September 15, 1862: 2nd PA Emergency Militia (L. Richards)

Read the previous day here.

 

We are now down to regular army fare, our bill consisting of rations of bread, meat, coffee, and that well-known item of camp necessaries called "hardtack," which is a host in itself, being made to go a great way by reason of the degree of mastcation which it requires.  There can be no complaint as to the strength of the coffee, since there is no milk to dilute it, but the color of the sugar might afford groun of exception on the part of the over-fastidious.  Soups of rice, meat-bones, and occasionally poultry, when there happen to be any hen-roosts in close proximity, make a substantial dinner.  Soldiers' appetites are uniformly good, and little defects in the system of cookery are not ordinarily closely crticised.  Alcoholic beverages also are stored away in flasks against cases of emergency, which, in military affairs, as is well known, are of constant occurence. 

During the morning we were gratified with the sight of the enemy's paraphernalia, consisting of a train of captured baggae wagons, taken from Longstreet, and which were being driven in the direction of Harrisburg, whither, it is said, some hundred of more of prisoners from the same corps are being conducted.  With a view of the latter we were not rewarded.  The curiousity of the men to see a live rebel - in a captured condition - is very great.  A slight change in the position of our quarters was ordered during the day, and tents were struck about 4 P.M. and the company marched about two miles further to the south, halting in a large stubble field west of the railroad, in a position which had been dignified by the title of "Camp McClure."

- Louis Richards