The regiment was formed "close column by division" in a piece of thick woods, and in this position, with equipments on, we lay down to catch what sleep was possible.
It was a trying situation for us. Though we had become in a measure accustomed to the sounf of conflict, and impatiently awaited the orders that should send us into action, we could not drive away the thoughts which vainly strived to picture the hidden dangers that menaced us. The certainty of death never before seemed so near. The approach of dawn was dreaded as though it was to witness our last day upon earth, and our thoughts wandered back to home and the loced ones there. But no one flinched from danger; none sought to escape the perils which were sure to come on the morrow. Each felt the danger at hand but determined to meet it like a man. There was no mock heroism there. The braggarts, those who were bravest when danger was afar off, were silenced, and in there place stood a body of resolute men who had gauged the danger and were prepared for it.
Shot and shell were doing their dreadful work. The roar of musketry grew louder and more loud. We lay under a severe artillery fire for some time, and the hissing, screeching sounds which accompanied the dealy missiles in their flight produced anything but a pleasant sensation.
A feeling of discontent manifested itself and there was little or no enthusiasm among the soldiers, who had become dispirited over the failures of the late campaigns. Gen. Hooker changed all this. He infused new life and vigor in the army by rooting out old abuses and studying the comfort of his troops.
Great pains were taken to keep the camp clean and in fine order, and on Sunday morning inspection everything about the camp was as trim, and each tent as carefully arranged as though the work had been superintended by an experineced housekeeper. The line officers tents faced the company streets and then field and staff officers quarters were on a ridge overlooking the whole camp.
The work of erecting stockades was at once begun, and when the little log houses, with their fire-places and chimnies, were all completed the camp presented a fine appearance. Four men genrally tented together, by which means four pieces of shelter tents came into use, and these, buttoned together formed a very spacious pitched roof to the foundations of logs. The tents were pitched sufficiently high to enable the men to stand erect, and across the back an extra piece of shelter tent or a rubber blanket was fastened to keep out the wind and rain.
On Tuesday, the 14th of April, we received marching orders and were supplied with sixty extra rounds of ammunition. The announcement met with no surprise, as we had been expecting to hear of a movement ever since the President reviewed the Corps.
The march of our Division from Littleton to the battlefield [Gettysburg] was made in great haste, with scarcely a halt. Everywhere along the road we received grateful welcome, and in front of every house large buckets and tubs were kept constantly full of fresh water. The women of this part of Pennsylvania were not merely patriotic, they were courageous and enthusiastic. We passed several women, within hearing distance of the noise of battle, whose homes had been rendered untenable, and they stopped on the road to encourage the troops by waving their handkerchiefs, and in other ways manifesting their pleasure at the arrival of the army.
While this desperate conflict [Pickett's Charge] was being waged the enemy in our front remained quiet. There seemed to be a general dispositon on both sides to await the result of the engagement then going on.
The first announcement of marching orders is communicated by the Sergeant-Major to the Orderly-Sergeants of the different companies, who notify the men. Tents are at once struck, and rolled up with rubber or woolen blankets into a long roll. Equipments, haversacks and canteens are all placed together, and until the assembly call is beat, the men lounge around, smoking, playing cards or indulging in some innocent pastime. At the sound of the drum equipments are donned, the men stand up in front of the stacks of muskets to the position of "Attention," and at the command "Take Arms!" the stacks are broken.
Those who imagine the march of an army is simply a parade of troops on a large scale; that bands of music with a Drum Major, in gaudy uniforms, precedes each Regiment or Brigade; that the soldiers carry their muskets to a "shoulder arms" or "right shoulder shift," as they have witnessed militia regiments on parade at home; that each Regiment marches company front, every man keeping perfect step, thereby inspiring the lookers on with admiration -- will, perhaps, be astonished to know that their imaginations are at fault.
So far the strict military form has been observed, but
The infantry always marches ahead followed by the artillery, after which comes the ambulance corps, and lastly the wagon train. The troops on the right of the line have the best of it, particularly on long march.... By the time the head of the column had marched four or five miles, and turned into a field on the road, stacked arms, and were enjoying a brief rest, the troops in the rear were rushing on to close up the wide gaps between the several commands. Generals and Colonels, the innocent cause of all this confusion iin the rear, were being roundly abused for their "heartlessness," but still the men moving along, grumbling, swearing and mad. The last regiment finally enters the field just in time to see the head of the column moving out, and the men at once throw themselves on the ground to obtain a little rest at all events.
To the old soldiers the presence of these drafted men afforded considerable amusement. Stories of the most ridiculous character were told to them, army experience and dangers were greatly exagerated, and man who could tell the biggest lie in a manner that would gain the largest number of believers was the best fellow in camp.
The companies all form in their respective streets and when ready the Captain and Lieutenants take their positions. The musicians take up position on the parade ground and at the first tap of the drum each company is marched up to its proper place in the line. The colors, and right and left general guides, then make the alignment, to which the whole regiment is formed.
The officer in command then exercises the men for a brief period in the Manual of Arms, concluding by the command "Order arms." This movement is a good test of the proficiency of a Regiment in drill. If every gun comes to the ground with a sharp thud, so that it sounds like one quick movement, it is a good test of throughness. But when they strike the ground one after the other, in irregular succession, producing a sound like that of a miss strike at ten pins, a feeling of mortification takes immediate possesion of all, particularly if visitors are in camp.
We had reduced the work of destroying railroads to a perfect system, and it was remarkable how expeditiously it was performed. A squad of men would begin the work of destruction first by raising up a large section of track bodily from the road bed and throwing it completely over. This squad would march on past another section of men to a vacant place in the line and repeat the operation. Following the track raisers would be a large squad armed with axes, sledge hammers, hatchets, &c., with which they would separate the ties from the rails; another detail would folliw them and pile up the ties, set fire to them and heat the rails, which were then twisted -- one man turning the rail to the right and , another to the left -- thus effectively destroying their usefulness.