Chapter 6, Farming Summary

The men go to Washington and set up camp. There they are given proper uniforms of heavy blue wool with a black leather belt. Charley is paid for the first three months of his service, thirty-three dollars. He gets a pass to leave camp to see the sights, but it rains most of the time. He returns early. He buys two apple pies at twenty-five cents each, keeps four dollars for himself and sends the rest home to his mother. He includes a short note saying that he has been in a battle and that he was "scart." He also tells his mother that he cannot come home.

The men continue waiting for the next battle, all the while drilling and waiting some more. A new commander whose name is McClellan is assigned to them, and most of the men like...