April 24, 1862, at Mt. Holly, NJ

It is now 10:30 at night, and I am writing this by the light of a camp
fire.  I've been here since 7:00 this morning and am still waiting, but 
I don't know what for.  Every once in a while a Sergeant will show up 
and call our names and then leave.

There must be close to 250 of us here now.  Ma and Pa left about 9:00 
this morning when it became obvious that we were not going to be going 
to Burlington to get on any steamboat anytime soon.  Some of the 
soldiers  we have met have told us this is what the Army is really 
like;  hurry up and wait.

When I got to town this morning I went to the County Courthouse like I 
was supposed to, but they told me I had to go to the Army encampment 
outside of town at the Farigrounds. The Fairgrounds is on the Burlington 
Road just north of town.  Ma and Pa drove me out here in the wagon.

When we got there all we could see were row upon row of white shelter
tents.  There was a headquarters tent right near the edge of the camp.  
It was easy topick out because it was bigger than the rest and had the 
U.S. flag, and several other flags around it.

That was where we found the quartermaster that I was supposed to report 
to.  I made Ma and Pa wait at the wagon, I didn't want no one to think 
I was a child, while I went into the tent to see the quartermaster.  
He was not a very nice man.

I never said anything to Ma and Pa, but this fellow started hollering 
and swearing as soon as he laid eyes on me.  I don't know what I could 
ever have done to give him call to treat me so.  When I walked in all 
I did was tell him my name but that seemed to really irritate him.

He gave me a slip of paper and asked me if I could read.  When I told 
him  I could he said to go to the tent what matched the letter and 
number on  the paper.  When I asked him where the tent was he started 
in to hollering and swearing in all over again.

When he seemed to calm down some I told him my Ma and Pa was outside 
and wanted to go to Burlington to see me off at the waterfront.  I 
didn't  think it possible, but he hollered louder and came out with 
some words that I'm pretty certain were swear words but I'm not sure 
cause I had  never heard them before.  He told me no one was going to 
Burlington at least not today and that I had fifteen minutes to find 
my tent.

I went outside and told Ma and Pa that it might be best if they went on
home cause we wouldn't be going to Burlington today.  Pa chuckled and
seemed to understand, but Ma looked confused.  Ma then leaned down, 
kissed me on the forehead right there in front of everybody, and started 
crying again.

What happened next was something I'll remember for the rest of my days. 
Pa stepped down from the wagon and motioned for me to meet him at the 
back of the wagon.  When I got there he put his hand on my shoulder and 
said, "I was going to tell you to be a good boy, but I guess maybe it's 
better if I tell you to be a good man."

I couldn't answer him cause of the big old lump that had come up in my
throat, so I just reached for my carpetbag that was on the back of the
wagon.  Pa took my hand and said I wouldn't be needing the bag that the
Army would make sure I had everything I needed from here on in.  When 
Pa turned to get back on the wagon it appeared as if he had something 
in his eye.

I turned and hurried off to find my tent.  I was afraid to stand there 
and watch them leave.  I was afraid I would run after them.

My tent was 10W and when I finally did find it I found out that I would 
be sharing it with five other new soldiers.  I was the last one to find 
the tent and got stuck with the spot right by the door.  Everybody who 
was coming or going was either stepping on or over me.

We had some kind of stew and biscuits for supper at about 4:00.  If 
there was meat in it I didn't get none.  It wasn't that it was real 
bad or nothing, it just wasn't Ma's.

The fellas here aren't real talkative with one another yet.  I think
everybody's waiting for someone else to speak first, and I think we're 
all just a little bit scared.  We've exchanged names and where you 
froms but that's about it.

Well, I'm going to try and get some sleep and see what tomorrow brings. 
The rumor is that tomorrow we're going to be getting uniforms and other
equipment.  I hope other equipment includes blankets cause this ground 
is hard and cold.