SATURDAY 8. The ladies of Madison gave the soldiers a picnic today.
The tables in the “Operative Machinery” room were spread with bread,
butter pies, cakes & sweatmeats, to which the boys did ample justice
after which came speeches, music by the brass band, singing of Star
Sp. Banner, and dispersion. The parade was formed almost immediately
after the supper and all present witnessed it. Rec’d letter from home
enclosing a “Programme of Commencement of Ind. Univ.” from Willie
Reid.
SUNDAY, 9TH--Rev. Mr. Britton (Epis.) held a service on the camp at 9½
A. M. He preached a patriotic sermon from the 12th chap of Kings.
Attended Bible Class & Mason’s in evening.
MONDAY, JUNE 10, 1861. Went to camp in the evening & there learned
that Mrs. Graham & Mrs. St. George had been there today to see their
sons; also while we were there Cap. Strong told his men that 50 of
them could go home that night to see their friends before starting for
“the wars.” T. G., T. St G.,[54] and W. White were among the no. who
obtained permission to go. Geo. L. got out of the camp, & Will & I
went with [him] to Father Norris’ to get the women to go home with
their boys, but when we arrived at the depot we learned that an order
had come from the Adj’t Gen. forbidding their going at this time.
TUESDAY 11. Obtained excuse from Geom. recitation and went to the camp
to see if the boys are going today. They cannot go as they are being
mustered in to the U. S. service. Mrs. G. & St G. were there when we
arrived at the camp & went home at 1 O’Clock. Staid at the camp till 5
o’clock to see the ceremony of mustering in the troops by Capt.
McIntyre of the U. S. Infantry. 7 companies took the oath today.
WEDNESDAY 12. We were all excused from Latin recitation, and visited
Madison High School. The teacher, Miss Cowes,[55] seemed unprepared
for visitors, and the afternoon session being a short one we heard but
two recitations, (reading & Philos[o]phy) of which the Philosophy (not
being a regular recitation at that hour) was rather poorly recited.
There were but three boys in the room, the school consisting
principally of girls.