Our brigade comprised the Second Maryland, the Ninth New Hampshire, the Seventh and Twelfth Rhode Island Volunteers, and the Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania regiments, and were under the command of Gen. Naglee. The Forty-Eighth Pennsylvania were assigned to Lexington, to do provost duty, and were left behind. By the way, while at Newport News we had an abundance of all things which it is possible for a soldier to expect. The schooner Elizabeth & Helen, of Providence, R. I., which arrived at that place February 16th, laden with vegetables, added to our health and comfort, and the condition of the regiment improved very materially. After leaving Newport News, and up to this time, April 14th, we had nothing but “marching rations,” (hard crackers and salt pork,) excepting what was issued at Lexington April 6th, and what we had been able to buy.

The commissary department of the First Brigade was now in working order, and ready to issue rations, April 13th, but our regimental commissary was tardy again, as at Lexington, and our officers slumbered. We had plenty of “hard crackers,” but these had become a drug with us, consequently we were tempted to buy what was brought into camp, for which we paid exorbitant prices. The Kentuckians here were aware of our coming, and seemed determined to make the most of us. Some of our officers, whose business it was to attend to these matters, did not consider that the soldier in the ranks might be obliged to study economy, and consequently desire the prompt issue of rations, and some little degree of care and ingenuity in their preparation; thereby saving them the expense of paying out here and there so much for these luxuries. They did not seem to consider the responsibility resting upon them. Perhaps they did not care. The thing was just here. In each company were from fifty to seventy-five men, whose case was made better or worse, according as their officers were watchful or slumbering. If they had been awake, rations would have been drawn with promptness, and properly cooked; and the consequence would have been that having enough to eat from their own kitchen, the men would have bought the less outside; thereby saving in the aggregate, a large sum which in many instances was needed at home.

Chickens, weighing two and three pounds, were sold here a year ago for one dollar per dozen. This year they sell for two dollars per dozen. Poultry brought into camp in small quantities, sold readily at prices varying from twenty-five cents to one dollar and fifty cents apiece. This included the chicken of two pound and the turkey of eighteen pounds. Small quantities of eggs were brought into camp, and sold at prices varying from fifteen to forty cents per dozen. They were in demand and commanded any price. Pies were brought on in great abundance; they were made of peaches and apples, and sold for twenty-five cents apiece. Some, having a little mercy on the soldier, sold for ten and fifteen cents. Peaches are very plenty in this part of Kentucky, and are preserved and dried in large quantities.

The morning of April 15th finding nothing to eat but hard crackers and pork, and no coffee cooking, I determined to act as commissary for one day at least. I called on A. W., of Company H, and together, at seven, A.M., we left camp, and started off across the fields. We passed the houses nearest camp, and after going about a mile, stopped at a log shanty. This was occupied by a negro family, who were owned by the occupant of a house adjoining. The owner was absent, and the negroes had no authority to sell any thing. We were hoping to have found something to eat here, but having nothing on hand cooked, we concluded to go farther. However, we prevailed on them to cook us some cakes, which we were to call for on our return. Half a mile further on, we came to a large house. The only person we could find here was a negro woman. She could sell us nothing. The next place we called at was owned by one Dr. Evans. Here we found the family at home and busy, preparing to go to camp, with a load of pies, cakes, chicken pies, &c. We intended to have got a breakfast at this place, but the family being very much engaged in their speculation, we continued on.

Espying a house to the right, off some half a mile from this place, we made for it. We were greeted upon our arrival by about half a dozen negro children, who looked upon us with as much curiosity as boys would at home upon the “horned owl” on exhibition. We asked for the woman of the house. She happened to be out of doors at the time, and was pointed out to us. We introduced ourselves, and asked her if she could get us a breakfast. She answered in the affirmative, and asked us into the house. This was a large log-house, and was the one occupied by the owner of the premises. The negroes occupied two or three smaller ones in the same yard, and some five rods distant from the main building.

