SOLDIER 27 



no one hurt. At three I was relieved, and lying down on 

 the bare ground, I slept like a rock till eight, when the new 

 guard came. Here let me say that that rain of Sunday, 

 which so tired us, was probably the saving of many of our 

 lives ; for the rebs, when they found that we were retreat- 

 ing, turned out infantry, cavalry and artillery and pressed 

 hard upon our heels, but the rain providentially deterred 

 them. The 13th and 25th covered the retreat. March 17 

 found us still in Camp Allen, for so we had named our 

 camp. In the afternoon I took six men and started on a 

 foraging expedition. We laid a couple of cows over pretty 

 quick. Leaving four men to dress them, I started for a 

 sugar plantation a mile or so distant. I found it entirely 

 deserted, but lots of sugar and molasses. As this had not 

 been confiscated to the United States government, we laid 

 in and managed to get a small cask of the sweetening elixir 

 up to the camp. On our return I found I was detailed to 

 take command of Co. G., whose officers still remained sick. 

 (Since we started I had been acting 1st lieutenant in Co. 

 A.) We held dress-parade at sunset in marching costume. 

 I was very ragged, having burned the legs of my pants 

 nearly off, and my blouse was well torn while skirmishing 

 through the woods. 



"March 18, spent most of the day in mending the 

 breaches in my breeches. Visited the 52nd Mass, and saw 

 lots of Amherst boys, smoked the calumet of peace, and 

 had a good time generally. After dress-parade took out 

 Co. G. on a fatigue-party after wood. I am sure the rebs 

 have some need to bring railing accusations against us, for 

 I am certain there is not a rail to be found within twelve 

 miles of Baton Rouge. 



