May 24th.–The enemy are landing at Georgetown. With a little more audacity where could they not land? But we have given them such a scare, they are cautious. If it be true, I hope some cool-headed white men will make the negroes save the rice for us. It is so much needed. They say it [...]

24th.–Another day of inaction near Gaine’s Mill, on the Chickahominy. An instance of petty despotism occurred to-day. I was sick, confined to my bed. We were approaching Richmond, with prospect of a fight. The Division Surgeon procured an order from General Smith, detailing me to organize and take charge of a hospital at Liberty Hall. [...]

Flat Top Mountain, May 23, 1862. Friday. – Warm and dry; getting dusty!! Mr. French lies here wounded – his thigh bone shattered by a ball that passed clear through his leg. Dr. McCurdy thinks he will not survive more than three or four weeks. . . . Our regiment elected him chaplain a week [...]

MAY 23d.—Oh, the extortioners! Meats of all kinds are selling at 50 cts. per pound ; butter, 75 cts.; coffee, $1.50; tea, $10; boots, $30 per pair; shoes, $18; ladies’ shoes, $15; shirts, $6 each. Houses that rented for $500 last year, are $1000 now. Boarding, from $30 to $40 per month. Gen. Winder has [...]

Friday, 23d–We formed a line of battle at 4 o’clock this morning, but the rebels did not make their expected attack. The army generally now forms a line of battle every morning at 4 and remains in line until about 6 o’clock. It rained some today, and on account of the wet weather it was [...]

23rd. Started at 8 A. M. for Iola. Marched fifteen miles. Saw George. Shaved by Charlie Fairbanks. Encamped out in the open air by Turkey Creek. A. B. and I cooked our suppers. Happy time. A grand ridge of mounds surrounds us.

One of the favorite relics to send home from the front used to be shot and shell picked up on battle fields. Carry seemed to feel less grateful than we expected for those forwarded to 8 Brevoort Place, from the immediate front of the Sanitary Commission. Caroline Woolsey to Charles Woolsey Friday Morning Dear Charley: [...]

Jane Stuart Woolsey to a friend in Europe May 23, 1862. We all talk politics now. I asked a wide-awake cousin to-day, ” What do you think about England now?” “England? England?” was the answer, “I had entirely forgotten that there was such a country!” . . . Our English friends sent us Mr. Gladstone’s [...]

From Mother 8 Brevoort Place, Friday Morning. My dear Girls and Charley.—All your notes and letters are of thrilling interest to us now, and though we think it very kind of you to take a minute even for us, in the midst of all that is going on around you, we are craving enough to [...]

Abby Howland Woolsey to her sister, Eliza Howland. Dear E. : The returning Spaulding takes to you 12 Boston rockers, 6 boxes of brandy (if it gets there), 1 package of mosquito bar (getting very scarce), a bundle and a basket, and chewing tobacco, for Charley to distribute! . . . Tell him the 22d [...]

Abby Howland Woolsey to her sisters Georgeanna Woolsey and Eliza Howland. May. My Dear Children : . . . Doesn’t Charley want something? Mother is racking her brain to think what it can be, as he no doubt does want something, going off in the hurry he did. She is afraid, too, that he is [...]

Camp Flat Top Mountain, May 22, 1862. Dearest : – I have written you one or two letters which I suspect fell into the hands of the enemy, but ere this, I do not doubt, you have received dispatches and word by Thomas which relieves you of all trouble on my account. We have had [...]

Camp Flat Top, May 22, 1862. Thursday. – Today Colonel Scammon with a small escort went over to Packs Ferry to look after affairs with Major Comly and his boat-builders. A Captain Jenkins, of Kentucky, came from General Williams to negotiate as to exchange of prisoners. General Cox detailed Lieutenant-Colonel Hines and myself to meet [...]

MAY 22d.—There is lightning in the Northwest, and the deep thunder of avenging guns is heard at Washington! Gen. Jackson, sent thither by Gen. Lee, is sweeping everything before him, defeating Shields, Banks, Fremont, and one or two other Yankee major-generals, with his little corps d’armée! And his coadjutor, Ewell, is worthy of his companionship. [...]

Thursday, 22d–Things were a little more quiet this forenoon, but there was some very heavy cannonading off on the left flank this afternoon. Skirmishing is still going on between the pickets. There are not many men being killed on either side, since they are well protected by their respective fortifications; it is when they have [...]

22nd. Drew rations. Archie grazed both horses. We washed our clothes.

Eliza Woolsey Howland to her husband, Joe. Floating Hospital, Spaulding, Off White House, May 22. We are to go on shore presently to see what we can do for the large field hospital there. Two of our doctors, Ware and Draper of New York, spent the day yesterday trying to organize it and make the [...]

22nd.–A quiet day in military matters. No movement of the army. Ballooning all day; discovered large force in front of us. Unless the fear of McDowell or Banks, in the rear, should induce an evacuation, we must expect hard fighting here. Heavy thunder storm this P. M.

Camp Flat Top, May 21, 1862. Wednesday.–A warm, windy, threatening day. Drilled the regiment this morning; marched to the summit of Flat Top, thence along the summit to the Raleigh Road, and so back to camp. Men looked well. Companies A, E, and K, under Major Comly, with a howitzer, marched to Packs Ferry to [...]

MAY 21st.—There are skirmishes every day, and we can hear both the artillery and musketry from the hills on the outskirts of the city, whither some of us repair every afternoon. But the Provost Marshal’s administration is abominable. Mr. Garnett, M. C., told me that in an interview with the President, the latter informed him [...]

Wednesday, 21st–The right wing moved up closer upon the fortifications of the rebels and although they tried to drive our men back, they failed in the attempt. There is very heavy cannonading and skirmishing. The left wing of our army is under command of General Pope. The earthworks between the two armies are getting very [...]

May 21st. We got under way early, leaving the Iroquois aground, and ran up to Grand Gulf, where we are to wait for orders from the Flag Officer who has gone to Vicksburg. We saw much cotton afloat to-day, and the country nearly all overflowed by the turbid waters of the Mississippi.

May 21st. I have had such a search for shoes this week that I am disgusted with shopping. I am triumphant now, for after traversing the town in every direction and finding nothing, I finally discovered a pair of boots just made for a little negro to go fishing with, and only an inch and [...]

21st. Wednesday. Archie and I went out and grazed our horses. Good time. Saw George Ashman. Bathed.