. History of the Fortieth (Mozart) regiment, New York Volunteers, which was composed of four companies from New York, four companies from Massachusetts and two companies from Pennsylvania . now see indications that a movementof the army was contemplated. The sick had all been sent to the GeneralHospital in Alexandria as early as March 5th, and the officers surplus baggagehad been removed to that city also. We had exchanged our smooth-boremuskets for the Austrian rifle, which was an arm that compared with theSpringfield rifled musket, and it gave us confidence. The bayonets werefour-cornered in
. History of the Fortieth (Mozart) regiment, New York Volunteers, which was composed of four companies from New York, four companies from Massachusetts and two companies from Pennsylvania . now see indications that a movementof the army was contemplated. The sick had all been sent to the GeneralHospital in Alexandria as early as March 5th, and the officers surplus baggagehad been removed to that city also. We had exchanged our smooth-boremuskets for the Austrian rifle, which was an arm that compared with theSpringfield rifled musket, and it gave us confidence. The bayonets werefour-cornered instead of three, and they made a wound that could not beeasily healed. Preparations continued until March 13th, when a portion ofthe army broke camp. We remained stationary, however, and continuedto drill from four to six hours every day. Every forenoon we had targetpractice with our new rifles, which carried their missiles quite diary mentions that my bullets struck the target twice in succession ata distance of two hundred yards. On Friday, March 14th, I wrote in my diary as follows:— We are offfor Fort Monroe in just one hour. Orders came last night to our Brigade,. SERGT. FRED C. FLOYD, 1861 The Sergeants sword shown above, was a heavy burdensome weapon, and entirelyuseless and unnecessary. The Sergeants were armed with muskets, and I can imagineno contingency when a sword could be used with any good effect or to any additionaladvantage. The bayonet was by far the most efficient instrument in a hand-to-handconflict, and the sword could not be wielded if the bayonet was in use, neither thebayonet if the sword was in action. The sword was never carried separately from themusket, and was never worn ofT duty, hence it was valueless as a weapon, and this factbeing recognized by Gen. McClellan, he ordered its use to be discontinued, and wegladly resigned the cumbersome weapons to the Quartermaster. PUBLIC LIBRARY FOOHQATtOW. HUNTING FOR REBELS. 127 and the r
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