the men who were in the field, nobly battling for the nation’s life, suffered through the wicked greed of gain in others.
On the 22d we got under-way early in the day, passing Fortress Monroe on the right and “Rip Raps” on the left.
The angry waves dashing against their sides on that icy December morning, caused them to appear anything but inviting spots to us, accustomed to soldiering among green hills and grassy hillsides.
Early the next morning we disembarked at Jones Landing, near City Point, and marched about five miles in a northerly direction, taking our position in the line on the right of the 24th corps, to which we were now attached as the independent division, Gen. John W. Turner commanding.
We passed a cold and sleepless night, there being about four inches of snow on the ground, and wood very scarce.
Our train did not get up until nearly morning. The next morning we went to work on our camp in good earnest. From a wood, about a half mile distant, the men split out slabs and carried them, on their shoulders, notching them together in regular backwoods style, covering them with their “dog-tents,” making houses large enough to accommodate from six to eight men.
They then built a fire place in each out of sticks laid up in cob-house fashion, plastering heavily with clay both on the inside and outside, and made ourselves quite comfortable for the winter.
The weather was very disagreeable all through the months of January and February, raining or snowing nearly every day, keeping us in slush nearly all the time. Firing was constantly going on at the front, and during the day hearing cannonading was the regular order, but no general engagement occurred during the winter. While here inspections were quite frequent, and very rigid, and great pains were taken with the appearance and discipline of the regiment. We were under arms and at the breast-works every morning at daybreak. Many promotions were made during the winter, Capt. Chamberlin to Major, 1st Lieutenants Davis, McCracken, Snyder and Bevington to Captains, and 2d Lieutenants Husted, Pumphrey, Sowers and Keyes to 1st Lieutenants. The last being soon after detailed on brigade staff.