A pontoon bridge spanned the Potomac river a short distance above the railroad bridge, over which the armies passed. When we marched across the pontoon, orders were given to “break step,” least the swing of the time step would break the bridge. This bridge was laid on boats that were lashed together side by side, and anchored in the river, on these stringers were laid and a floor on the stringers, rails were placed on the edge to keep the wagons from slipping over. This, however did not prevent some from going over, for I saw two wagons with their teams lying overturned on the bottom of the river. While in the town we went into the old engine house called “John Brown’s Fort” where he put up his stubborn fight against the Virginia militia. The loop holes through which he fired were still there. Every time we passed through this town was on a Saturday, so we nick-named it “Harper’s Weekly.” SHOOTING DESERTERS. A chain of forts encircled Baltimore, Maryland, from Fort No. 1 on Baltimore street to Fort No. 12 in Druid Hill Park. Details were made from the men at our fort for guard duty at these outposts. One guard at each fort to remain all day, his duty being to keep a strict watch. One day, (I being on duty at Fort 11), a squad of twelve cavalrymen came on a full gallop down the road past the fort. Just as they came opposite to where I was standing guard, the officer in command shouted, “There they are, fire.” A volley from their carbines followed and two men who were in a field running through the high wheat threw up their hands and tumbled over dead. I heard afterward that they were deserters trying to escape from Lafayette Barracks. The discipline was severe, some may think too much so, but it was necessary in order to control the great variety of characters that made up the army. When our company first came to Fort No. 1 we found the guard house full of rough men of the New York Artillery, and we were detailed to guard them. Of all low, rough New York toughs, these were surely the worst. They took great pleasure in guying the boys fresh from home, and their actions were disgusting. Luckily they went away in a short time. One night two of them attempted to break guard and escape. Our boys who were on guard fired at them, and alarmed the garrison. A search squad was at once formed and the two men were found lying on their faces in the ditch surrounding the fort, nearly frightened to death. They were taken back to the guard house saying, “they did not think the century plants would shoot,” but they did. These fellows had a better opinion of us after that episode.