Chapter 7, Town Life Summary

Returning to the camp in Washington, the soldiers spend three months, finally building log shelters and trying to keep warm and dry as winter approaches. They even name some of the pathways in the camp for towns in Minnesota. Many more men become ill as the weather worsens.

McClellan is rumored to be afraid to fight. The men love and respect him, but rumors circulate that Lincoln wants a fight taken to the Rebels very soon. Nothing happens, however, and the men spend another month with their spirits and physical health deteriorating with the weather. They even hear that the entire New York regiment has deserted. The truth comes out later that it was only four men and that they were caught and shot by firing squads.

The conditions in the camp worsen. The men from Minnesota at least...