DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Marks family letters, 1862-1864

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1862-11-20 Page 3

of the guard who goes what is called the rounds four times twice in the day time and twice at night to see if all is right and to see if he can catch any of the boys a sleep  We have a countersign which is given us at dusk and nobody can pass unless he has it  There is also an officer of the day who has command over the officers of the guard and the guard whose business  it is to give instructions to the sentinels and officers of the guard he comes around twice once in the daytime and once at night which is called the Grand Rounds  when he comes around in the daytime the sentinels all fall into line and salute him by presenting arms  When he goes around at night a Sargent goes with him and when he comes withim about 25 or so paces the sentinel calls out Who Comes there he replies Grand Rounds the sentinel says advance sargent and give the countersign the sargent does it and if it is right the sentinel says countersign correct advance Rounds.  no saluting done after night  When we was coming on to corinth we stood 12 hours out of 24 and dare not go to sleep here we stand 8 out of 24 and relieve one an other every two hours and get to sleep 4 hours between turns some of the boys shot an old mare through the guts last night on picket some of the boys is always shooting at hogs dogs cats mules horses cattle or anything that comes around at night  Whenever a gun is fired off it is the

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of the guard who goes what is called the rounds four times twice in the day time and twice at night to see if all is right and to see if he can catch any of the boys a sleep We have a countersign which is given us at dusk and nobody can pass unless he has it There is also an officer of the day who has command over the officers of the guard and the guard whose business it is to give instructions to the sentinels and officers of the guard he comes around twice once in the daytime and once at night which is called the Grand Rounds when he comes around in the daytime the sentinels all fall into line and salute him by presenting arms When he goes around at night a Sargent goes with him and when he comes withim about 25 or so paces the sentinel calls out Who Comes there he replies Grand Rounds the sentinel says advance sargent and give the countersign the sargent does it and if it is right the sentinel says countersign correct advance Rounds. no saluting done after night When we was coming on to corinth we stood 12 hours out of 24 and dare not go to sleep here we stand 8 out of 24 and relieve one an other every two hours and get to sleep 4 hours between turns some of the boys shot an old mare through the guts last night on picket some of the boys is always shooting at hogs dogs cats mules horses cattle or anything that comes around at night Whenever a gun is fired off it is the