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Volume 1

May 30, 1862

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 Page 141:
May
30
Mechanicsville

 

A terrible rain storm has
come on this afternoon and almost
drowned us all. At any rate we
were cleared out of the tent and
our blankets soaked. The thunder
was terrific.
Since living here on the
outposts we have enjoyed ourselves
wonderfully. We live splendidly, as
Capt. Hopkins says “on the fat of the
land.” We have had strawberries
at almost every meal, and for
vegetables lettuce, green peas, onions,
and potatoes.
We go back to our old
headquarters this evening.

May 28, 1862

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 Page 139:
May
28
[bracket] At 3 o’clock this morning
I was aroused out of a very deep
sleep by Capt. Rodgers [carrot: A.A.G.] saying that
the General was going to Mechanicsville
and that his aides-de-camp were
to accompany him. However we did
not get off till nearly day break,
reaching Mechanicsville about six o’clock.
After taking some breakfast
at Col. Howland’s head quarters we
rode out to examine the positions.
Our batteries posted so as to command
the Turnpike were visited first and
then the picquets. I went out and
brought in the officer commanding the
cavalry videttes.
About ten o’clock the General
sent me with a scout to examine
Meadow bridge and post a vidette
to carefully watch it. I did so
returning just before dinner.

 

Page 140:

 

May.
After dinner we were very quietly
chatting among ourselves when the
Major commanding Cavalry and his
Adjutant came galloping up and
exclaiming that the enemy had ap-
peared and were about to cross
the bridge in force. This of course
startled us all. But it proved to
be only a stampede of the worst
sort in which I played a very
prominent part. [bracket]

 

28,,

 

Today General Slocum went out
in company with a force of cavalry
and examined Meadow bridge.
This evening it is to be burnt.
Today we have had poetry and
I have struck a vein with Wilson,
who is a good fellow.

May 27, 1862

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 Page 138:
May
27,,
Still encamped in the
same place. Have been busily engaged
in arranging details of the coming
fight which it is expected will come
off within a few days.
Heavy firing of both musketry
and cavalry has been distinctly
heard all day in the direction
of the railroads. This evening report
comes to us that the enemy have
been repulsed with great slaughter
by Genl. Porter at both Hanover C.H.
and Hanover Junction. He has taken
it is said nearly a thousand prisoners,
and every hour the number is
increasing.
This is good news
and cheers the hearts of us all.

May 25 – 26, 1862

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 Page 137:
1862 May
25,, Sunday
7 miles
from RichmondWe move our division up two
miles nearer today. The enemy are
found to be close in and about Richmond.
Still the left of our Army has already
crossed the Chickahominy, and has moved
up five miles from the bridge toward the
city. Are they going to let us get close
under the walls before any resistance is
offered? Or what are they going to do?

 

26
We are encamped in a
very pleasant spot and are enjoying
ourselves splendidly. The enemy threw
a few shell among our camp last
evening, no doubt occasioned by
some of our men showing themselves
imprudently at the river’s bank.

May 20 – 23, 1863

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 Page 134:
May 1862
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.”

May 16 – 18, 1862

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 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.

May 14 – 15, 1862

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May 1862
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 [?]

May 12 – 13, 1862

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 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.

May 11, 1862

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 Page 130:
May 1862
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.

May 10, 1862

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 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.

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