g, but on our arrival
at the guard-house our first sergeant was not with us, and on looking
in the direction of the parade ground he was observed standing there
alone, Robinson Crusoe like, "monarch of all he surveyed." On being
requested by the adjutant to report for duty, he objected to doing
so, and went to his quarters. He was soon ordered to report at
headquarters, charged with disobedience of orders, but was allowed to
give his reasons for not complying with orders relating to guard
duty, which he readily did. They were that a 1st sergeant of a
company was not a duty sergeant, and was consequently by the
regulations exempt from such duty while in camp. The matter being
referred to Colonel Burnside, that officer promptly ruled that the
sergeant was right, and ever after the 1st sergeants of companies
were relieved from service in that direction while in camp. It was a
notable circumstance, which I wish to record here, that while Colonel
Burnside always exacted of us a strict compliance with all orders, he
was at the same time ready and willing to listen and act upon any
complaint from officers or men, and invariably his decisions were
just. He treated all alike, and was ever on the look out for the
welfare and comfort of the men. As an illustration of General
Burnside's ideas of duty, it was decided to erect a temporary
structure for the purpose of holding religious services on the
Sabbath. One day the sergeant-major made application to the captains
of companies for a detail of mechanics for this work, in response to
which details were sent from all except one of the companies, the
captain of this company stating to the sergeant-major in response
that he had no mechanics, his company being composed wholly of
business men and clerks. This circumstance being duly reported to
Colonel Burnside, he instructed the sergeant major to direct the
captain of that company to detail ten men at once, as there were some
foundation holes to dig, and he did not wish mechanics to do that
sort of work.

Fourth of July was celebrated by both regiments in camp. There was a
review of the regiments and batteries, and services held appropriate
to the day, in which were included singing, music by the bands, and
an oration by Rev. Father Quinn. In the afternoon we had sports of
all kinds; a member of the second regiment gave a tight rope
performance, and a member of the battery procured and turned loose a
pig, well greased, said porker to