“ [236] we are ordered away anywhere, I hope it will be either to go to Florida or else stay here!”
February 18, 1864.
Sublime uncertainties again!
After being ordered in from picket, under marching orders; after the subsequent ten days of uncertainty; after watching every steamboat that came up the river, to see if the Fourth New Hampshire was on board,--at last the regiment came.
Then followed another break; there was no transportation to take us. At last a boat was notified.
Then General Saxton, as anxious to keep us as was the regiment to go, played his last card in small-pox, telegraphing to department Headquarters that we had it dangerously in the regiment.
(N. B. All varioloid, light at that, and besides, we always have it.)
Then the order came to leave behind the sick and those who had been peculiarly exposed, and embark the rest next day.
Great was the jubilee!
The men were up, I verily believe, by three in the morning, and by eight the whole camp was demolished or put in wagons, and we were on our way. The soldiers of the Fourth New Hampshire swarmed in; every board was swept away by them; there had been a time when colored boards (if I may delicately so express myself) were repudiated by white soldiers, but that epoch had long since passed.
I gave my new tent-frame, even the latch, to Colonel Bell; ditto Lieutenant-Colonel to Lieutenant-Colonel.
Down we marched, the men singing John Brown and Marching along and Gwine in de wilderness; women in tears and smiles lined the way. We halted opposite the dear General's; we cheered, he 