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May 31.
on board Steamship
“Illinois” off Cape
Henry”
I am to resume my diary
again under circumstances the
most peculiar of my life.
The links must be
few + slight that connect
this account with that brief
one two pages back.
After that assignment
to Thomas’ Brigade came quietly
the great work of the war in
which the corps I was serving
with player some part.
On the morning of the 3rd.
of April we entered the
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Capitol of Rebelldom amid
the explosion of a hundred
magazines and a frightful
conflagration.
Then we occupied
Manchester where I had
the honor of raising the
Stars + Stripes over that
wretched little town for
the first time since the
rebellion began—a little
thing truly, but nevertheless one
creating a great hubbub, it
would seem; since hardly
a letter from my friends
fail of mentioning it.
save L. w – i – s –
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In Manchester we were stationed
two weeks. Then we marched
to Petersburgh changing camp
twice.
On the 29th April
I was ordered to report to
But, Brig. Gen. Jackson Comdg
2nd. Div for duty + at once
reported.
A few days after we
were ordered to vicinity of
City Point + one week
ago we set out on this
Texas Expedition.
This morning I sent
by mail letters to all my
friends—excepting L. for
whom all along I was
intending to prepare a
lengthy letter; but by some
unaccountable manner
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omitted it at last.
I am sorry; but
she shall read this journal
for a letter instead—and
that is the way I will
punish myself.
But wont that be
a punishment for her?
We left our anchorage
in Hampton Road about 10 oclock
this forenoon, passing Fort
Munroe on the right and
the Rip Raps on the left, the
band of the 8th N.J. CT on
the hurricane deck playing
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“Columbia’s the gem of the
Ocean – ”
Soon after I challenged
Gen. Doubleday to a game
of chess + after a severe
contest of an hour I
“resigned.”
Then we had dinner
and afterward I “turned in”
with “Tony Butler” whom I find
to be a fine manly fellow
and the book oin the whole
quite readable.
Hawkes gives me a copy
of Longfellow’s Psalm of Life which
we sing in the Even’g to the
line of “Cocha chi lunk” [?] +c.
The lost Pleiad has taken
off his gold lace. And yet
he is a good fellow.
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The boat swings but a very
little indeed now + then is
little chance to be sea
sick; the Capt however
assures me that there
will be a good opportunity
yet before we reach Mobile
Bay.
I am not anxious.
I bear in mind
the finely described experience
on ship board of Henry
Ward Beecher and I
am looking for the same.
May I never find it. |
