Page 134: May1862 20,,
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.
Page 135:
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.”
Page 133:
1862 May 16 White House PointSick today. A species of the
Scrofula [?] troubling me again—
very uncomfortable. Looks like
poison. Am anxious about it.
17,,
Don’t move today, although
the order was for us to be in
readiness to move—at noon.
My sickness increasing today.
18,, Sunday
Attended a very interesting
service today at Mr. Colt’s the 96th Pa.
Was exceedingly pleased thereby.
Am better today. Attended service at 5th. Me, this p.m.
Carthaginem delendum esse.
Page 132: May1862 14,,
Cumberland Rainy today. Kept
my horse saddled all day, and
performed duty alone, Wead being
sick. Our camp is pitched in a plowed
field, a most wretched spot.
15
Moved this morning at
four o’clock. Took charge of the
head quarter’s baggage. Roads
very heavy. Met Harlan Cobb
with his engineer comrades pushing
on Capt. Duane’s train. Did a
great deal of work before night and
got sick thereby. Slept in a negroe [sic]
hut with a dozen others and suffered
horribly before morning. I have found
something else that may be put among
the “horrors of war.” Horrible visu [?]
Page 131:
1862 May 12,,Visited Mrs. Jennings today
and heard her testimony in favor
of the Union; also her experience
in trying to maintain our cause.
Col. Simpson of the N.J. 4th accom-
panied me. Some one [sic] has called him
“Our Havelock.”
13
We moved this morning
at “sharp” four o’clock and reached
Cumberland this evening noon.
The Negroe [sic] women by the road
side dancing and singing from
exccesive [sic] joy at our arrival—
The alarm—Encampment in
a plowed field—Tents do not
come till late in the evening—
the General furious. Trip with Purdy, and the Union
refugee found when I was lost.
Page 130: May1862 11,,We change quarters today
pushing our encampments several
miles beyond Eltham. An interesting incident occurred.
McClellan came up and visited
our division—his magnificent
reception—my participation in it—
Prince de Joinville and Count de Paris—
the Duc de Chartres—the interview
between the field officers of our division
and McClellan. Said the latter—“Oh
I want to carry all those boys back
with me to the North.” The little Virginian boy and
his delightful conversation, with McClellan.
Norfolk taken and the
Merrimac blown up.
The troops are boiling over with enthu-
siasm, and eager to push on.
Page 129:
1862 May 10 ElthamYesterday I was placed in
charge of the head quarter’s baggage
and arrived at this place with
it about four o’clock p.m. The
roads were beautiful and the
country is the very finest that
I ever saw in Virginia. I am
writing this in the large country
home of Mr. R. J. Lacy who is
undoubtedly in Richmond or
further to the South. It is an old
residence—probably one hundred and
fifty years. The rooms are large
and airy. We have our head quarters
established in the front yard,
Genl. Franklin occupying the
house.
Page 127:
1862 May 9 Near West Point This is a very warm
day indeed and we are preparing
to move, as fast as possible. We
have no transportation yet, and
this is what puts us back. We have a large number of
troops here just now. Genl. Porter’s
division has come up. But although
he ranks Genl. Franklin, he will
not take command of only his
own division and the regulars.
Thus Genl. Franklin will have two
divisions placing I suppose Genl.
Slocum in command of one. They say the woods are very
dense along the way that we
shall have to take. Wead has
gone out to examine bridges that
will probably have to be rebuilt. I learn that Kearneys A.A.G.
Page 128:
and one of his A.D.C.’s [?] fell at
Williamsburg. I knew both of them
by sight, Wilson and Barnard
were their names. Such is war Capt. Montgomery, A.A.G. of Newton’s
staff had a narrow escape + so
did Gen. Franklin’s A.D.C. Baker in
our own fight of the 7th. My position is
quite as exposed as any and in
the general engagement that will
come off probably at Bottom bridge
their [sic] will be no difference.
This is the anniversary day of
my baptism. Let me celebrate it
by earnest prayer and meditation.
Shall I ever forget the examination
of the Negro brought into camp and
suspected of being a spy? Especially
Lt. Col’s mode of questioning.
