"Who is this that looks forth like the dawn, fair as the moon, bright as the sun, terrible as an army with banners?"

Thursday, April 11, 2013

April 11, 1863. Mustered early.

"April 11. The regiment is mustered. It is said that all are, to learn the exact number of fighting men. "What does this mean?" asks one, (for we commonly are mustered the last day of every other month). "It means," replies another soldiers, "that we have fun with the 'rebs,' "..." ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment,  The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864) 

"April 11. Day before yesterday was the day appointed by the President for the nation to fast, and I fear it was not strictly observed in camp, as far as abstaining from eating and drinking are concerned, for our "hard tack" was eaten with as much relish as ever. Some part of the army I think did not have to deviate a great deal from the usual mode of living, to fast.

"We were permitted, however, to attend divine worship, so we were not behind, on that point, from the mode usually adopted in civil life on that day. The regiment is inspected and mustered to-day." 
"~ J. C. Williams, Corporal, Co. B, 14th Regiment, Life in Camp, 106 (1864).

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