We had our hands full after starting from Baltimore, in consequence of the boys indulging too freely in "whiskey libations." They had seen no liquor for some time, and seemed determined to make the most of this. At twelve we commenced entering the cars, and at one P.M. the regiment were all aboard. Some of the men were picked up and brought on in a dilapidated condition, having been engaged in turning _somersaults_, evidently having had help in this game, judging from the countenances of some of them, which had materially changed, showing marks where the fist had been too closely applied for the good of the recipient, resulting in _crawls upon all four_, and other demonstrations of a like character. With three or four exceptions, all of our company came aboard without help, though I am sorry to say many of them were full of fight, and commenced operations soon after entering the cars. It fell upon me to stand at one end of the car, with orders to allow no one to go out, under any pretence, as in the present condition of the men the result no doubt would have been disastrous. Soon the uproar commenced, which continued until darkness put a stop to it. There would be an occasional lull in the tempest, as parties became exhausted.
Towards night, those who were brought aboard insensible, and who were indebted to a few of us for their preservation--as the chances were that they would have been stamped to pieces if we had not exerted ourselves to save them--came to and _sailed_ in for their share. Such an uproar I never heard among human beings, and it required our utmost exertions to keep them from annihilating one another. Darkness came upon us at last, the uproar partly ceased, and comparative quiet reigned in this _menagerie_.
The train was started at two, P.M., and proceeded slowly throughout the afternoon. Late in the evening we stopped at Little York, Penn., where hot coffee and bread were served to such of the regiment as felt disposed to partake. We were now fairly on our way, _en route_ for the West, via Harrisburg. After leaving Little York we proceeded rapidly, and the next morning, at eight o'clock, stopped at Lewistown, Penn., sixty miles to the west of Harrisburg.