Portrayal of Private William Webb, Civil War Soldier of the 29^th Connecticut Volunteers

So we were off.  We took a steamship, “The Warrior,” down to Annapolis, Maryland. Now, there in Maryland, we had to stay two weeks. But, while we were there, we were digging, and we were digging, and we were digging. 

But, some soldiers didn’t like that. I mean we were used to working hard with our hands.  So one gentleman stood up and said,
 “I didn’t come here to work; I want to be free.”

Freedom! Said it sounds good and it sounds nice. Got to be free!

But that’s what our fight was; because we were US soldiers, we had to do our part just like every other solider, so we worked. Then we got our first taste of battle. Before our first taste of battle, we had another stop at Hilton Head. Now, they tell me that Hilton Head is this great vacation place where people go to relax.

But back then war and battle was going on.  When our first taste of battle came,
“29th fall in line” - “Sir, William, Joseph, and Jonathan.”

We were off to Bermuda Hundred, Virginia.