Chapter 26 - In Camp

CHAPTER XXVI

IN CAMP

Next morning we expected to be on the move again, but our expectations were soon set aside by the announcement by the officers that we were to put up quarters as we would in all probability remain her until the Army would move again.

As our regiment had encamped in a woods, a number of the boys took advantage of this circumstance and felled trees and erected tolerable good quartets, whilst others of a more careless disposition and not having forgotten the comfortable quarters they had left behind at Bolivar satisfied themselves by stretching their “dog” tents as best they could, even as they were compelled to tie them from the trees, to prevent them from falling over.

We made the discovery that not the whole Division, in fact only two regiments of the Brigade, the 28^th and the  147^th, were the only troops that were camped in our immediate locality, and that the Division was on duty from Fairfax to Dumfries.

Occoquan, as we generally called it, held an important position, in fact the link to Fairfax and Dumfries, hence the necessity of having an officer in command in whom the commanding general would have implicit confidence, hence the promotion of Colonel Arlo Pardee as the commanding officer.

It will be remembered that Company G had just received arms upon the day starting upon the march, and thus were just as green as we could be.  We had demonstrated whilst on the march that we were as fully able as the veterans to undergo the fatigues of soldiering and we felt satisfied that just as soon as the opportunity should be afforded us, we would be able to master the manual arms, so that the company would compare favorably with that of any other army regiment, in any and every respect.

Orderly Parks secured special permission of the Colonel to place the company under the strictest military discipline and drill, so as to be much better able to accomplish the object he so much desired.

The. members of the company will not soon forget our first lessons in the manual of arms, and how Churchill brought down his musket on Hathaway’s toes, and the various other little mishaps which befell a number of the members of the awkward company.  It is a fact that we had some very awkward men who gave Parks much troub­le until he was able to get them to handle a gun with any degree of military precision ­and in fact he never entirely succeeded, ­and he finally hit upon the plan of placing these men on detached duty.

We had drill at any time that a squad could be got together, and the effects of the Orderly’s rigid discipline was soon evident.

The men caught the enthusiasm which excited the officers and the test word of honour with the officers and members of Company G, was Excelsior.

A number of the members of the Company were detailed to cut down trees and assist in putting up a hospital for the two regiments.  To us this had the appearance of remaining here for some time, a conclusion  that the facts in the case did not warrant.

Among the many incidents which occurred during our short stay at Occoquan, was the mouth battle between Corporal Ulrich and the officers of the company.

Up to that time our officers had entirely existed on our rations and we were fast becoming initiated into the duties and rights of soldiers and as the sequel shows, Freddy was prepared to defend the rights of the company.