movements. When the men were dismissed, they set up a howl which made the woods ring, and coming to the ear of Colonel Eustis, and learning the cause, he had the regimental line re-formed, and put them through a course of drill they were satisfied with.

WEDNESDAY, November 26.-One more officer under arrest; this time it is Lieut. Wallace A. Putnam. The facts in the case are these: Company E, at this time under command of Lieutenant Putnam, had a number of men without shoes, and yesterday afternoon, Putnam excused the barefooted ones from drill. The colonel heard of it this morning, and called the lieutenant to account for it, and as a punishment, ordered him to take the men and go half or three-quarters of a mile, to a wood-pile which the rebels. had left, and bring wood for the fire which he kept in front of his tent, and keep bringing until he gave them permission to stop. Lieutenant Putnam, considering the order an inhuman one, flatly refused to execute it, and was promptly put under arrest by the colonel.

THURSDAY, November 27.-Mr. William Birnie, of Springfield, arrived in camp last night, bringing boxes containing packages of under-clothing, etc., for the men from friends at home. Battalion line formed to hear Governor Andrew's Thanksgiving proclamation read. The proclamation has to take the place of a thanksgiving dinner with the soldiers.

SUNDAY, November 30.-The Regiment is being paid off for four months, and some of the privates, who have been on detached service, or in the hospitals, have more than a hundred dollars due them, of which they and their families stand in much need. The pay-master arrived yesterday, followed by the usual train of sutlers, who make their harvest when the soldiers have plenty of money.

Dr. Jewett has left us, to accept a commission as surgeon in the Fifty-first Massachusetts. Their gain is our loss. The doctor was a good forager, and the ladies of Virginia, with whom the doctor has so often exchanged coffee and

sugar for poultry and delicacies in pastry, will miss his

genial presence.

WEDNESDAY, December 3.-This afternoon we learn that there are marching orders for to-morrow morning.

THURSDAY, December 4.-Some time before day the drum. beat the reveille and out we turned, although the air was biting cold, and everything covered with frost; we built our fires, got our breakfast, and dried our tents as much as our limited time would admit of. Then, as the sun came over the distant hill-tops, we shouldered our all of earthly goods-no small load at this season of the year-and started for-none of us knew where. The roads were very poor, and noon found us only a mile or two from camp, but as a certain point had to be reached before night, we passed the trains, and the next six or eight miles were made quick enough to suit any one. At night bivouacked in an open

field.

FRIDAY, December 5.-On the road again, while it is still dark. Marched some six miles, and at noon went into camp near Belle Plain. It looked so much like rain, that the shelter tents were soon up, but none too soon, for the rain was but a little way behind us. But hark! what is that we now hear? "Pack up, and fall in immediately." The men took down their wet tents, each piece (every man had to carry as many as two pieces, to keep himself any where near comfortable) weighing several pounds more than when dry. We marched another mile; by this time the ground, and all the clothing, was completely soaked with the rain, and by the time the shelters were up, the storm had turned into snow. The uncomfortable condition in which the night was passed, can be better imagined than described. The bad state of the roads delayed the baggage trains, and the officers' tents and baggage did not arrive until late in the night. When they did arrive, and tents were pitched, the ground was too wet to admit of any sleep, and most of the officers sat by the camp fires until morning.

SATURDAY, December 6.-Were informed that we should

With this

probably occupy this camp for a week or two. prospect, the men began to erect log huts, and as fast as they could obtain axes, soon had quite comfortable houses. It is extremely cold. The water in the men's canteens froze solid last night. The snow that fell yesterday has not melted, although the sun shines brightly as could be wished.

This camp was called "Smoky Hill," from the fact that all the smoke from the numerous camp-fires, instead of rising and passing off as it should, settled down, and hung in clouds all about the vicinity, making itself obnoxious, filling the eyes and noses, and intruding itself in various ways.

WEDNESDAY, December 10.-Still at Belle Plain, under marching orders.

CHAPTER VIII.

Across the Rappahannock-First Fredericksburg-Back to Falmouth-Departure of the discharged officers for home-Present roster-Statement from General Devens to Governor Andrew-Mr. Birnie's letter-The situation of the Regiment as portrayed in the Springfield Republican-Resignation of Chaplain Bingham, and his farewell address.

THURSDAY, December 11.-Early in the morning, started for the banks of Rappahannock, arriving at the pontoon bridge thrown across the river, about ten o'clock, and stacked arms. The fog was thick, and it was almost an impossibility to distinguish objects on the opposite shore.

Upon the hill behind the regiments, drawn up in an open field, were the batteries of light artillery; to the right, and opposite the city, the heavy siege guns of the Connecticut First were posted; near the bank of the river, and commanding the pontoons, was a battery of six brass guns. Upon the opposite bank was a dwelling-house and outbuildings, and behind, and in this house, were the rebel sharpshooters, who had complete range of the pontoons. Occasionally, during the day, they would show themselves, and receive a compliment of shot and shell from our batteries. When it became uncomfortably hot for them, they would scamper out of range, followed by loud cheers from our side of the river.

Yet no move was made to cross on the pontoons. Upon the extreme right of our line, Couch and Sumner kept up a continuous roar of artillery. Not to be cheated out of their dinner, the men went to work and made their coffee, and fried their pork and crackers.

About five o'clock, almost sundown, the order came to cross the bridges. The Second Rhode Island were detailed as skirmishers, and marched to the pontoons, closely fol

lowed by the Tenth. On one of the bridges the Thirtyseventh, with two regiments of Cochrane's brigade, and upon the first, the Thirty-sixth New York closely followed the Tenth. As the troops neared the pontoons, a battery was run down to the bank of the river, whirled about, and at once commenced a furious shelling of the house and neighborhood on the opposite bank, where the sharpshooters of the enemy found shelter, causing them to retreat in quick time. General Devens, with Captain Russell, his adjutant-general, were upon the pontoons, at the head of their skirmishers, and crossed on the double-quick, followed by the Tenth. A few shots from the rebel pickets, doing no damage, and the flag of the Tenth was planted upon the south bank of the Rappahannock. The Second Rhode Island deployed beautifully as skirmishers, exchanging shots with the enemy, who retreated as the Second advanced. The Tenth, followed by the rest of the brigade, marched by the flank to its position in line of battle, and fronted. A few scattering shots, and all was quiet. mained in line of battle until dark, when the pickets were stationed, and the Tenth returned to the vicinity of the house, in which General Devens' head-quarters were established.

Re

Generals Smith and Newton were present, and witnessed the crossing of the river by the troops. The night was extremely cold, and the men got but little sleep.

FRIDAY, December 12.-The day was spent by the army in crossing the river, and reconnoitering the enemy's position. The Tenth remained in the same position as yesterday.

SATURDAY, December 13-Soon after sunrise, the first Fredericksburg battle, under Burnside, was commenced on the left of our line, by General Franklin, and was taken up and continued, with greater or less severity during the day, along the whole line. The heaviest of the fighting was done some distance to the right and left of the Tenth, and no casualties were reported from that Regiment.