Sun [October] 12 [1862]

At g. b Took Capt McKennan to Young Board
man at Hospital. he prescribed for him -- At 9 A.M.
Regt. all marched with transportation wagons to East
Capitol Hill where whole of the raw cold day was
spent in encamping -- at Eveg. had short religious
exercise & Col & I returned to Browns Hotel.

Private William J. Boardman of Co. H.

Sat [October] 11 [1862]

for Washg. slow, arrived about 3 P.M.
men slept in Barracks -- Col. Adjt. & I reported to Gen
Casey -- rec. us cordially a member of Pres. Ch --
asked me to explain a verse in Jno. for his edification
very affable -- Col & I spent night at Brown's
Hotel.

General Silas Casey (1807-1882)

Fri [October] 10 [1862]

Henry & Son, Tilly Mr H & children all came -- a drizzly
day. Struck tents -- drew up in line -- I offered short prayer
& we marched to Delaware & took boat for Phila
broke open bbls of bread for men -- & distributed mails. At Phila.
^'men &' Officers took dinner at refreshment saloon. I bot. camp
chests & dined with Henry, Col. D[errom] & Mr. Cope -- cars at eveg
for Balto. whole regt. march in same 18 cars -- arived -
Balto. 3. a m all marched on foot across city -- hot --
muddy -- dark rainy morng -- tolerable breakfast in Saloon
& cars

Thurs [October] 9 [1862]

Very hot visited School with Mrs Derrom -- very busy.
Review by Gens [Innis Newton] Palmer & [George M.] Robeson -- letters fr Home --
Dr. Boardman & ladies here -- Attended prayer
meetg. in Eveg Col D. spoke & prayed -- I also --
Every Co. represented. moonlight night
Ordered to march tomorrow at 10 A.M.
May the Lord go with us -- Several gentlemen fr.
Patterson visited us.

Wed [October] 8 [1862]

Wm came at night -- Went to Phila. on business dined
with Dr. B. have to parade -- spent eveg. at py. meetg &
with Gen. Palmer, a classmate of McClellan -- very hot.

Innis Newton Palmer (1824-1900)

Tues [October] 7 [1862]

Fine -- warm -- slept warm last night tho. a cold night,
held com. meetg, also entered on duties as Post Master.

Mon [October] 6 [1862]

Went with Wm. Col D[errom] & Gen R[obeson] to Trenton took oath &
was mustered into Service W.S. Called on Gov. & Mrs Stock-
ton, met some pretty girls there -- also at Rev N. V. Germans.
returned at noon train to Camp. Attended Battalion drill &
dress parade -- In Eveg Meetg of officers on Administration
I was elected post master of Regt. & furnished with a
man to do the work -- Called at Hospital -- Peter W. on guard
challenged me -- & I found countersign not out --
One of Sentries sd last night -- Whos there, "Officer with Counter-
sign". That's right (sd. he) officer with countersign pass in Sir". I
instructed
him better however -- tonight up came a man to Col. for a
pass to go coon hunting -- had a dog [?] $15 -- &c -- couldn't get it. Didn't
come here to hunt coons -- Shortly he was in Guard house, for
chasing his coon dog over lines -- was appointed on Care of
Regt. mess -- Slept cold last night

New Jersey Governor in 1862 was Charles S. Olden. Butler may have seen Robert Field Stockton of New Jersey a naval hero who had served briefly as Military Governor of California.

Peter W. may possibly be Private Peter Warren of the 25th

Sun [Oct] 5 [1862]

Fine day -- but high wind. Col. had ordered
two public services one at 11, voluntary, & one at 4
P.M. & all present. Many of Regt. went to dift. chs. in
town in morn. Roman Cath. Ch Soldiers to Burlington
to Ch. In Pen. Regt but Still good attendance
preached without notes -- on "Quit you like men" --
Drums piled for pulpit -- Stop Field officers on left -- spoke
with some fervor -- In P.M. whole regt. in hollow
square thus [a sketch inserted at this point in text] some hundreds of spectators present
at close of services -- (the men stood except during sermon when they sat.)
& uncovered only in prayer -- also - Gen. R[obeson]. & staff -- Mr. Tilb &
others present -- beautiful sight -- flags placed behind me.
At close the prisoners were marched in front of pulpit, & on
promise not to offend again -- were pardoned -- I spoke a few
words to them, at Col. request; Some twenty prisoners
In Eveg addressed prayer meetg at Prs. ch -- about 50 soldiers
present.

Sat [October] 4 [1862]

Organized choir --extemporarily -- fine showers at
night. Attended in position at Gen. Robeson's review.
William surprised & delighted me by walking into
my tent -- this Eveg -- Attended Barracks prayer meetg.
tea at Mr. Parkes.

General George M. Robeson (1829-1897) A Republican party politician from New Jersey. Later in President Grant's cabinet and a U.S. congressman.

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