the 21st left the naval yard. Escorted by the 3rd Regiment of Georgia, they took the Norfolk & Petersburg train to Zuni and from there marched to Camp Cook arriving the following day. The feeling of idleness was also present within the regiment who described themselves as "being buried at Smithfield" so much so that on the 9th of the month, Colonel Pryor sent a secret dispatch to his friend James M. Mason requesting that he leverage his power as a Virginia congressmen to secure transfer to a more active regiment whatever their present disposition may be. The following is an excerpt from that letter: "In my present situation, I foresee no possible chance of meeting the enemy. For the chance of striking a blow for my country, I will give up the command of a well drilled regiment." On the 29th at the Halifax County Court Day, The Halifax Rifles were organized into ranks designating them the 15th company to be formed from such area. An accounting of Arms during the month showed that like other regiments within the state, the 3rd had no consistency and weaponry varied from company to company. Company C had the finest arms within the regiment being .54 Caliber Mississippi Rifles, Companies F & H were armed with .69 Caliber Flintlocks altered to use percussion caps. The remainder of the regiment appear to have been armed with standard flintlocks of which it was stated by one Major Wilson of unknown affiliation "These men are brave, but the inferiority of their arms produces a feeling of insecurity among them". As the month came to a close, it was marked by training of the Surry Light Artillery (Company I). Colonel Pryor was determined that this company would become a well drilled infantry company and as such enlisted Sergent William H. Bloxom of Company H to drill them in such endeavors. Colonel Pryor would later rescind these intentions after witnessing the company's proficiency at the artillery range in which they scored direct hits on all four of their targets. September 1861 September as a whole held ups and downs for the regiment. On September 11, Captain Alonzo B. Jordan of Company B resigned his position due to illness and was replaced by the company adjutant John W. H. Wrenn. He would later return to service as a private in the 41st Virginia Regiment. About the same time,