Journal of Travels

Departed from Dresden Aprile 24 A.D. 1861

We was escorted to the cars by a large crowd of the citizens. Arrived at Columbus (Ohio) at 12 O clock and then marched for camp Jackson and then we did not get a bite of diner untill five O clock and after supper we marched for the state house and then we marched to the American house for supper at 9 Oclock and then at the senetate chambers and slept on the floor all night.

Aprile 25 is a very nice day and we have fine fun.

30 Tuesday
There is great excitement in camp. Two Deserters had their heads shaved and were drummed out of Camp

May 1st Wednesday
Cool. Zanesville Boys left @ one O clock.

2nd.
Boys slept cold and passed an uncomfortable night
There was some frost

May 3 Friday
Rain all day. Camp muddy. the bread was all soaked with rain water

Saturday 4
Muddy and uncomfortable

Sunday 5
Everything quiet as usual
mud drying up

Monday 6
Still keeps muddy. Camp quiet. not much drilling

Tuesday 7
Nothing of importance in Camp.

May 8th
Good weather in Camp
Companies Drilling all day.

Thursday 9
Quiet in Camp.

Friday 10.
Some of our Boys are ill

Saturday 11
Our company was sworn in today. 3 of our boys refused to take the Oath.

Monday 13
Had a fine walk through Columbus. some of the Boys went through the Penitentiary

Tuesday 14th
Had a hard days drilling
Nothing of importance.

Wednesday 15th
Some excitement in Camp. Officers want us to Volunteer for three years.

Thursday 16th
First Regimental drill. mar(ched) to the State House and heard an address by Brig. General Carrington, also one from the Governor

Friday 17
First dress parade

Saturday 18
dress parade @ 5 O clock

May 18th
Dance in the evening
Music by the band enjoyed ourselves pretty well as long as any one would dance. We have rec'd three Boxes of Provisions from Dresden
A toast was proposed by a member of the company "The Ladies of Dresden, may their breast works ever prove a safe protection to our Ohio infantry"

Sunday 19
Everything quiet as usual
have been writing home and now enjoying a fine view from a big hole in the Barracks
Some of the men are eating dinner some are washing Dishes and some are washing themselves. some are playing cards and some writing. today we started a Sunday School of about 30 members. Put down my name as one but did not attend on a/c of a previous engagement.

Monday 20
Rainy this morning Camp muddy
Some of the men shot a pig in Camp today

Tuesday 21st
Camp is lively one man was taken to the hospital his Name was Scott. Stealing Chickens is the order of the day as well as killing pigs

May 22nd Wednesday
A Cold night but pleasant Morning. The foraging parties met with unusual success and brought in numbers of Chickens Geese and Turkeys
Two of our men, Ogle and another man came back from Dresden today where they had been on furlough. They brought some dry articles of provisions. Letters, etc. I received a cake for my share for which I sincerely thank my Aunt. We are drilling this afternoon with good success. We had some fine Lady visitors to see us today
Jesse Leake has been sent to the City very sick.

May 23rd Thursday
A cool night but pleasant morning. Our carpenters left last night for the camp @ Bellair where we expect to go in two or three days. There is some dissatisfaction on account of the Wages not forthcoming for last month

Friday 24th
Cool night but warm oppressive in morning with South Wind

Saturday 25th
A bright day and very warm
yesterday we rec'd our arms and part of our uniforms. We had a splendid dress parade last evening under the eye of Gen Carrin
-gton and the best part of Columbus. We left Columbus this Morning amid Cheers at that place and were cheered and saluted along the road arriving at Bellair about six in the evening. Where we partook of a Bountiful repast provided by the citizens of Bellair

Sunday 26th
A pleasant day. Camp Jefferson all activity. Took a wash in the Ohio river this morning. After which I went to church. There was many of the soldiers at the Presbyterian church
Grand drefs parade in the evening. there was a great excitement @ night which was caused by the landing of a suspicious looking boat
The camp was in a fever all night and @ daylight
the next morning we rec'd orders to march through Virginia.

Monday 27th
We started this morning early. Got a cup of coffee and a little bread for Breakfast. Crossed the river into Benwood about 9 oclock where the inhabitants supplied us with plenty of Bread and butter. we then took our seat in the Cars amid tumultuous cheers from both sides of the river. the Ladies waving their handerkerchiefs and bestowing on us their sweetish smiles and encouraging us to do our duty calling those Cowards that had not enlisted and showing us all respt and attention. The Ladies in this section of the country are the most whole souled of any that I ever met it seems as though they could not do too much for their defenders. We slept on the floor of the cars that night and stopped @ Mannington about midnight. I stood on guard two hours @ one end of the car.

