_Thursday, November 28._--Thanksgiving day. Governor Sprague furnished twenty turkeys for us.
_Friday, 29th, and Saturday, November 30._--A stable for the horses commenced on.
_Sunday, December 1, to Tuesday the 10th._--Nothing of any consequence happened. Camp wore a wintry aspect. The time was mostly occupied in building stables for the horses. Colonel Tompkins, now on General Stone's staff, arrived at Poolesville; we did no longer belong to General Banks' division, but to General Stone's.
_Tuesday, December 10._--Our division had quite an interesting sham-fight at Poolesville, four regiments of infantry, three batteries, and Van Allen's cavalry partaking in it. We fired blank cartridges. Van Allen's cavalry had several men injured in charging.
_Wednesday, December 11._--While going to a drill, through Poolesville, on trot, Corporal Burrows was thrown off the limber-chest, and his leg broken by a wheel passing over him.
_Thursday, December 12._--Great artillery manoeuvre.
_Friday, December 13._--Batteries A and B were ordered to report near Conrad's Ferry, where we arrived before sunrise, it being only five miles from our camp. While going through the woods, orders were given not to talk loud, the distance between us and the enemy being not more than three miles at the time. The enemy's position, which was a fortified one, consisting of two forts, called Beauregard and Johnson, had already been reconnoitred from a balloon, the day before. At our arrival, we found General Stone and Colonel Tompkins, with two companies of Van Allen's cavalry, two companies of the Thirty-fourth New York, and two of the First Minnesota, already there. We opened on the two forts, without much effect. Lieutenant Perry was more successful, with his Parrott guns. The enemy could be seen standing in squads by his artillery, yet no reply was made. By four o'clock we all withdrew, except the Parrott guns of Battery B, doing picket duty. The old members will remember, when returning to camp, Lieutenant Perry rode that nigger down. Quiet up to
_Wednesday, December 18._--The right section went to Conrad's Ferry, but returned in the evening.
_Wednesday, December 25._--Christmas. Our officers presented the company with a barrel of beer.