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Camp Lyon, after the lamented hero of Springfield, Mo. Two heavy four-horse ambulances, containing the sick, were accidentally precipitated down a steep embankment, while moving to the new camp. Fortunately no one was killed, though several were severely injured. The baggage wagons did not come up the first night, and the men were compelled to sleep in the open air, without blankets. A · report being brought in that the rebels were advancing on the Maryland side of the river, a detachment of one hundred men, consisting of ten from each Company, started out on a reconnoissance about one o'clock in the morning. Discovering no signs of the enemy, however, the force returned at daylight.

The Thirty-third was here for the first time brigaded, being placed, together with the Third Vermont and 6th Maine, under the command of Colonel, since General, W. F. Smith. The Second Vermont was afterwards attached to the Brigade. The time was principally employed in drilling, constructing rifle-pits, and a redoubt mounting three guns. There were repeated alarms during the stay here.

On one occasion word was received from General McClellan that the enemy had crossed the Potomac in large force, and were advancing upon the city. General Smith immediately ordered out his command, posting the Thirty-third behind a stone wall, where they remained until the returning cavalry scouts reported the alarm to be false. During the

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LEWINSVILLE-FALSE ALARMS.

49

latter part of the month one Company crossed the Long Bridge, on a reconnoissance, with a section of artillery and fifty cavalry, and proceeding on the Falls Church road, thence to Lewinsville, drove the rebel cavalry pickets to their camp at Vienna, arrested a prominent secessionist, and returned by way of Langley, reaching camp at sunset.

General McClellan, accompanied by President Lincoln, Secretaries Seward, Chase and Cameron, reviewed the Brigade on the 29th of August.

The following changes took place while here: Henry N. Alexander appointed Quarter-Master, vice H. S. Suydam, resigned.

Sylvanus Mulford, promoted to full Surgeon, vice T. R. Spencer, promoted to Brigade Surgeon.

Patrick Ryan, 2nd Lieutenant of Company K, resigned, succeeded by Edward Cary, who was immediately detailed to General Smith's staff.

Peter Weissgreber, Co. G, died in camp.

On the 3rd of September a detachment of fiftytwo men, from Companies C and D, crossed the river, and proceeding as far as Langley, threw out skirmishers to the right and left of the road. During the afternoon an alarm was created by the pickets coming upon General Porter's, stationed further to the left, who were mistaken for rebels. They were all immediately withdrawn, with the exception of three members of Company D, who refused to leave, in their eagerness to get a shot at the supposed grey-backs. This mistake provoked considerable merriment, although it resulted very

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unfortunately in the shooting of the most valuable spy in the employ of the government, who imprudently ventured beyond the line of skirmishers.

About eleven o'clock on the same evening the entire Brigade crossed over the Long Bridge. On reaching the Virginia shore the Thirty-third filed off in the fields at the left, Companies A, F and D being deployed in front, as skirmishers, for a mile or more. The remainder of the Regiment lay upon their arms all night, with the exception of a small party employed in cutting away timber which interfered with the artillery range.

Other troops, to the number of ten thousand, likewise crossed over that night, and eighteen hundred axes were immediately set to work in felling the dense forest of half-grown pines, where forts Marcy and Ethan Allen now stand. This location was christened Camp Advance. Numerous fortifications were constructed, and in three days' time heavy siege guns mounted. The troops always slept upon their arms, ready to repel an attack at a moment's notice. One night a severe rain storm washed several of the knapsacks belonging to the Thirty-third into a gully running near by, filled the band instruments with water, and drenched through to the skin all who were not provided with shelter. The arrival of tents on the 15th occasioned much joy among the men.

During the same day the æronauts reported the enemy as moving in large numbers, and the entire army slept on their arms. The "movement"

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