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32 deal of good.* They tried a plan in our regt. which could it have been followed would have restrained the improper use of the grug. But it failed. The plan was for every man to march up take his whiskey and drink it at once in presence of the Srgt. But how would this work where the orderly seargeant was a hard drinker. Rations were drawn from the commissary for every man in the company. Some did not drink the consequence is easily foreseen, either the rest would get more than a ration or there would be some left. In the latter case the Sergt took it to his tent, used it to excess and was never in a fit condition to attend to his duties. As I shall have occassion to ventilate this subject at large in several instance I will leave it for the present. From this camp we moved to a place called Tyler's Farm about 10 miles from Richmond. We remained here several days. Here as a result of the whiskey ration our Orderly Sergt was reduced to the ranks. While we were at this camp we were detailed to build a bridge across the Chicahominy. We worked in mud and water very frequently waist deep. The last evening of our labor we were cheered by the sound of Battle at Hanover Court House. And before day we were on the move to support Gen. Porter's column which had been engaged, but there was no more fighting and so we returned to our old camp May 30th. About noon on the 31st, we heared heavy firing on the other side of the Chicahominy. We soon received orders to be ready to march with only one days rations and our rubber blankets. In a short time we were on the move and were soon at the bridge which our regt. had thrown across the stream and which was two miles from our camp. Here Gen. Sumner received orders to march for the first time. He had acted thus far on his own responsibility and it was well he did so. Had he acted otherwise the two Corp which were already across the stream must have been annihilated. Our regt. was in advance of the Corp and as soon as we were fairly across the stream Gen. Sumner rode up to Col. Sully

• This of course was the nonsensical notion of a greenhorn.