THE CIVIL WAR DIARY OF JOHN G. MORRISON 1861-1865

Sept. 30th, Friday. Out at 6 A.M. to roll call. Wrote to
my wife today. In the evening, five days' rations were
served out to us, as we are leaving for our regiment in the
morning early.
Oct. 1st, Saturday. Out at 5 A.M. and had breakfast, as we
were to fall in at 6, but did not until about 8, when we
were marched down to Sandy Hook and put on board a train of
freight cars. Started off about 11 and, whilst passing
Harpers Ferry, took a good look at the now burned down
arsenal, famous as the first scene in the John Brown drama.
It rained almost all day, which hindered the country from
being seen to advantage. About 2 1/2, we came to
Martinsburg, which is quite a smart place. About 7, we
passed through Hancock. At 9, we hove to, as we had to
wait for some trains which were coming east. As our car
was
[8] overcrowded, there was no such thing as lying down, so I
made the most of the job and sat up to it.
Oct. 2nd, Sunday. About 6, I got out of the car to take a
look round. I found that we were in a very wild-looking
country - high,stteep hills on all sides, clothed with
timber to the top. The trees were all out in in their fall
finery in suits of gold and fire. I found that we were
thirty miles from Cumberland. About 11 trains came along
and then we started. At Patterson's Creek I saw an
ironclad land battery which is used to protect the bridges
along this route. At 1 1/2, we arrived at our destination.
We were then marched to headquarters where our names were
taken. We were then sent to our regiment and told off to
the different companies, us four being allotted to Company
[ C? O?]. We found lots of the boys from home but not in
this company, as it was raised in Rochester. They gave us
some bread and coffee and helped to put up our tents for
us. At 8, answered our names and then turned in.
[9] Oct. 3d, Monday. Reville was sounded at 6 A.M. Roll a few
minutes after. Had hardly time to get out in time.
Witnessed the initiation consisting in being shook or
tossed up in a blanket. It was laughable indeed from a
spectator's point of view. Had no wish whatever to be
shook myself. Whole day foggy and misty. Cut some logs to
raise our tent from ground. Tattoo and roll call at 7 1/2.
Taps at 8.
Oct. 4th, Tuesday. Foggy and misty, same as yesterday.
Tried my hand at bare-backed riding and received a sore
stern for my pains. Ordered 100 feet of lumber to fix
bunks in our tent. Struck out a new ground for our tent.
Picked and levelled it and carried the logs into position.
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