April 5, 1862

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 Page 81:
April
Manassas 5,,
I write this within five
miles of the battlefield [carrot: of] last July.
As we rode by the spot where
our army [?] suffered that fatal reverse
my heart was moved.
This morning it rained
quite hard, and it seemed very
uncomfortable. But Joe gave us
an excellent breakfast.
This noon our horses came
up. Mine looked gaunt enough,
though in pretty good condition.
This afternoon it was determined
to send out a picket force, and
Lt. Wead, myself and a guide who was
formerly in the Rebel army went out
to reconnoitre. [sic]
We rode about six miles.
The guide showed us the place
to which the Prince William cavalry
pursued him last evening. I

 

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obtained information from him
sufficient to make a useful
map of this section of the country.
Coming in this evening I found
a man here by the name of Gillespie
a Union Refugee, who had escaped
from the rebels and found his
way to our lines. He was formerly
a Professor in St. James College and
a graduate at University of Virginia.
He talks very intelligably [sic] and seems
true to the cause.
Fresh troops continue to arrive.