1 Bucks County Intelligencer, From the Ringgold (104th) Regiment, November 26, 1861 Page 3 Col. 4
LETTERS FROM OUR VOLUNTEERS.
From the Ringgold Regiment.
Correspondence of the Bucks
County Intelligencer.
CARVER’S
BARRACKS,
Saturday
Evening, March 15, 1862.
Messrs. Editors :—I hope we will not hear the “ long
roll” beat to-night, for to be turned out in such a storm
as we are being now blessed with would be anything but
pleasant. It commenced raining about noon, or a little
before, and has fully made up in the afternoon for time
lost in the morning. I never saw it rain harder than it
did most of the afternoon, and the way it rattles on the
roof whilst I write, one would think it was going to make
a night of it. Whilst it was at its best this afternoon, the
N. Y. 102d, which had been encamped in the large field
just back of us, marched down Fourteenth street, with
knapsacks packed and everything ready for a tramp.—
Did you ever see a lot of ducks marching in single file to-
wards an open wagon house to shelter themselves from the
storm ? If you did, you have some idea of the forlorn
appearance of this regiment, as it marched along. I felt
indeed thankful that our lot was cast in barracks, for to-
day at least. How long we will be able to be thankful
for such a favor is uncertain.
We have at length received “marching orders,” and
some of our friends at home who have been so much trou-
bled at our passing the winter in such “comfortable quar-
ers,” as they term them, will now be gratified at the
104th having a chance of roughing it and seeing active
service. They were received yesterday about noon, and
at three o’clock the whole Brigade was paraded, fully
armed and equipped, for inspection. Every man appeared
as he will when the long roll beats and we take up our
line of march. For some days back the number of the
Regiment, as it came out for drill or dress parade, was re-
markably slim. The sick would have made quite a nu-
merous, if not very efficient corps; but yesterday our
ranks were full. Scarcely a man could be found who did
not, at least, think himself capable of an active cam-
paign. Those who are not fit for duty are to be left here
in the hospital, and very few there were who wanted to
go into this party. I heard one good fellow , who had
just recovered from an attack of the measles, swear that
he would go, with the regiment if he died on t he march.
As you may suppose, when the news was received by
us, there were some cheers; and as it was not known at
what moment we might be ordered away, a busier place
than our barracks you will scarcely see. Many of us
? to be as comfortable as possible, had provided
ourselves with a number of things useful in barracks but
not to be thought of on a march. What to leave, and
what to take, became an important question. When the
Regiment came out for inspection, some of the Knapsacks
looked more like loads intended for camels than for good
christian soldiers. Men are mistaken in what they need,
and every man who carries a knapsack on a week’s march
will find that he wants in it nothing but what is abso-
lutely necessary. I was tired enough of mine the short
time we had to wait for inspection, and from the number
I saw leaning backs against each other, against the ends
of the barracks, I was fully satisfied that I was not alone.
By the time you get two blankets, two shirts, a pair of
knicknacks in your knapsack, if you have not with your
stockings, a blouse, your over-coat, gun-blanket, and a few
musket, two days’ rations in your haversack, and twenty
or perhaps forty rounds of ball cartridge in you cartridge
gox, a sufficient load for a twenty mile tramp, I am
much mistaken.
“ But when will you be off ?” and “ where are you go-
ing ?” I hear some one ask, who has an acquaintance, or
perhaps a relative, in the regiment. Well, my good fel-
low, it would give me the greatest pleasure in the world
to you, but unfortunately I am just in the opposite
position to ; ‘ the Lieutenant ‘ who writes for the Intelli-
gencer. He has information that he dare not communi-
cate. I dare communicate, but unfortunately have not
the information! But I will give you what seems to be
the general impression. We will in all probability get
away on Monday, and go down the Potomac. There are
a number of transports lying here, and that we shall have
the pleasure of going on board of some of them I have
no doubt. Where to, I have not the most remote idea. It
is none of my business, and not worth my while to -
quire. To-morrow, six days’ rations are to be served out
three of them to be cooked. Does this help the matter
any ? You, now know all that is known here outside of
the officers, and I guess about as much as most of them.
By the by, if we go down the river, I would just as lief
the rebel battery at Acquia Creek was out of the way.
The idea of being shot at without any power to return
the compliment, is not so pleasant.
We have no news outside of the expected movement.
Death has been with us again this week. A private in
Company A, named Slack, died at the hospital. His
body, I understand, was embalmed and sent home. An-
other, named Lee, of Company K; I understand, died at
home, where he had been on a sick furlough. The grim
messenger has now marked a victim in every company of
the regiment, except Company H. The general health,
however, is good, and I venture the assertion that no regi-
ment will move leaving fewer behind sick. I wish all
could go with us. Good bye ! and if nothing unforeseen
occurs you shall hear again from A PRIVATE.