Page:Journal history of the Twenty-ninth Ohio veteran volunteers, 1861-1865.djvu/42

 cold, the fording of streams whose icy waters were often waist deep, and the general hardships, were sent to hospital at Cumberland, and never returned to duty. Returning the following day, the regiment bivouacked at a point some eight miles from the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, known as Pine Levels or the Heights of Hampshire. Here it remained some ten days exposed to the intense cold, without tents, few blankets, on short rations, and no cooking utensils. Rude brush enclosures were constructed, which served the same purpose as Artemus Ward's window sash, sort of "tangle the cold" or "keep out the coarsest." It was by the greatest effort that the men were kept from freezing. This sort of thing seemed a pretty tough introduction to the "Sunny South," but hardships of this kind became the normal experience of the Twenty-ninth regiment, and the sunny spots which occasionally intervened were duly appreciated.

The next move was to the eastward to Paw Paw station on the Baltimore & Ohio railroad, near which the Twenty-ninth and its brigade went into camp. February 22d, Washington's birthday, was duly observed. A general review was indulged in. The streets were prettily trimmed with evergreens; and arches, and other pretty devices were numerous. The Twenty-ninth were domiciled in small and nearly worn out wall tents.

On Saturday, March 1st, as the shades of evening were falling, the Twenty-ninth and its command marched with two days' rations, in the direction of Winchester, Virginia, the object being the capture of that important point. After an all night's march the command halted, and, in a blinding snow storm, waited for further orders. At 5 o'clock a counter-march was ordered, and at about midnight the old camp at Paw Paw was reached. The object of this move was to attend the remains of