Fairfax Stasion Feb 11^th 1863

 

Dear Parents we have had a grand time this morning when we went out for Co drill the Officer of the day came and asked the Cf Color Sergent if he would march the Color guard to the Parade ground at half past nine as the Ll Line Officers were going to have a dress parade at that hour he told him he would come and bring the Colors so when the drum beat the Regt. was formed Capt. Stevens acting as Col Lut. Lyman as Agt. after the Regt was formed and the / drum Corps marched twice across the in front of the Regt. the Agt. Came in front of the Centre and insted of giveing the order to present arms he gave it revers arms all had Bayonet on and made rather an awkward work of it then he took his place by the side of the Col. who gave a few orders in the manuel of arms then Agt. Caled the first Sargents to the front and centre to report the Co. A was reported all present and acounted for except 9 Corps and one private I cant remember all the reports the 2^ond Co. was / reported all present but 15 privates 3^rd Co all present but 4 mules and 3 boxes of hard tack Co G. 6^th all ar acounted for but the first Lut. when last seen he was marching to the tune of Bunker hill played on his own whistle 10^th Co. all present or acounted for acounted for except 1 Capt. one first Lut. one second Lut. and one ex Corpl. on the ambulance corps after the sergents had reported the Agt. read the orders they were dated at all places but the right one one was that no more hard tack should be dolet out to this Brigade on sunday as it required to much labor to chaw them that it was not right / another was that every man that did not hit at target shooting should be caled a traitor to his musket and evry one that did hit should be honorablely Discharged on serving his time from the date of mustering after the orders were all read the Agt. dismised the the perade and the line officer Came to the front and centre when the Agt. faced them to the rear and marched them backwards to the Col. and saluted him and that was the end of it the Col. Proctor stood back on the hill and came near spliting his coat and pants with laughing

 

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their is one order that I forgot about the bass drum it was orderd to the Hospital for medical treatment after the perade the drum corps took it on a strecher and upto the Hospital the surgeon cut in to see what ailed and said it was mortification and could not be saved I think we have an new one

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