Joseph Brown Diary

January 12th early this morning the bugle called the Reg into line and at sunrise we moved on our march the first MD line in the front we crossed the antietam and over the mountains down the Potomac river some times with in two feet of a presipice 60 feet steep over the roughest road and the poorest country I ever saw at one oclock we arrived at Harpers ferry where we came to a halt and waited one hour for marching orders again the bugle sounded and every man was at his place the word was given we moved off and crossed the river on a pontoon bridge when the Reg struck the VA soil one General Hura was given we marched about 2 miles from the river and stoped on Bolivar Hights on the pike leading to Charleston close to the Shanandoa river making 11 mile march today I keep in front on my feet all day

Saturday 13 very tiered and worn out from my two days march walked aroun the Shanandoa river terible distruction of property saw the inches XXX rail road it also suffered from the hands of the soldiers coffin Reble and union walked up to the top of Bolivar heights when XX XXXXXX the Battery that holds the Shannadoa vally the vally Is a beautiful country the land is very rich but farmers all gone xx the distruction of

Sunday 14 Was visited this morning by one of the trustees of the M. E. Church and requested by him to meet them at their church at one oclock and organize thire Sabeth School which I did by electing a (?) as a (?) (?) and Lylnasian(?) and on my way from the church in the evening I meet Col Horn with five companies of our Reg going beyond the Shanando to attend to some Re

Monday 15 Cold and unplesant took a walk on the hights Rebel cavalry picketts (?) in our picketts to day exchanged shots with each other this night (?) storm of wind and rain I could scarcly keep my tent up a number of tents blew down thank god I was preserved and in good health

Tuesday 16 waiting for orders to march soldiering uncertain business truly we have no abiding place This is a fine camping ground a great amount of Goverment property from in the way of tents guns &c &c our Col occupies a tent as his head quarter that was occupied by a former(?) Col there has been many thousand soldiers here in the past. I am well for which i feal thanks

Wensday 17 Early this morning we commenced geting ready to march to Harpers ferry and by 10 oclock found us in our new quarter the field and staff officers are in a large house that must have (?) 15000(?) the several companies on quarters in such*?) Houses it is thought that we have taken winter quarters the room I am in is large and my stove is very small which it very cold the (?) are broken the house shows that soldiers have been here before us oh what destruction of grounds(?) I never saw I visited Harpers ferry to day and walked th(?) the town saw the house where John Brown concealed him self poor foolish man Tow(?) out of property destroyed in harpers ferry I am (?) (?) left some cold