men realized that they were called to engage in their country's battles. Their love of home was equal to that of those who remained. But at the voice of duty there was scarcely a question with regard to the course to be taken. No large bounties from state and town were offered them. The monthly rate of wages was not thought of, nor even known by many.

The advantages resulting from being in the "line of promotion" found no place in the most fanciful imagination. It was undoubtedly true that an indifferent spectator might have discovered some vanity displayed in the pride of a prompt performance of duty; yet the members always counted it a necessary evil attendant upon a proper course of action.

They made claim to no peculiar sanctifying grace which exalted them above the weaknesses common to their race.

If the principles of Oberlin in her earlier years sent out the student, with his life in his hands, to speak against the flagrant evils of his time, the delicate lady to seek an opportunity to teach the oppressed and relieve their wants, the same principles in this later day prompted him to give his life into the hands of his country to seek a similar end by sterner means.

The company was mustered into the U. S. service for three months at Camp Taylor, April 30, 1861.

The roll presented the following names:

G. W. Shurtleff, Captain.
J. N. Cross, First Lieutenant.
E. H. Baker, Second Lieutenant.

Sergeants.

Corporals.

Privates.

The company was assigned to a place as Co. C in the Seventh Regiment of Ohio Volunteer Infantry, which was afterwards put under the command of Col. E. B. Tyler, Lieut. Col. Wm. R. Creighton, and Maj. Jno. S. Casement.

In compliance with an order from the State Military Department, Sunday morning, May 5, the regiment packed carpet sacks and took up line of march through the streets of Cleveland to the R. R. depot, to make its departure for Camp Dennison. It reached Columbus at 4 P. M., spent the night in that city, Co. C quartering in the State House, and arrived in camp at noon the following day. The men immediately proceeded to build barracks for the night, and, as it proved, for the remainder of their tarry at that place.

Much ingenuity was displayed by the various messes in arranging the interior of their miniature domicils, each fashioning its own to suit the taste, fancy, and convenience of the occupants. And yet they were all alike. Gravel walks, arbors and various other methods of adorning, soon converted these uncouth barracks into comparatively pleasant dwellings, such as might well move the envy of many a city pauper. The multitude of jokes, both stereotyped and irregular, served their part to create and preserve a healthy tone of humor, which otherwise might have taken on a type far more serious. He who could neither furnish merriment nor enjoy it, and had no affection but the chronic for any member, supplied the only lacking element to give the company all the varieties between the extremes of humor. The receptions of numerous packages of letters and luxuries from Oberlin and home, made bright spots in the history of their otherwise monotonous life at Camp Dennison.

From the beginning of the service, daily prayer meetings were established, which were usually held in the street between the barracks. Very frequently men of other companies would gather in, and there is reason to believe that more good was done than to create and preserve a lively, healthy, religious feeling in the company itself. The prevailing sentiment was emphatically in favor of religion; and if a small number were not themselves professing Christians, they were, at least, disposed in most cases to be moral, and to discountenance flagrant vices. Of this latter number, several were converted before their term of service expired; and of the former class, it is believed that few merit the dishonor of falling entirely from grace.

The company was divided into messes of about sixteen each. A chaplain was appointed in each, whose business it was to lead in morning or evening worship, or to see that such exercises were observed. This practice was retained in most of the messes throughout the service.

Thus Co. C became a rather peculiar people in a camp of thousands, the majority of whom could not be said to have deserved the reputation of being devoted followers of the Lord. It was not very uncommon to hear the sneer, "There goes an Oberlinite," or, "There is one of that praying company." And a superficial observer might have supposed they were generally despised by men of other companies; but a more thorough investigation in a private conference would generally betray a feeling very much like the opposite.

In spite of these sneers the men of Co. C did not think it best to give up their Christian profession, and those virtuous principles which were dearer to them than life, that they might thus be more completely in uniform with those who surrounded them. If there was a trick, or act of thievery, committed by any man of the company, great pains was taken by others to give it complete publicity, and to let the sound of it return to them for their humiliation. This was always regarded by Co. C as a compliment, proving that such acts were uncommon, and that others thought them to be so. The common sentiment was such that a profane word was seldom heard, and the use of the pipe was generally disapproved. The disposition of the few who wished to smoke, was modified and regulated by the