Bully for Old Lancaster, Cock-a-Doodle Doo

In the second week of August 1862, Union General Don Carlos Buell and Confederate General Braxton Bragg began putting their armies in motion.  Bragg put his army in motion to strike north into Kentucky, and Buell started shuffling his deployments as he myopically reacted to bits and pieces of information.  For the 79th Pennsylvania, this mostly meant staying put on detached duty around Manchester, Tennessee, repairing telegraphs and fortifying bridges.

Gen. William Sooy Smith
(Source)

Various Union brigades passed through, including one of U.S. Regulars, and this socialization within the army had the effect of enhancing the self-perception of the Lancaster County Regiments as one of the best drilled and disciplined in the whole army.  As Fencibles band member O.C.M. Caines put it,

A few days after our boys got into camp, and had cleaned up their equipments and arms, we had a regimental drill and parade.  The General [William Sooy Smith] was present, and complimented the Colonel (and us) by saying we were not only the best drilled, but decidedly the cleanest regiment he had yet seen in the service.  Bully for old Lancaster, cock-a-doodle doo, two or three times, with several cackles, from the egg producers. 

Col. Hambright's men yearned for battle honors to back up what they could do a parade ground.  Caines continued, fatefully, "One thing certain, if we are not a fighting Regiment, we are a travelling one, but who knows there may be luck in store for us yet."

The following letter, by Hospital Steward John B. Chamberlain, was published in the August 16, 1862, Daily Inquirer: (alternate link)


Also, this letter, by O.C.M. Caines, was published in the August 16, 1862, Daily Inquirer: (alternate link)