Tuesday 28th
Left Mannington about 10 oclock A.M. after severe drilling
Mannington is partly Union partly Secession. Arrived @ a camp in about an hour expecting an attack every moment. Springfield Greys and our Company were immediately detailed with two other Co in all a force of 400 men on a forced March of 12 mi. to Fairport to tear up track and telegraph wire we stopped @ two places along the route to water and feed
we passed a small town which was entirely deserted @ the next house we found the Star Spangled Banner floating in the fresh mountain breeze. At this place three of our men were wounded by the accidental discharge of a gun. After leaving this place we marched on to Fairport where we found the Stars and Stripes waving to gladden our eyes. The Secessionists had all fled at our approach. We were now directly in the heart of Virginia to which we ourselves had opened communications. We encamped about a mile from the village of Fairport to guard a bridge across the mongahela river a picket guard was stationed about a mile from the main body. The rest of us slept on our arms amid a heavy rain every moment expecting every moment to have the enemy to fire upon us but were not alarmed. We awoke quite refreshed in spite of the rain, we have been supplied with food by the inhabitants since we have been here. we have been twice drawn up in order of Battle today we are in a crittical situation being 12 miles advanced in an enemys country surrounded on nearly all sides but we expect reinforcements, our reinforcements arrived this afternoon and we begin to feel a little more safe. we are now six hundred strong and full of fight our Capt penetrated to the enemys camp last night we suffer mostly for want of provisions all that we can get being what the people of Virginia give us.

Thursday 30th
We are still guarding the RRoad and Bridge yesterday a train came through from Baltimore with a few passengers on board which we immediately captured and are now making use of to convey our troops etc
Last night we slept on the ground again around the camp fires. Our Camp was at once picturesque and romantic being situated on the side of the mountain with high ridges on all sides covered with dense forests while below us and @ our feet rolled the beautiful Mongahela while in the far distance from the high ridges in our vicinity would be discerned through the misty haze the high peaks of the Blue Mountain ranges and upon the high bare hills all around our camp could be seen our outlaying pickets ready to warn us of danger at a moments notice. this morning we heard a gun fired on the line of pickets. The word was instantly passed. we flew to arms, and in two minutes we were in ranks and ready to meet the foe, when the commanding told us that it was a false alarm and after a few maneuvres to repay us for our trouble we were dismissed from ranks
This morning we had the Best Breakfast that we have had since we have been in Camp which a couple of Ladies from Fairmont Mrs. Amelia Hoult and Mrs. Birmingham furnished for us these Virginians are the best people I ever saw. Our reinforcements arriveed and in a few minutes we were on our way to Grafton to attack a large party of the enemy. About twenty miles from Fairmount in Taylor County. We got off the cars three miles from Grafton and forming took up the march In a few minutes we met a body of 450 Horsemen waiting to assist us if necessary
On arriving at Grafton we found that the enemy had fled with such precipitation as to leave a portion of their arms and ammunition behind and we were met by the most cordial reception that the greatest conquerers could wish. The whole town turned out to welcome us and and we were cheered and saluted flags were waved and half a dozen children dressed in white with aprons forming the stripes and stars. wreaths of flowers around their hats and flags in their hands came forward in front of where we were drawn up in line and sang the Star Spangled Banner
They were listened to with attention by the men and when the song was concluded cheer upon cheer was given by the enthusiastic soldiers and citizens. We are quartered in the Machine Shop
Three more companies of our men have come on from the burnt bridges.

Friday 31st
we slept on the floor last night and I enjoyed as good a sleep as ever I had in my life. The greatest trouble is the want of provisions. The rebel troops have been quartered here so long that they have cleaned every thing out and we hardly get a bite to eat. we had a dress parade this bringing out our Regiment. we have now taken our true position in the line on the extreme left Wing. my place is on right of first Platoon in first rank. We were heavily reenforced this afternoon by five trains of cars filled with troops. this evening there was a procession of Girls and Young Ladies dressed in white with flowers wreathed in their hair and waving flags in their hair. after marching through the town they formed a circle on the platform of the Depot, and sung the Star Spangled Banner after which the Band was called Into service and a dance commenced. there was some splendid Dancing
first a little girl and a dancing Master then a cotilion was formed in which Capt Mills Col. Irwine, Major Baily Lieutenant Wade and some other officers participated and we had a good time generally as Soldiers always will.