This morning as I was
quietly reading the Bible, Lieut. W.
my brother aide comes rushing in
with the exclamation: “Yorktown has
been evacuated and our division
reembarks [sic] at once.”
5,, All was hurry and
confusion throughout all of yesterday
At night we ran out into the
bay and this morning early we
sailed for Yorktown. Before sitting
down to breakfast we were anchored
beneath the frowning but deserted
batteries of the rebels on the one
side Gloucester, on the other Yorktown. The severe storm could
not prevent us from desiring to
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visit these celebrated fortifications,
and many did so. I went in
company with Col. Jackson Heath.
The enemy seem to have left in a
great hurry abandoning immense
quantities of ordnance stores. We
had to move around very carefully
to avoid the Torpedoes. Col. Jackson
stepped about very lightly. Guards
were stationed throughout the
town to prevent persons from going
where it was suspected they were.
I picked a few leaves and brought
them away with me for souvenirs.
In the evening the General
sends me for a tug [?] to bring
off 10 bales of hay.
