Fri [October] 3 [1862]

Foggy in Morng. -- Cleared off warm & even hot.
Mr. Crane & Mr. Halstead came on visit rode
twice to see men bathe & wash clothes -- Joe rode
my horse some -- & after dinner Mr. H's boys went
home at Mr. C. & H at Eveg. At Morng drill Mr. H
made a speech -- & gave some books -- soon after
Co. K asked me to present a sword to Lt. Col.
Ayres in the[ir]. behalf. I did so -- & he replied.
At eveg parade the Col. introduced me to Comp.
officers -- attended py meeting in Barracks --
At 10 -- just as I sat down to write in Col. tent -- Officer of
Guard appeared with three men & three women taken outside
of lines -- after roll call -- & reported others off. the col ordered
out a Co. with loaded muskets -- to scare neighborhood
& strengthen camp guard -- I went with Lt. Col. Ayres on
long tramp thro. corn fields & potatoe patches by
moonlight -- when we returned to camp the Regt.
was roused fr. bed & roll called to discover
absentees. It is now going on -- got boots wet
thro with dew. Some of the men attempted to
get in -- were challenged by guards --& ran -- the
guards fire some half dozen shots -- but no one
hit -- I heard the balls whiz -- past me as I stood
near Col Tent -- & arrests were made all night.

Enoch J. Ayres, Lt Colonel of the 25th New Jersey