across a ford of the Potomac into Virginia. Lee's violation of the terms of the truce was prompted by his same traitorous heart which led him to violate his sworn oath and turn traitor to the country which had educated him gratuitously, and which educational acquirements he was now employing against his country.

OUR JOURNEY TO FREDERICK CITY.

After receiving marching orders on September 29, the camp was busy with preparations for removal. Letters were hastily written and much of the night was spent in making ready for the journey. At 6 o'clock on Tuesday morning, the 30th, we turned our backs upon Camp Shearer, around which cluster many associations of interest, and marched away to the Capital City. Transportation not being in readiness, we proceeded to the Capitol grounds where we remained all day, and at evening entered the enclosure, bivouacking in the East Park, under the shadow of the Capitol itself. But a few rods away on the eastern portico, the several Presidents of this great republic had taken the oath of office. Indeed we are now on classic ground, and beneath the foliage of stately elms, we prepare our beds for sleep.

Our heart was stirred with deep emotion at this time. These massive walls of the Nation's council chambers were lighted from basement to unfinished dome, within which, on cots of anguish and pain, lay hundreds of our country's defenders, brought from the recent battle-fields up the Potomac. Yonder stands the old Capitol, so resonant in days agone with the eloquence and teachings of the early statesmen of the Republic-now a prison for those who seek to take its life. Here is the silent, yet eloquent, statue of the great Washington, amid armed legions gathered to defend from sacrilegious hands the Temple of Liberty which he did so much to build. These wounded, and the daily clangor of arms and martial strains about the Nation's capital, attest the inexpiable crime of that hateful treason which has filled our land with mourning. But, alas! the traitorous marplots who brought on this awful war are not among those who do the fighting. Not they. Far better should they have been blown to perdition ere their conduct had brought about the terrible sufferings. of those who have to fight.

Our reveries and dreams were brief, for at I o'clock in the morning the ringing voice of Colonel Morrow awoke us from our slumbers with "The Twenty-fourth, fall in." Once more aboard cattle cars, we left for Frederick City, Maryland, at 8 o'clock. We welcomed our transition from the hot and dusty streets of the city to

the cool hill country of "Our Maryland." At the Relay House our railway crosses that wonder of science and skill, the massive viaduct, and then, with an abrupt sweep to the left, under the precipitous and overhanging rocky banks of the Patapsco, we pass on up the valley of that meandering stream for miles, by charming waterfalls and scenes of grandeur, watching this beautiful, diminishing stream until it is lost in the summit of the mountain.

Descending into the Monocacy Valley, the landscape scenery continues sublime amid circles of hills and beautiful farms. With banners and waving handkerchiefs, we are cheered on our journey. From hewn-stone mansions and humble cottages came loyal greetings "Camp Clark Oct. 2 to 6.62.

BO.R.R.

Patapsco

Baltimor

House

Annapolis Junction

Bladensbring

Lift

Annapolis

Route of 24

Hampshire mich. Vols.

to join Army of Poloma

as we passed them by. One old man, with snow-white head, and grandchildren by his side, waved the old flag at us with an energy that would have borne him to the field had his years permitted. Now and then we saw motionless hands and silent lips, but they were few. No more the slave will do their waiting the true secret of their grumpy sullenness and soured mien. It did our hearts good to see the old flag waved from Maryland farm-houses. It was done with an expression that evinced no doubt of the sincerity of their loyalty to the Union amid secession surroundings. It was a day of pleasure, and at midnight we left the cars at our destination to make ourselves comfortable in the nearest field.

CAMP CLARK.

In the morning, Thursday, October 2, a good tenting field was found near the railroad, which was named "Camp Clark," after Dr. E. M. Clark, of Detroit, who gratuitously passed upon the physical fitness of our regiment at Camp Barns. Here, the regiment was temporarily placed in General Paul's brigade. We spent a few days in drilling and bathing, and washing our clothes in the Monocacy.

On October 4, President Lincoln passed by our camp, from a visit to the recent and neighboring battle-fields. He stood at the rear of his train, bowing to us as it slowly moved by. His head was uncovered and he looked careworn from the weighty matters upon his mind. We gave him some Michigan cheers as the train moved slowly by.

The following day being Sunday, some of us visited Frederick City, near by. About every church or public place in the town was filled with the wounded from South Mountain and Antietam battles. This is quite an old city for this country, its market house being erected in 1769. Its people were generally loyal to the Union with some exceptions. Some of the disloyal dames invited the Confederate officers while there, to their homes, but the lively appearance of their beds when the chivalry had gone, made them regret the courtesy shown their secesh friends.

MARCH TO SHARPSBURG-BATTLEFIELD SCENES.

Monday, October 6, at 4 o'clock, P. M., we started by the National Road, on our march for Sharpsburg, Maryland. Passing through Frederick City, we had a right royal greeting from the people with a slight mixture of the secesh frown. About five miles from the city, we passed over the Catoctin Mountains and down into Middletown Valley, turning, at night, into a meadow for bivouac. Next morning, at 6 o'clock, our journey was resumed through Middletown Village. The soil is rich and cultivated farms may be seen nestling in the woods on the distant mountain tops. A little west of the village, the Catoctin stream was forded, as the stone bridge over it had been blown up by the retreating foe, at the beginning of the battle of Sunday, September 14. Thence we moved up to the crest of the South Mountain range where a halt of six hours was made in Turner's Gap.

This National Road dates back to Colonial days, and before the age of railroads it formed the great highway between the East and

West. It was a broad, macadamized way, and wound over mountains and hills which had been leveled off to form it. Over it, the produce came from the West and many a statesman found this a route by stage to the Capital City. Over it, Braddock marched his troops to defeat and his own untimely death.

All about us were evidences of the late battle-shells lying around, trees and fences cut down. Here, Gibbon's brigade for four hours fought its way till into moonlight and carried the ground on which we have halted. Many of us visited the scene of the struggle.

The main fighting occurred at Fox's Gap about a mile south, on the farm of John Wise, where the old road from Middletown to Sharpsburg crosses the mountain. Mr. Wise was present to give us particulars of the fighting. His log house was pitted with bullets like small pox scars. In that barn, two Confederate and two Union officers fought each other to the death. Here was the lane between two stone walls in which was concealed Drayton's South Carolina brigade on that Sunday morning. In that copse of wood at the foot of the hill, the Seventeenth Michigan formed. It was in Michigan scarce two weeks before. Up, across the open field it charged, right over that stonewall, with a loss of twenty-eight of its own in killed, while the dead bodies of 154 of the South Carolina brigade were left in the lane. Of the latter, fifty-nine were burried in Wise's well and the balance in a trench in his garden. Here is where the Seventeenth Michigan won its title as the "Stonewall Regiment," and rightly is it entitled to its fame.

By that chestnut tree in the adjoining field, General Reno fell, a victim to the enemy's sharpshooters. Accoutrements, canteens and hats with the terrible bullet holes in front, were scattered around. Here was a pile of knapsacks marked "1st S. C." Their owners lay in yonder garden. These scenes were food for serious reflection. How long ere we, too, would be actors on the field of deadly combat

and fill soldiers' graves? At 5 o'clock p. m.the Regiment marched on to Boonsborough; thence three miles south on the Keedysville road and bivouacked for the night.

Wednesday, October 8; on the march at 7 o'clock.

Keedysville

is passed and we move on over a portion of the Antietam battle ground, over the historic Burnside bridge, through the now famous Sharpsburg village, and on a mile southeast to within half a mile of the Potomac, and went into camp.