This is the way the buildings are arranged by the country farmers in this part of the State. The negroes all occupy log-houses. Some of the owners have nothing better, and inhabit the same; but most of them have frame houses, and many of these are large and elegant. The negro women have charge of all the children, both white and black, and the cooking for all is done in the out-houses. We were well entertained at this place. The woman of the house was apparently about seventy-five years of age, and was very intelligent and sociable. Her husband owns a large farm, and some fourteen or fifteen negroes. They raise hemp, keep sheep, spin and weave, as our folks did at home fifty years ago. They have suffered from the raids of the enemy, principally in the loss of horses, not having enough left to cultivate their farms. This is indeed a serious loss to them.

After the lapse of half an hour, our breakfast was brought to us. We had hot biscuit, fried bacon, johnny-cake, butter and milk. We bought five pounds of butter at this place for twenty-five cents a pound, and four dozen of eggs, for which we paid twenty-five cents per dozen. We went beyond here one mile, and procured three dozen eggs more. From here we started on our return to camp. Stopped at a house, and finding the owner absent on an expedition to camp, I prevailed on the negroes to bake us some cake. Here we stopped three-quarters of an hour, during which time the women cooked enough to fill my haversack, for which they charged me twenty-five cents. Leaving here, we called at the place we first stopped at in the morning, and found our bread awaiting us one large johnny-cake, and one loaf of white bread. This finished our load, and at one, P.M., we arrived in camp, prepared to live again.

We had a most beautiful camp at this place. It was situated in a grove, at a spot where we had every convenience necessary in the shape of wood and water, with plenty of grass to roll and tumble upon. The trees in this grove were perhaps forty feet apart from one another on an average. These consisted of maple, cherry, black walnut, and the common shell-bark, and many of them were of large size. The ground underneath was swept clean, and all brush, chips, &c., removed.

We had “brigade guard mounting” here at nine, A.M. The band would strike up at precisely nine o’clock, and as we watched the movements of the guard as they approached simultaneously from their different regiments to take the place assigned them, we were struck with the beauty of the scene. The guard approaching, take their places, and the music ceases. The “camp guard” upon the right of the line, with nothing but gun and equipments; the “picket” upon the left, with canteen, haversack and blanket, in addition. The line being formed, the sergeant-major, who arranges it, makes a “present” to the officer commanding, and immediately takes his place upon the left. After he gets his position, the order is given “front.” Upon this, the commissioned officers march twelve paces in front of the line, the sergeants eight, and the corporals four. The officer in command advances and gives special instructions to all the officers in person. He then returns to his position, and gives the order, “officers and non-commissioned officers, about face,” “inspect your guards.” The officers return; the corporals take their places in line; the lieutenants inspect the front rank, the sergeants the rear. The band play during inspection. Inspection over, the music ceases, and the officers take their places in line again. Then comes the order, “music, beat off.” The band commences playing a “slow march,” and, coming to the front, proceed the length of the line. After going through the manoeuvres, which bring them to an “about face,” they return playing a quickstep, and take their former position. Then the order, “by platoons! right wheel! march!” Immediately upon the completion of the half wheel, which brings them from line of battle into column, the order is given, “pass in review! column forward! guide right! march!” The band strike up, the first platoon make a left half wheel, and march forward, preceded by the band. The other platoons coming up, wheel upon the same spot of the first. After marching forward a certain distance, another left half wheel is made. Marching straight forward from this, they pass the “officer of the day,” who takes the position directly in front of the centre of the line, as it was before moving vacated by the officer in command of the guard, who places himself upon the right of the first platoon, and directs the movement of the column. As each platoon passes in front of the “officer of the day,” the officers in charge of their respective platoons come to a “present,” saluting, and pass on, the “camp guard” to the relief of the “old guard,” the “picket” to the place assigned them the band cease playing, and the review ends. The brigade guard mounting, of which I have endeavored to give a description, is a beautiful and imposing spectacle.

Although the soldier endures many hardships and privations, still there are many pleasant scenes and associations connected with a soldier’s life; and I think that should the war continue, many of the men, looking back upon the pleasant side of their campaign, will have a yearning for the scenes and associations in connection with it, and again enter the ranks.

God grant they may! and with willing hearts and hands, and with the assurance of the righteousness of the cause for which they contend, may they consecrate themselves anew to the cause of Freedom.