[from the diary of Ephraim Wood, Co. C., 13th Massachusetts]
Wednesday July 9th /62
Strict orders have been [word lined through]
issued this morning, in regard
to the Soldiers leaving Camp, as
a great many complains have
been made of the bad conduct
of some of the troops. A double
guard had been order to be
put on, and no one to leave Camp
without a pass. I thought I would
get out of Camp before Guard Moun-
-ting, so at seven Oclock I started
I went to the brook and had a
bath after which, I went off for
a walk, taking a different
direction from what I went
yesterday. After walking about
a mile I found a splendid
Cherry tree. The fruit looked to
tempting to pass, so up the
tree I went, and eat my fill.
I walked about a mile farther
and came to a road that branched
off to the right. I followed this
rode till I came to a house,
which belonged to a Widow Women
by the name of Edmunds. There
was a number of Women in the
House, and several young Ladies.
I went to the door and asked
for a drink of Water, which was
given me. They were siting at
the door, and they handed me
a chair, and asked me to sit
down. I asked them if they
had been troubled any by the
Soldiers, and I found that they
had been served about as hard
as their Neighbors. In our conversa-
-tion, the Old Lady mentioned a Clock
that She had that wanted repairing.
I told her that I used to repair
Clocks once, and would look at
it if she wanted me to.
The Clock was brought into the
Entry and lay upon a table.
It was an old Wooden Clock.
I took it to pieces and found
the trouble was with the rope
attached to the weight. It had
got off of the wheel and got
twisted up. I fixed it and oiled
it a little, and set it to running
which pleased the old Lady very
much. She wanted to pay me,
but I told her I wanted nothing
that she was welcome to services
that I had done her. She
persuaded me to stop to dinner.
One of the Young Ladies name was
Parrott, and lives in Alexandrier.
She came here to visit, about a year
ago, and had not had an opportunity
of returning home yet. They all
complimented me, on being the
most Gentlemanly Soldier they
had yet seen. They sympathized
with the South, but did not
know what Secession meant
any more then, the Old Dog Corporal
that is here in the Regt. (There is
a dog here that we call Corporal)
The next house I came to was a
Log Cabin, in which lived a man
about the age of fifty that had
been a cripple for seven years.
He was a Cobbler, but could work
but very little. His wife had to
do most of the work. They said that
they made between them, fifty
to seventy five cents a day which
supported them. He had not walked
for seven years and his spine was
crooked, the effects of Rhumatism
I thought, if I only had
the means to place them in
a more comfortable position.
what a happy man it would
make me. I reached camp about
five Oclock. After Dress Parade I bought
some Coffee of the Sutler, and went
to the House where I dined
yesterday. Mr Vowells. I gave them the Coffee
and got two Canteens of milk.
They said the Soldiers troubled
them yesterday, after I left guarding
then they did when I was there
The Gen had furnished them with
two guards. As I was coming away,
they stoped me and made me
take Supper with them. They said
they wished I was on guard
there. I got back to Camp at half
past eight just in time to
answer to my name at role
call. Mitchell and myself made
some Cornstarch pudding, using
milk instead of water. We
layed it aside for Breakfast.
Pleasant all day, very warm
[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]
MSS 12021
