After tying off, the regiment was marched ashore. Nothing was found but a simple log structure that was used as a store before the war. The area was heavily timbered with a dense under growth. Despite it being mid-November, there was still a significant amount of leaves on the trees and brush.
Since they were in enemy territory, a strong picket guard was detailed. Company F (William Fleming's company) and another company were given the assignment. Charles Johnson described the rest of the night this way:
The men were marched out the distance of a mile from the regiment, broken up in squads of four, and with freshly loaded guns, awaited any cause for alarm. There was no disturbance, but being in the enemy's country was an entirely new experience, and though there may not have been an armed Confederate within fifty miles, it is safe to say that in the whole regiment but few eyes closed that night in sleep. Six months later, so inured had most of us become to war's alarms, that sweet and refreshing sleep was often taken directly under fire.
