June 26, 1861 – From Camp Dennison

Camp Dennison, June 19 — On last Sunday evening, when the camp was all quiet and peaceable, a great noise came from the eastern side of the camp, and a great hurrying to and fro was seen in the 10th regiment. It was soon ascertained that some of the 12th regiment had been over in the 10th, and in some way, not known, had raised a fracas, in which one of the guards was shot. In a few minutes the whole camp was alive. The 10th threatened to come over and whip the 12th regiment. As soon as the rumor reached the headquarters of the 3d Brigade, the 12th, 3rd and 13th regiments were ordered to form a line of battle in front of their respective quarters. In ten minutes time they were all out, and marched up toward the 10th and formed aline along the railroad. All were greatly excited; even some of the officers were so excited that they could not repeat the orders of General Sleigh’s Adjutant, Smith, who was in command. In the meantime the Guthrie Gray regiment was drawn up on the opposite side of the railroad to put down the riot. It was at first supposed to be the 10th, and all both officers and privates expected in less than five minutes time to be engaged in a deadly conflict. On ascertaining who they were and what their business was, there was a sense of relief came over all in the 3d Brigade and all were thankful that they should not be compelled to shed the blood of brothers who were there in the same cause in which they had enlisted. The western side were ordered to their quarters, and by the aid of their own officers the 10th was pursuaded to go back to their quarters and then a fight was put down, which might have ended the lives of many who had enlisted in an entirely different cause from that.