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In Bangor Me 3

expecting to go in a Co. by themselves under Henry C Merriam as Captain but he staid at home a little to long so that our possy was crowded out and orderd to Portland to help make up another Regt which was called the 20th Maine Vols.

I was sorely disapointed to leave my brother, and so many old schoolmates, but, military laws are arbitrary and obey we must, so we marched away to the R. R. Depot and started on to Portland. When we arrived at camp we saw there was but few of our squad yet on the ground but in 48 hours there was more than a thousand men on the ground and but few tents to accomodate them, but we was not destitute long before we wer well supplied. Measles soon broke out in the Regt which began to take away our men which was the first cause of our losses. Then Recruting officers wer allowed to come into camp and take men that wished to change into old regt's in the field, so that in a short time we wer redused below a thousand men.