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fire-arms. Our regiment prepared to turn out, but soon the concerted rocket signal of "all right" was given, and the residue of the night passed without further disturbance. These events would have seemed trivial occurrences to us some months later, but at that time they were exciting. Colonel Pinckney reported next day that a small body of mounted men attacked a picket post, and, exchanging shots, without damage to his men, rode away, themselves apparently uninjured.

On the morning of the eleventh of May we received an order from General Butler, to march from Annapolis at 12 o'clock, and to relieve the Fifth along the line of the railroad, from Annapolis to the Junction, and establish headquarters at the latter place. We were not sorry of the opportunity to get out of Colonel Smith's jurisdiction, and were soon ready to march; but Colonel Smith had a large fatigue party at work, and although advised of the order, and the necessity of relieving the men, he omitted to do so until General Butler, who fortunately arrived, sent him a peremptory order to relieve them.

FROM ANNAPOLIS TO THE JUNCTION-CAMP REYNOLDS-PASSING TROOPSACQUAINTANCES--REMINDERS FROM HOME-ARMY RATIONS—-DUTY PERFORMED BY REGIMENT--PICKET POSTS —ALARMS-EXCITING RUMORS A SCARED CHAPLAIN-EXPEDITIONS THURLOW WEED-RAILROAD TRACK THREATENED--ARRIVAL OF MR. REYNOLDS SLEEPY SENTINELS-INVOICE OF CLOTHING-IMPEDIMENT A-LIEUT, COLONEL RESIGNS-AN ELECTION--DEATHS-FUNERAL IN A THUNDER STORM-EFFORTS TO GET THE REGIMENT SENT TO THE FRONT-ORDERED TO BALTIMORE,

SCHOONMAKER

AT twelve o'clock, on the eleventh of May, we took up our line of march for Annapolis Junction. The Annapolis and Elkridge Railroad had been disabled by the local Secessionists, at about the same time the bridges on the Trunk road were destroyed; but a regiment which preceded us had repaired it. We established ten picket posts along the line of the road, with a signal system between posts, and arrived at the Junction, with the main body of the regiment, in the evening. The Fifth New York Volunteers departed as we arrived, leaving their tents standing for our occupation. The regiment, with the line officers, took possession of the abandoned camp, while the Field and Staff secured quarters in the "Annapolis Junction Hotel," which, with the railroads, constituted Annapolis Junction. Captain D. T. Van Buren, of the Engineers, procured a straight sapling, 35 feet long, which was erected in the front centre of the camp. Colonel Pratt issued the following order: "The Stars and Stripes' will be hoisted on the flagstaff at half-past three o'clock, and the camp will be known as Camp Reynolds, in compliment to the zealous and active friend of the Ulster Guard, Henry H. Reynolds, of Kingston, N. Y." The flag was run to the

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peak at the appointed time, amid the cheers of the regiment. Camp Reynolds was located in an open field, near to and in full view of the railroad. The men went to work to beautify their quarters, and the front of the tents were soon adorned with evergreens, which afforded a pleasant shade, and added greatly to the comfortable appearance of their quarters. The grounds were kept as clean as a house floor, under strict police regulations, and the camp was a very pretty canvas village. Above it floated an American flag, seventeen feet in length, and around the borders of the camp constantly patrolled a line of sentinels.

Meantime, the railroad communication on the Great Trunk line between New York and Washington had been re-opened, and Annapolis Junction had become a scene of constant animation. It was a watering station, and almost every train stopped there. Trains were following each other in rapid succession, laden with troops, on their way to the National Capital. They invariably cheered Camp Reynolds, and the men within it gave back a hearty response. The officers at headquarters found acquaintances in nearly every New York regiment, going to the front, and pleasant interviews and little acts of hospitality were the agreeable episodes of every day. Numerous civilian friends from the East visited us, and we were always glad to welcome them. Boxes and bundles, for officers and men, were constantly arriving, reminding us of the thoughtfulness and zeal of those who had bidden us "God speed" on our departure from Kingston. It would require pages to enumerate the various articles thus received while we were at this post. At the risk of being deemed invidious, I will mention a few instances of the kind referred to.

Colonel Zadoc Pratt, of Prattsville, Green County, and Mr. Henry Dowey, Andes, Delaware County, N. Y., sent us a large quantity of excellent butter of their own make. Messrs. Wales, Van Deusen, Knapp and

Deyo, of Rondout, N. Y., forwarded a large and wellassorted supply of medical stores. From the Esopus people, a bountiful donation of under-clothing. A like donation from the ladies of Wilbur. Blankets, clothing, and a large dry-goods box of delicacies for the table, from the ladies of Kingston. Some grumbler in the regiment had written home, complaining of the army ration, both as to quantity and quality, and our friends were led to apprehend that we were on starvation allowance. To relieve their minds on this subject, Colonel Pratt caused the adjutant to send to our home papers, the following statement, which is reproduced for the information it affords, as to how our paternal Government feeds its defenders: "Government allowances of rations: lbs. pork or bacon; 14 lbs. fresh or salt beef; 18 oz. bread or flour, or 12 oz. hard bread, or 1 lbs. corn meal. At the rate of 100 rations, 8 qts. beans, or in lieu thereof, 10 lbs. rice, or in lieu thereof, twice per week, 150 oz. of desiccated potatoes and 100 oz. mixed vegetables; 10 lbs. coffee, or 14 lbs. tea; 15 lbs. sugar; 4 qts. vinegar; 14 lbs. tallow; 4 lbs. soap; 2 qts. salt. This is not exactly the bill of fare that an epicure would gloat over, but soldiers have no business to be epicures.

The regimental headquarters continued at Annapolis Junction until the 29th of June. During this time the duty required of the corps was neither arduous nor dangerous. The picket posts already mentioned were maintained, and others were established, covering several miles of the Baltimore & Washington Railroad, east and west of the junction. Around the camp was nightly posted a strong guard, and every precaution taken against a surprise. Detachments were now and then sent off to intercept parties reported to be on the march to join the rebels, and the houses of several notorious Secessionists were searched for arms. Alarms were sufficiently frequent at the outer picket posts to keep officers and men on the qui vive, and Colonel Pratt

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would often mount his horse at midnight, or later, and accompanied by one or more of his officers, make the "grand rounds" of the outer picket circle, which involved a ride of five miles, through fields and woods, and which was a somewhat dangerous pastime. Our pickets were especially cautioned to be on their guard against a sudden dash of cavalry, and on two occasions. they mistook the colonel's party for rebel raiders, and were on the point of firing on them.

While the headquarter's family were at breakfast one morning, a considerable body of troops were seen to be approaching the junction from the direction of Savages. The Annapolis Hotel was between the advancing soldiers and the regimental camp. Attention was at once called to the column of troops, and an officer designing to play a practical joke on Rev. Mr. D. the regimental chaplain, whose fear of an attack on the post was constant and notorious, sprung from the table and buckled on his sword, the other officers at once taking their cue, followed suit, with all the appearance of haste and terror they could assume. The chaplain gave one glance at the approaching troops, and one at his hurrying comrades, and, springing from the table, he fled from the house, and was not again seen around headquarters until late in the day, when he strolled in, with an expression of countenance which seemed to deprecate any allusion to the little incident of the morning. The chaplain had learned, meantime, that the soldiers were from our own regiment, and were returning from a night's scout.

There was genuine excitement in our camp on the 24th of May, the Federal troops had entered Virginia the night before, and Elsworth had been shot in the Jackson House, at Alexandria. The most extravagant and startling rumors were pouring into our camp from every passing train. On the 25th, we were assured that heavy fighting was going on at Alexandria and Arlington