or similar games and read their bibles. Rations were plentiful throughout, consisting of coffee, flour, bacon, beef, sugar and sometimes rice and as such illness was kept to a marginal level. There were also those rations which nature provided in the form of wild game which led to interesting circumstances surrounding the introduction racoon meat by men of the Company H. This led some to declare they would not partake of such even in the smallest form for the sum of $1.00. However, after several of the men had indulged and found the dish palatable, supply began to suffer eventually running out. There was also one particular item which though prohibited found its way into the camp through extraordinary means. At Smithfield, brandy & whisky were readily available and though strict orders were given to the townsmen that such libations should not be sold to the men, they found their way yet into camp. It became so problematic that those returning from pass were inspected before entering and yet somehow such products still found themselves among the men. It was later discovered that the means by which the spirits were smuggled included hollowed out yams and even musket barrels. As such, many a man found themselves doing doubled guard duty or at times facing sterner punishment for breach of military order. As February came to a close rumors began to abound of an early start to operations due in part to the mild winter. Private Benjamin William Jones of Company I in another letter dated February 10 put it as follows: "matters seem shaping themselves for active operations, and the spring campaign is expected to open early. The armies on the Peninsula are astir, though it is yet winter, and fighting may occur at some point very soon." March 1862 March began much like the end of the preceding month with rumors of active operation, yet little but idleness to occupy the regiments time. Change however was afoot and soon rumor became reality with the commencement of the Peninsula Campaign. . On the 17th, Union General George B. McClellan with a flotilla of 300 vessels transported both man and machine to Fortress Monroe on the tip of the Virginia peninsula with hopes of marching on to the confederate capital of Richmond . This prompted General Robert E. Lee to issue orders to Colston's brigade that should attack fall upon Major