Rawn's Service Diary of Capt. Eby Byers’ Company of Cavalry, in September, 1862,
Copied from the original, in June 1893,

[in the left margin] Service of Independent Cavalry Company, commanded by Capt. Eby Byers, September 1862.

Rawn’s Diary

Sept. 9 – I attended meeting at Farmer’s Hotel (B. G. Peters) at 10 to 11 A.M, and acted as Chairman, to form company of Cavalry for home defence and purposes of scouting and reconnoissance, and adjourned to meet at 10 A.M, to-morrow.

Sept. 10 – x x x I met Cavalry Company as yesterday, at 10 A.M. at Peter’s Hotel. Elected and chose Eby Byers Capt., J.B. Boyd 1^st and Frank Murrey 2^nd B.G. Peters 2^nd, 2^nd Lieuts. Adjourned to meet for drill at 7 ½ P.M. I filled up my requisition, {2 unrecognizable words}, for our arms and we drew 80 sabres, 80 pairs of pistols and holsters.—did it at request Of Officers, and they drew the arms. We met at 4 P.M., and severally got our {crossed out word} sabres, pistols, holsters and belts and marched around a few squares and back to the hotel and dismissed to meet at 7 ½ P.M. Meet at time, marched to the Capitol grounds and were drilled by W. Harris, don of G.W.H., til between 8 and 9 P.M., there marched into Market square and dismissed.

Sept 11. – x x x Meet Cavalry for drill at Peters, at 7 ½ A.M. We marched beyond Paxton Creek and drilled an hour or more. Meet Cavalry {illegible} Peters’ 7 ½ P.M.

Sept 12. – x x I was trying horses from Calder’s Stables, after hearing report, till near noon – tried two-sorrel horse and sorrel mare. Was at Governor’s and Adjutant General’s rooms before dinner, on subject of reporting our Company of Cavalry for duty, with Capt. Byers {.} We met on horseback at 4 P.M at Peter’s Hotel for drill and paraded to hill and reported to Adjutant General Russell, ready to go when they gave us amunition. We drilled and paraded round till about 6 P.M. Attended special meeting for business of our company at Peter’s at 7 to 8 ½ P.M.

Sept 13. – x x x x Troops met at Peter’s Hotel at 3 to 4, to get ready to move southward. I go to-day {"the" inserted with arrow} sorrel mare {"I" inserted with arrow} tried yesterday. Great time with fellows getting their horses and things ready. At 4 ½ to 5 ½ P.M., we went to the Capitol – received final orders and about 7 P.M. bid good-bye to Harrisburg for a time for the borders of the State, with some 40 to 50 men, including Officers, orderly and bugler named Geo. Becker. Arrived at Mechanicsburg, 7 miles, about 9 P.M. Here received by men, women and children crowding streets and shouting and making demonstrations of pride, pleasure, exhultation, tc. Halted there but a short time, and proceeded to Carlisle 9 miles farther, which we reached about 11 ½ P.M. Stopped at Byer’s hotel – attended to our horses, washed ourselves and got supper about an hour after midnight, and to bed about two hours after, the boys generally bunking it on the floor in a large parlor – some going to bed – myself among the rest – and some of them keeping up a grand racket and noise till after 3 O’clock.