Page 122: May April1862
Near to 8
West Point, Va. We reached here
night before last and commenced
debarkation at once. The enemy
was going on and immediately
our gun boats opened upon
them. So soon as a few
companies had been landed
they were deployed as skirmishes [?]
Two prisoners were brought in
just after dark. Some firing
also was heard, and we lost
an officer killed. These prisoners
were carried to Genl. Franklin
for examination and afterward
confined on board of the
Spaulding. Some contrabands
were brought in reporting that
a large force of the enemy
was near by [sic]. So the troops were
Page 123:
hurried off as rapidly as possible.
Genl. Newton’s first, then Slocum’s and
then Col. Taylor’s. It was late in the
night when all got off. The batteries
were got off just at day break. We were in no condition to
push forward at once. So parties
were sent out to block up the
approaches to our position. Toward
morning Report came that the
enemy were removing these ob-
structions. This looked like an
attack on us. So we began to
redouble our efforts to be ready
for them. Genl. Franklin hurried
ashore to consult with Slocum
and Newton. He expected the
attack would commence about
four o’clock in the morning but
that time passed and still
no disturbance excepting a few
random picket shots.
Page 124:
So soon as it was fully day
break I laid down to sleep,
and awoke at about half
after nine, I should judge. A little while after I was
standing in my tent when I
heard a few discharges of musketry –
then a few more—and finally it
became a continuous dropping
fire, lasting for perhaps three minutes.
Then it ceased entirely. The General
was soon aroused. We thought
it to be a general attack on our pickets. Pretty soon it commenced
again along our entire line, when
, the general, being in command,
ordered the disposition of our
troops for battle. This made lively
work for us on the staff.
About quarter past ten
the ball [?] opened. The regiments
Page 125:
in advance gradually moved up
to support the skirmishing line
and soon were in the woods. Our
batteries were posted with Platt’s
on the right, Porter’s in the center,
and Hexeimer’s [?] on the left. We
had a telegraph of sentinels running
from the main hospital to the
front, and over it came every
little while the expressions:-
“our pickets retreating”, “The enemy
advancing”, “heavy vollies at
close action,” +c. +c. The fight continued
until about two when the
enemy had approached much
nearer. Porter’s battery was
ordered to throw shell into
the woods. The enemy replied
with their artillery, firing some
shot at the gunboats. They
responded at once sending
Page 126:
their 9 inch and 11 inch shell
shrieking through the air. The
firing of the musketry though
continued grew fainter and
fainter until it entirely ceased
to be heard. The enemy were
falling back. It was now about three
o’clock p.m., and the wounded
were being rapidly brought in.
Hexeimer’s battery a short time
after were ordered to shell the
woods on our left and that
ended the day’s work. We cannot
estimate accurately of course as
to the number lost but some say
100, others 200, and some even more. Jimmie behaved very well, but
says that he was in a hot
place several times.
Page 120: May April1862 6
Yorktown, Va. This morning we
hear conflicting rumors of the
engagement of yesterday. McClellan
commanded in person. Kearney
is said not to have handled
his division with much skill, and
on the whole the battle was a
drawn one. I have no doubt the
enemy will magnify it into a
“repulse of the enemy” and appear
much elated. But as sure as the
sun shines Richmond must fall.
Our division steams up to West
Point day where we shall land and
entrench ourselves. Thus we begin
the investment of the rebel capitol.
Meanwhile McDowell is safe and
will hurry up to join us in the
grand strike. Banks is coming down
and will join us.
Page 121:
The steamers that have come
up to serve as hospitals are
fast filling up. I should not
be surprised if we had a
thousand wounded. A week since the Rebel
congress were beginning to leave
the capital in terror. The papers
ridiculed them for cowardice.
But when news came of the
evacuation of Yorktown it must
have startled the inhabitants.
Many suppose that they are beginning
to leave Richmond now, and
that the opposition yesterday
at Williamsburg was only to
gain time. This may be true.
Some predict that we shall
be in Richmond by a week’s
time.
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
Page 119:
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.
