May 14, 1862 at the Union Encampment 
             on the Fairgrounds at Mt. Holly, NJ

Tomorrow is the big day.  After three weeks of drilling and 
training tomorrow is the day we'll finally be marching to 
Burlington to take the steamer to Philadelphia.  I'm still 
excited about seeing Philadelphia but I am bone weary from 
all this drilling and training. 

We are completely outfitted now with uniforms, muskets, blankets, 
cook sets, and haversacks.  Pa was right just about everything I 
need the Army has provided me with.  I'm even getting used to the 
food.

There are 315 of us here at this camp now.  We're told that by the 
time we get to Wilmington, Delaware, on about the 20th of this month, 
two more groups will join the regiment bringing the total number of 
men to around 1000.  This camp seems to go on for miles, I can't 
imagine what one that has 1000 men in it will look like.

They've taught us how to wear our uniforms, how to march, how to fall 
into line of battle, and how to fire our muskets.  Most of us already 
knew how to shoot it just took some time to get used to these Army 
rifles.  The one the Army gave me is much lighter that the old 
flintlock that Pa has at home.

We're supposed to leave out of here at about 6:00 tomorrow morning.  
Our squad sergeant, Sergeant Sterling, says we'll cover the 8 miles 
to Burlington so as to be at the waterfront by noon.  We probably 
won't board the steamer, he says, until the following morning.

I like Sergeant Sterling, as long as you do what your told and don't 
cause no trouble he's pretty easy going.  But, if you cross him or 
don't give your best effort he can be just about the meanest human I 
believe I've ever seen.  He was at Bull Run and says that being in a 
battle like that is the most frightful thing that can happen to a man.

All the fellas here seem pretty nice.  I've gotten to be good friends 
with one in particular.  His name is Homer Rumson.

Homer and me are just about the same age.  His birthday is just a few 
weeks after mine.  Homer's from out around Chatsworth.

Homer's family runs an inn on the Shore Road that runs to the ocean. I
ain't never seen the ocean, but Homer says it's like a giant lake that 
you can't see across.  The biggest water I ever saw was the Delaware 
River at Burlington, it's about 1/2 mile wide but I can see Bristol, 
Pennsylvania with no trouble at all.

They let we go home on a 24 hour furlough on the 10th.  Ma cried a lot 
and me and Pa talked about serious things.  It sure was nice sleeping 
in a real bed and eating Ma's cooking again.

It was real hard when it was time to go.  Pa asked that if I write any
letters about some of the dangers I might encounter that I specifically
send them to him to keep from upsetting Ma.  I told him that I would.

Ma and Pa are going to ride out to where the Irick Road meets the
Burlington Pike to see us march by tomorrow.  At least I'll get to see 
them one more time even if it is only for a few seconds.  I don't know 
when, if, or what I'll be like next time I see home.

Sergeant Sterling is calling for us to form up to drill so that we look
sharp during tomorrow's movement.  He says he wants us to be the best
looking squad in the regiment.  Everytime we form up I look around and
wonder who among us will be brave, who among us will run, who among us 
will kill, and who among us will be killed.