1862 August 14 Camp Green Meadows

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


   Camp Green Meadows, Aug. 14.
     This evening, all is bustle and
confusion.  Orders have been received
to march early in the morning, and
all are active and busy with prepara=
=tions.  Camp fires shine bright, cooks
are busy preparing rations, and the
men are chatting and surmising as
to the designs of the projected move, &
where we are going, some supposing we
are going no great distance, but by far
the greater seeming to incline to the
opinion that we are destined for some
point on the Potomac, or probably to
be consolidated with the “Grand Army
of Potomac.”  Such a picture as can
be seen here tonight without cost, our
friends at home would pay a price
for a view of.  But a frequent ex=
=perience with such sights and scenes, has
rendered them less impressive than formerly.
There is romance about this, but stern
reality soon wears off the gilding.

     It is probable, from indications, that
we are going somewhere into more
active service than we have seen
this summer.  The fact is, we have
been playing soldier for months, and
have seen easy times, much better
than we may see in the army soon
again.  We have had the advantage
of good camps, good water, sufficient
protection from inclement weather,
and light duty for nearly three
months uninterruptedly, with scarcely
a noticeable event to break the
monotony.  Besides, we have not
been discommoded by a large body
of troops crowding us, but we have
had plenty of room.  Active service
is what all have been sighing for,
for weeks, they may now get their
satisfaction.  But how fervently we
hope that the necessity for this army
may not much longer exist.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 13925