Monday, May 14, 2012

1862 May 15 camp at mouth of the East River, Va.



[from the diary of Charles Hay of the 23rd Ohio]

                                                                         
                             Camp at Mouth of East River, May 15th.
     The long roll was beaten today, and we all
“fell in” with alacrity.  After standing an
hour in a drizzling rain, without any sign
of the presence of an enemy, we were dismissed.
The cause of the alarm I have not learned,
probably it was occasioned by the pickets
coming in contact & skirmishing.  Being
delightfully near our Southern neighbors, scarce
a day passes but that is enlivened with skir=
=mishes on the outposts, and our ears are
not unfrequently greeted with the sharp
crack of musketry.
     We are, at this time, very scarce of provis=
=ions.  For the past 5 days, but a few barrels
of bread have been issued to the Regiment.
Our principal food is fresh beef, in an in=
=sufficient quantity.
     The 12th Reg’t now belongs to our Brigade,
in place of the 34th (Zouave) Reg’t, assigned
to the 2nd Brigade.  The 23rd, 30th & 12th Reg’ts,
McMullin’s Battery & Gilmores Cavalry, constitute the
1st Prov’l Brigade, under command of Col. Scammon.


[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925

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