It was warm and we had a shower this evening. About noon the Colonel sent for the Commanders of Companies and read our orders - to be ready at 8 hours notice to march. 60 rounds of cartridge & 30,000 in the wagons - 3 days provisions in haversacks - 4 on wagons the latter only to be coffee, hard bread, and salt. To take none but those are capable of doing and rapid marching: tents to be left standing - guards to be of convalescents, who are to strike tents, and have them taken to town, to be put upon a schooner to be designated. This about the substance - only officers are not to be allowed any transportation. They may have one packhorse to regiment, but it is to be considered private property though allowed to go along in the train. 4 camp kettles & 4 mess pans allowed to a company & 3 wagons to a Regiment. This looks like a mysterious raid somewhere, and we have spent the day in various discussions - we know about as much about it as we always did - is probably a diversion in favor of McClellan. We had a sermon this evening by Mr. Mallory he standing before his tent and we seated on the grass. I noticed an unusually large attendance, which probably the prospects of a march effected. It put me in mind of Isaac Beck, one of my company, as he told the story himself, at the battle of Camden, in the midst of it, bullets raining all around, he pulled out his handkerchief to wipe the sweat off his face, & jerked some cards out, which fell on the ground. He looked at them awhile and thought it would be a bad thing if he were shot, and was found with the cards in his jacket, & he was going to throw them away - when the thoughts struck him he had just paid the Sutler 50 cents for them & he thought he would risk it a while yet anyhow - so he picked up those that fell on the ground. He told it in a funny dutch way. I remember at Roanoke we were among the last regiments that moved up, and the road was scattered full of cards. Billy Allison remarked that we're getting conscientious - This was as we were going into the battle. I sort of hate this very rapid march, this hot weather - but as I have stood others pretty severe I know I can go through it. We were mustered as of tomorrow by the Col. Capt. Blair's company has been sent for - their baggage arrived this evening.
