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"Don't stop a moment to think, John,

Our country calls, then go;

Don't fear for me nor the children, John,
I'll care for them, you know.

Leave the corn upon the stalk, John,

The fruit upon the tree,

And all our little cares, John,

Yes, leave them all to me.

CHORUS "Then take your gun and go,
Yes, take your gun and go,

For Ruth can drive the oxen, John,
And I can use the hoe.

I've heard my grandsire tell, John,

He fought at Bunker Hill,

He counted all his life and wealth

His country's off'ring still;

Would I shame that brave old blood, John,

That flowed on Monmouth Plain?

No; take your gun and go, John,
Though I ne'er see you again.

"The army's short of blankets, John,
Then take this heavy pair-

I spun and wove them when a girl
And worked them with much care;

A rose in every corner, John,

And here's my name, you see;

On the cold ground they'll warmer feel,
Because they're made by me.

"And now, good-bye to you, John,

I can not say farewell;

We'll hope and pray for the best, John,

His goodness none can tell

May His arm be round about you, John,

To guard you night and day,

Be our beloved country's shield

Till war shall pass away."

One of our men, named Baldwin, sickened of his bargain and chopped off his fingers. This was an act of shameful cowardice, and if he lives to have grandchildren, they will share in his shame for this act.

The affair was made a source of amusement, for J. L. Edmiston, the wag of the company, mounted a stump and delivered a sermon from the text, Matt. v, 30, "And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off, and cast it from thee."

SEPTEMBER, 1862.

1-5. We have been taking lessons in squad drilling, putting our quarters in better condition, and in other ways occupying the weary hours.

The

6. One of our tents caught fire last night and burned up. man with soda water and ginger bread had a brisk trade with us across the guard line. Think he came out loser. Soldiers are full of tricks.

8. Have been taking a lesson in doing guard duty-two hours on and four off. There is some novelty in it, which I suppose will wear off. Loss of sleep goes hard with me. Pacing back and forth on a beat for two hours is a monotonous duty, and gives opportunity for reflection.

9. Nearly one-third of the men are absent on short furlough. Others are absent without leave; but they return after a time, and all goes well. Green and I go beyond the lines and spend part of the day in the shady wood. In the evening we have our first battalion drill. It was not much of a success, but we can do better next time. A few of our men have seen service in the three month's regiments, and have had valuable experience.

11. Harry Walburn and I missed roll call this morning, and were threatened with punishment. The 95th is camped to the west of us. They have been to the front, received their initiation, and are now full of experience. A heavy rain fell, accompanied by wind, prostrating many of our tents. A newsman came into camp to-day and sold some papers dated several days ago. His next visit will be one He will do his family a service by taking a policy on

of interest.

his life.

12. A squad of good-looking prisoners are brought in and placed in the prison east of our camp, giving us our first sight of rebels.

14. This is the Sabbath. Sergeant McCrea took a number of us to the Scioto river, and as cleanliness is akin to godliness, we did the next best thing to worshiping by washing. Captain H. Z. Adams preached in camp this evening. I make the acquaintance of Avery and Rose, of Company D. The Licking county men are men of intelligence. Drill exercises occupy most of our time. We expect our clothing soon. Many of the boys are writing to their friends.

17. We are having a drill before breakfast, and are looking for one at midnight, soon. When we get better acquainted with our duties we shall probably perform them more cheerfully.

18. Our clothing was issued to us to-day: One pair pants, one pair bootees, two pair drawers, two pair socks, one blouse, two shirts. Clothing and feeding a great army must be a heavy expense to our government.

21. This is the Sabbath. Boys of Company D, accompanied by some ladies of Licking county, make us a call, and spend an hour pleasantly. A lady in camp is like a shade in the desert. more shade of this kind it would seem more pleasant.

If we had

These ex

22. The washerwoman presents her bill of five cents. travagances must be stopped-I must do my own housework.

23. Drew one hundred and twenty-two pounds of bread this morning for our company. Overcoats were issued to us. With these cool nights an overcoat will not be a bad thing to sleep with.

25. Captain David Taylor's company receive a number of visitors to-day. A good dinner, a flag presentation, speeches and music, and some lady visitors, all in that company, make us a little envious. When will our good time come? Dress parade in the evening; these new clothes do look well.

28. Sunday has come again. A few of us take to the woods. Some write to friends. Others manage to go to the city, and on their return are noisy and quarrelsome.

29. We received to-day our arms-the Enfield rifle. They are rusty and in bad order. Would like to trade mine for a milk cow or a hand organ. Swisher returned from home, bringing some delicacies for our palates. Nothing tastes better than the good things which mother sends us.

