. History of the Twelfth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, in the Civil War, 1862-1863 . tack, bacon, and water, madea stew which I ate with infinite relish. We were beginning tolearn the practical side of a soldiers life. What a strange, be-wildering sight to my young eyes were the barbaric scenes of warthat lay spread out before me. A vast city of tented streetswith outlying suburbs of white-winged dwellings; long lines ofarmed men moving with measured step; smart aides and order-lies hurrying hither and thither; generals in full uniform at-tended by brilliantly mounted staffs galloping amo
. History of the Twelfth Regiment, Rhode Island Volunteers, in the Civil War, 1862-1863 . tack, bacon, and water, madea stew which I ate with infinite relish. We were beginning tolearn the practical side of a soldiers life. What a strange, be-wildering sight to my young eyes were the barbaric scenes of warthat lay spread out before me. A vast city of tented streetswith outlying suburbs of white-winged dwellings; long lines ofarmed men moving with measured step; smart aides and order-lies hurrying hither and thither; generals in full uniform at-tended by brilliantly mounted staffs galloping among the troops. I was confused and stunned by the ten thousand Babel soundsthat broke upon my unaccustomed ears. There were the pealingbugle notes, the rattling drum-beats and the screaming fife, theinspiring strains of martial music, the hoarse cries of commandthe neighing of horses and the indescribable, inexpressible, un-earthly, distressing discords of the braying mule. Here wepitched our shelter tents, and, crawling beneath them, stretched C7 ^r^ 5 — aq f^ o o p f-^l P hri B 5 p. EHODE ISLAND VOLUNTEERS 173 our weary bodies upon the damp ground and slept as peacefullyas though we were in our beds at home instead of being amidthese strange scenes and sounds. On the morrow we woke tofind that this vast multitude about us, together with ourselves,now busy to break camp, will soon be fashioned into a mightyengine to be hurled against the frowning heights across the riverthat flows peacefully at their feet. The Twelfth, but two monthsin the service, undisciplined, and unfamiliar with drill, are tojoin these veterans of a score of hard-fought battles, in a bloodystruggle with the determined foe that awaits our coming. Thenevery man, as he became conscious of the impending struggle,calmly resolved to do his duty. Many were the prayers that wereuttered, for no mau could tell what might be his fate. With theearly dawn all was activity. There was hurrying to and fro,and, when the m
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