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

Thurs. [October] 2nd [1862]

rode horse to Central Park in rain, & bot him
for $150 -- packed up & 2, left N.Y. for Camp
Cadwallader at Beverly - with Mr. H Joe & Willie
Stopd. a fight bet. two soldiers on boat in virtue of
my shoulder straps. Gen Geo Robeson recd us very
cordially also Col. [Andrew] Derrom -- Jno [Henry Baggs] & horse arrived
stopd. at the Summers boardg house with Gen & Staff
attended barrack prayer meetg.

Wed. Oct 1 [1862]

expected & made ready to go to Camp today
but heard Regt. would not move at present -- So wrote
up money affairs. tried horse of Capt Otis -- John cold.
boy whom I engaged as servant John Henry
Baggs -- lived with Mr. Thurston -- rain all day

Tues [September] 30 [1862]

Called on Shaws -- & Sue bade her good bye --
Then out with Lelia ordering outfit, & camp equipage
Did a great deal -- Went to Paterson at 2. with
Mr. H. Mr. Suart came to ferry & pres offered $20 to
me for books for Regt. Packed up & bade good bye
at Mr. Perrys -- made 17 calls -- went to N.Y. with
Tilly Mr. H & children -- packed up. found all but
boots had come -- called at Stuarts, up till
1 1/2 oclk.

The Shaws on whom Butler called may possibly be family of Francis George Shaw whose children included Susannah "Sue" Shaw, later Minturn, and Colonel Robert Gould Shaw.

Monday [September] 29 [1862]

very busy in New York ordering outfit &c
drove to Cent. Park with Henry, (Staid at his house,
on return made calls - . P.C. called with his wife.

Sun [September] 28 [1862]

My last Sab. before going to the war --
Attended meetg. to organize a mission school --
Preached twice -- addressed S. School & P.M. prayer meetg.
Morn. audience large -- Eveg. crowded to excess & hundred
went away. Afternoon prayer meeting very tender &
affective -- It is great grief for me to leave a people
so attached & sympathizing. Cloudy out -- Stars clear
as we came out -- Shook hands with many a[t] close of
service -- May God bless us all --