We

Cartridge boxes and waist belts were issued to us to-day. begin to look like soldiers. I can shoulder arms as well as a full grown man.

OCTOBER, 1862.

1. We have grown weary of the monotonous duties of camp and are anxious for adventure. We would be better pleased if we were in Dixie.

5. I have been ill for a day or two. The nights are cool. Many visitors come into camp, bringing some delicacy for friends. These

are always shared by all in the mess until they are gone. A friend with feed is a friend indeed, according to a new version.

7. This has been a day for clearing up and putting things to rights. Brooms, shovels and other implements are in demand.

15. The dull duties of camp continue from day to day, but we are becoming more soldierly every day. Our desire to leave Camp Chase grows stronger every day. Men who have gone home on a selfmade furlough have returned and are faring sumptuously in the guard house. The following is our regimental organization :

Colonel, James A. Wilcox; Lieutenant Colonel, John G. Mitchell; Major, Darius B. Warner; Adjutant, Chas. C. Cox.

We

25. Our stay at Camp Chase ends to-day, and we are marching to Columbus. At 4 P. M. we board a train of cars and are soon running toward Zanesville, where we arrive late in the night. We remain in the cars till morning, and at daylight march to our new camp some distance from the city. It had been snowing through the night, and snow lay on the ground the depth of three inches. had prepared a day's rations before striking tents yesterday morning, but that was gone hours before we left the train. Arriving in camp without breakfast is a serious joke. Some swine, which had strayed into camp, fell victims to the hungry appetites of the boys. Don't know who is to pay for the hogs, but the butchers went to the guard house with heroic stoicism.

Camp Zanesville is on Licking Creek and we are camped two hundred yards from the bank. The situation is a pleasant one; the scenery is delightful; the grand old hills lift their summits skyward and the silvery Licking winds through the valley like a thread of silver. Think I will like it here; hope the pie-women will sell better pies than those we have been eating at our former camp.

A much better feeling exists among the enlisted men than formerly; the transition from citizen to soldier progresses satisfactorily, and the men who chafed and rebelled at the rigorous duties and careful discipline of a month ago, submit to the same now with a cheerfulness which augurs future good. Colonel Wilcox has been untiring in his efforts to fit us for service, and in some cases his motives have been misunderstood and much ill feeling, bordering on insubordination, has, at times, shown itself. Now that it is apparent that the commanding officer has been doing all that could be done to prepare us to enter the field, clothed, equipped, and properly disciplined, those who busied themselves in keeping alive a feeling of disobedience, have grown less and less sour, and cheerful obedience on the part of the greater numbers gives much encouragement. Our quarters here are wooden buildings, large, comfortable and well ventilated. The water is plentiful and of good quality.

NOVEMBER, 1862.

1. We are much pleased with our new camp, and have made many agreeable acquaintances in city and country. Nearly every day small squads of men are passed out for a trip into the country, and on their return they give favorable accounts of the manner in which they have been treated by the citizens. To-day I made a trip of a few miles out among the hills, accompanied by Captain Bowersock. We found plenty of chestnuts, and at the house of a Mr. Burlingame we had a good dinner. We shall not soon forget the kindness of the people in the vicinity of camp.

3. A party who went to the city last night on a trip for pleasure failed to respond to the roll-call this morning, and it is believed they fell into the hands of the patrol force and are now in the city jail. A strong guard is stationed in the city day and night, with orders to arrest and imprison all enlisted men found on the street after nine o'clock in the evening. The order is vigorously enforced.

4. Five men were placed in the dungeon to-day for refusing to muster; they say they will rot there before they will muster.

5. The men who went to prison to rot yesterday were mustered to-day and say they feel better. The guard house is an uncomfortable place to stay.

6. I spent to-day as provost guard in the city, making our headquarters at the city jail. At night after my first two hours' duty I retired to one of the cells in the jail and lay down to rest. Some one, coming into the jail soon after, shut the cell door and made me a prisoner for the remainder of the night. I am not used to being jailed.

7. I was liberated at eight o'clock, and our party, being relieved by another, returned to camp.

9. Sunday. The Sabbath brings its duties as do other days. General inspection took place in the morning, and our arms and accoutrements had to be put in order. Captain Riker took command of a squad of men and marched to the country for recreation. Some of us got a good supper with a countryman, north of camp.

10. At ten o'clock this morning a fire broke out in one of the wooden buildings occupied as quarters. as quarters. The regiment was drilling at the west end of camp, and before we could reach the scene of the fire it was beyond control. The main part of camp was destroyed, including guns, accoutrements, and the personal effects of many of the men. The cause of the fire cannot be ascertained, but the

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