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Hopewell, Va. We reached her [sic] yesterday
noon and pitched our camp amid
a drenching rain. However Joe
gave us an excellent dinner a
short time after. Capt. Arnold took
dinner with us and gave us a
brief account of his explorations
through Oregon. Went to bed last evening
with a severe headache. Better this
morning. Dr. Bland furnishes me
with a syringe and Eugene helps
me in trying to regain avuncular
power. We leave this place at 3p.m.
today. It is almost that now. * * * *General Hunter’s proclamation is
disturbing the body politic.
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At this house where I stopped. I find
a copy of Herodotus translated by
Cary, also a brush broom which
I have been needing so much lately
and a chair, which purchase of
the negroe [sic] in charge. Today I sent letters north.
23
I hardly know where we are
now other than it is a pleasant
spot somewhere in the woods on
the road to New Bridge. The negroes
and country people report us distant
about seven miles from Richmond.
We reached here two days since after
a most tedious march. We sent out
a reconnoitering [sic] party yesterday and
obtained most important information
concerning the enemy, and their probable
Page 136:
force on the other side of the Chickahominy.
There are various opinions held, some thinking
the enemy to be in large numbers, and some
not. But the natural question is constantly
being asked, where are the enemy? It is
certainly surprising that we are permitted
to approach so near to Richmond unmolested.
If the enemy intend to defend the line
of the Chickahominy why have two whole
corps of the army been allowed to cross
at Bottom’s Bridge? There must be at
least 50,000 of our troops on the other side of the Chickahominy today. Two days since and we were
much disturbed about our right, fearing
lest the enemy should attack us in
that quarter and from the rear. But
Capt. Arnold says we are all right now.
Franklin and Porter have their corps
in position and in his language
“Nothing can whip us now.”
