When I was aroused, I found a barricade thrown up across the road, and a force of contrabands digging a trench across the field.  A cavalry picket reported the enemy within half a mile, advancing.  The citizens came out from Carlisle to aid us, and we went in line into the trenches.  Two men were detailed from each company to carry off the wounded; the red hospital flag fluttered upon a house behind us, and the colonel, passing in front, told us they were very near, and exhorted us not to let them pass.  But the day wore on to evening, and no rebels appeared, and at dark we moved again.  Starting in a heavy rain, we marched nine miles to the borders of a town known as New Kingston.  Here we halted while quarters were hunted up.  Every man, tired with the rapid walking through rain and mud, squatted at once in the road, no matter where, and then along the whole column singing began.  A soldier will sing under all circumstances, comfortable or uncomfortable.

At length we moved into the town and took possession of a church, distributing ourselves in aisles, pews, and pulpit.  What little remained of the night, we were glad to have in quiet.  It had been questionable whether we could reach Kingston, for on the march it was rumored that we were flanked; and a man, emerging from the shade as we passed, had asked a question of the chaplain, and, receiving no answer, had retreated a few yards, and fired his piece in the air, which looked very like a signal.  The next morning, the 26th, we went into camp in woods just in front of the town, while the general and the surgeon established headquarters in the town.

Here we repeated substantially the programme of the day before, except that continuous rain was substituted for the baking sun, and proved far more endurable.

On the afternoon of the 27th we marched some seven or eight miles, and encamped at night in Oyster Point, about two miles from Harrisburg.

Sunday! the 28th of June.  My first Sunday with the regiment.  No rumors of the enemy reach us, and to us privates the prospect is of a quiet day.  The boys gather round the chaplain for divine service.  And as for a few minutes we renew our connection with civilization, and, amid stacked arms, tents, camp fires, and the paraphernalia of war, sing psalms and hymns, and listen to the chaplain’s prayer, I decide that this surpasses all luxury possible in camp.  I shall never forget that ‘church.’

But no Sunday in camp.  Hardly were the services concluded, when we went forward a little to an orchard, and then line of battle again.  This performance of ‘laying for a fight’ which never came, had by this time grown tame, in fact intolerably stupid, and I for one was growing tired of sitting in silence, when boom! crash! a cannon shot in front of us, the smoke visible too, curling above the woods, and showing how near it had been fired.  A smothered ‘Ah!’ and ‘Now you’ve got it, boys,’ went through the ranks.  It was no humbug this time.  The rebels were shelling the woods as they advanced.