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

again. I received a letter from my wife and answered it
forthwith and thus ended the day.
Thursday, Oct. 24th. Detailed for fatigue duty to Fort
Wadsworth. Waited there two hours before we were set to
work. Went about 1/4 of a mile to make and sett Abbatti.
Heard it was to prevent the approach of the rebel cavalry who
were expected today. It is said that the enemy is at Fairfax
Court house, 40,000 strong, and it is thought they intended
making a demonstration against us today. Let them come, and
if they don't get something that is not laid down in the
book, then I'm no prophet. Spent the afternoon reading de
Quincey's
opium eater. Curious revelations, certainly. There was no
truth in the report that our men were taken prisoners.
Turned in about 9 P.M. mighty cold.
Friday, Oct. 25th. Turned out this morning to find the
ground covered with frost. Mighty cold night. Their idea to
be put in practice today. Our battallion with knapsacks on.
Good idea, that, to accustom the men to carry their packs.
Slung on knapsacks at 3 P.M. Started towards Falls Church.
Turned off to the right in a field and drilled about an hour.
Hard work to carry a pack all day. For an hour or two, it
don't
[39] feel heavy, but after that it begins to tell. I had almost
forgotten, it is just seven years today since the fight at
Balaklava. I was not there, but some of my regiment was, but
not in a body, though [they] tell of the hardships of this
campaign in Virginia -- why, it is child's play in comparison
to the campaigns of 1855 and 6. "It" was soldiering with a
vengeance. I thought then that if I got out of that scrape
that my soldiering was done forever, but after a lapse of six
short years, I find myself in harness again but for a
different cause. I was fighting for what was of no interest
to me personally, but in this case, if we are beaten, the
America of which we were all so proud will pass away to give
place to I don't know what. Perhaps like Mexico, perhaps a
monarchy, bothe equally bad.
Sunday, Oct. 27th. Went through the usual routine of Sunday
work, excepting the church service, which we did not have,
the minister being on leave of absence home.
Monday, Oct. 28th. Arose at 5 1/2 A.M. Cold morning. At 9
1/2 A.M. four privates and all the non-commissioned officers
in every company in the regiment were detailed for skeleton
drill. In lieu of muskets they had poles 16 feet long. A
man held the end of each pole and that kept them at platoon
distance to ensue the place of a platoon of men. It is taken
from the French to learn the men to keep their distance. I
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