.NDY.MjI4

4 In Portland, Me

We remained in camp doing guard duty and drilling for some time till at last I got a pass for a few days to return to Levant to see my wife and friends before takeing final leave for the seat of war. On my return to camp I met Major C D Gilmore [Charles D. Gilmore] at Herman Pond station and made his acquaintense and he sent his sword to the Regt by me rather than to be botherd with it while stoping on the way to see friends. He was at that time Maj' of our regt and ever after proved to be a whole harted man. While at camp Mason Lieut Colonal J L Chamberlin [Joshua L Chamberlain] was presented with a fine gray horse by the ladies of Brunswick. The Colonel of the 20th Me was Adelbert Ames, a West Point graduate and proved that his training was not in vain. After much drilling, Camp guard and cleaning we wer uniformed and on the 29th day of August '62, we wer mustered into the United States service for three years, unless sooner discharged by proper authority. We got our [?] and I sent $70 home by express