DIY History | Transcribe | Civil War Diaries and Letters | Andrew F. Davis papers, May-December 1861

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Andrew F. Davis papers, May-December 1861

02_1861-12-05-Page 02

long that they are like colts let out of a Stable that is they must have their spree. The orders are quite strict that they shall not leave camp but they manage to pass the guards and away they go for town and perhaps that is the last you will see of them for 2 or 3 days.  And I am Sorry to say that the officers are no better than the privates and are setting a verry bad example as they will break guard and get drunk as often as the privates.  As I had been gone for some time and as the Major said had had a good rest and was about all the Lieutenant in Camp I was put in command of 26 men list night and Sent to the city for the purpose of arresting all the Stragalers of our Regiment that we could find and a weary job we had of it, as they were Scattered all over the city in nearly evry Rum hole and house of ill fame and at the Theater and some few in the Calaboose  I would geather up 5 or 6 of them and put a guard over them and then Start them for camp and by 10 Oclock I had sent all my Squad to the camp as guards and left me alone.  So I went to the Theater to see if any of them was there and I found it full to overflowing and nearly all soldiers so I Set down until the play was out and then Stationed myself at the door and watched and when I saw one of the 15th I would nab him and make them guard each other until I had got 23 and then I Started with them to camp and got here at 1/2 past 12 Oclock as near run down as I ever have been since I have been in the service.  Some of them did not like to come and sometimes a fellow would make a brake and run and away he would go and Some of the guard after him and sometimes they would overhaul them and sometimes he would get away.  One fellow thought he would show fight and Struck and Kicked for 2 or 3 sqares but finally a lick on the pate with the but of a musket settled him and after that he went quiet enough

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long that they are like colts let out of a Stable that is they must have their spree. The orders are quite strict that they shall not leave camp but they manage to pass the guards and away they go for town and perhaps that is the last you will see of them for 2 or 3 days. And I am Sorry to say that the officers are no better than the privates and are setting a verry bad example as they will break guard and get drunk as often as the privates. As I had been gone for some time and as the Major said had had a good rest and was about all the Lieutenant in Camp I was put in command of 26 men list night and Sent to the city for the purpose of arresting all the Stragalers of our Regiment that we could find and a weary job we had of it, as they were Scattered all over the city in nearly evry Rum hole and house of ill fame and at the Theater and some few in the Calaboose I would geather up 5 or 6 of them and put a guard over them and then Start them for camp and by 10 Oclock I had sent all my Squad to the camp as guards and left me alone. So I went to the Theater to see if any of them was there and I found it full to overflowing and nearly all soldiers so I Set down until the play was out and then Stationed myself at the door and watched and when I saw one of the 15th I would nab him and make them guard each other until I had got 23 and then I Started with them to camp and got here at 1/2 past 12 Oclock as near run down as I ever have been since I have been in the service. Some of them did not like to come and sometimes a fellow would make a brake and run and away he would go and Some of the guard after him and sometimes they would overhaul them and sometimes he would get away. One fellow thought he would show fight and Struck and Kicked for 2 or 3 sqares but finally a lick on the pate with the but of a musket settled him and after that he went quiet enough