and is a work of time;
nor is it a matter for wonder that men forget their being soldiers
and liable to severe punishment for misdemeanors.

After taps, it was the custom of the officer of the day to make the
rounds of the camp to make sure that all lights were out and
everything quiet in the company quarters. Sometimes this officer, if
he manifested a disposition to be officious in the discharge of his
duties, came to grief. There was one who, when detailed as officer of
the day, generally had about all the business he cared to attend to,
in the vicinity of Company F quarters, after taps. A candle would be
left burning on the table in a room, to attract the officer's
attention, who on seeing it would shout at the top of his voice, "Put
out that light in Company F quarters!" Some one in bed would reply,
"Go to H--ades, you old granny!" The officer, entering, would be
deluged with a shower of tin pans and plates, placed on a shelf
purposely rigged directly over the entrance, propped up by sticks,
and at the proper time tripped by means of a string manipulated by
some person to the officer unknown, the light being at the same
instant extinguished by some one in the plot, the transaction
overwhelming the officer with impotent wrath.

May 21st, John Abbott and Thomas H. Lawton were discharged from the
company on account of disability, returning home.

May 23d, Governor Sprague left camp for home, to be inaugurated as
Governor for another year. A detail of thirty men from the regiment
was made to-day, and placed under command of Lieutenant Tower, of
Company E, to operate a ferry for transporting troops across the
river to Alexandria. They worked only nights, returning to camp at
daylight in the morning. Company F furnished five men--Sergeant
Burdick, John B. F. Smith, Andrew P. Bashford, George R. White, and
Peyton Randolph, all of whom had been sailors previous to enlistment
in the army, and consequently were familiar with that line of duty,
and to them it was mere pastime.

Although away from home and friends, we as sons of old Newport could
not permit 'Lection day to pass without notice. Nearly all of us had
sent us from home boxes containing cake and blue eggs, and with these
as a basis, we made preparations to celebrate the day. At sunrise we
flung to the breeze a beautiful American flag, from the 1st
sergeant's quarters. This flag, presented to us by Mr. William
Vernon, of Newport, is still in the possession of t