From Dr. Hugh Lenox Hodge. On Board Hospital Ship “Whilldin,” Chesapeake Bay, May 21, 1862. Dear Georgy: We are again on the Bay on our way to join the army. I was very sorry that we moved up to Queen’s Creek for the wounded of Williamsburgh before Eliza and yourself examined the Commodore. For a [...]

21st.–From White House, returned to camp to-day. I really believe I am becoming attached to this kind of life, though I did not feel it till to-day. When I reached the spot where I left the army encamped yesterday, and found it deserted, with the camp poles still standing, (although I had staid there but [...]

Camp On Flat Top Mountain, May 20, (Tuesday), 1862. Dearest : – Here we are “back again” – fifty or sixty miles in rear of the advanced position we had taken. The short of it is, since the Rebel disasters in eastern Virginia they have thrown by the railroad a heavy force into this region, [...]

Camp On Flat Top Mountain On Line Between Mercer And Raleigh Counties, May 20, 1862. Dear Uncle: – The last three weeks has been a period of great activity with us – severe marching, sharp fighting, and all sorts of strategy and manoeuvring. I had command of the advance southward and marched to within ten [...]

Camp on Flat Top Mountain, May 20, 1862. – Monday, 19th, marched from camp on Bluestone River to this point (yesterday) – a hot dry march – with knapsacks. I supposed we were to go only five miles; was disappointed to find we were retreating so far as this point. Being out of humor with [...]

MAY 20th.—The President, in response to the Legislative Committee, announced that Richmond would be defended. A thrill of joy electrifies every heart, a smile of triumph is on every lip. The inhabitants seem to know that their brave defenders in the field will prove invincible; and it is understood that Gen. Lee considers the city [...]

Tuesday, 20th–Things are a little more quiet today, the cannonading not being so brisk, although the skirmishers are keeping up a lively firing all along the line.

May 20th. The quartermaster was buried ashore this morning, after which we got under way and proceeded up some thirty miles, where we found the river again divided by an island, and the Brooklyn, Richmond and Iroquois having preceded us and taken the wrong channel, the two former ones had run aground. We lay by [...]

20th. Tuesday. Nettleton and Stewart went to Leavenworth. Rained.

Tuesday May 20th.—Marched to Jacksboro to-day; camped for the night in apple orchard; some of the biggest apple trees I ever saw; one was eleven feet in circumference. Bushwhackers killed a man near here a few days ago. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Reasoning. May 20. Lying around here in the woods, hearing no sound but the moaning of the wind through the tree tops, is rather dull business. There is nothing in it that inspires any lofty, rapturous thought, and yet it inspires thought, and already one of Mr. Bogey’s sheep has fallen a victim to thoughts [...]

20th.–Army moves at 7 this A. M. In the P. M., in obedience to the order of yesterday, I returned to White House, where I was received with the gratifying remark of the Medical Director, that when he needed the interference of my General in his hospital, he would let him know it. Tomorrow I [...]

MAY 19th.—We await the issue before Richmond. It is still believed by many that it is the intention of the government and the generals to evacuate the city. If the enemy were to appear in force on the south side, and another force were to march on us from Fredericksburg, we should be inevitably taken, [...]

Monday, 19th–We were ordered to strike our tents and move to the right, but just as we were ready to fall into line, the order was countermanded and we were ordered to go to throwing up breastworks. It was reported that the rebels were going to come out of their breastworks and attack us. The [...]

May 19th. We left Natchez this morning and went up some fifteen miles, followed by the other ships, and stopped in the woods. In the afternoon the steamer Laurel Hill arrived and passed from below with troops, and the gunboat Kennebec came down from Vicksburg with news. At eight P. M., William Preston, signal-quartermaster, died [...]

19th. Made arrangements for another horse. Had the one lost examined and got an order from the General for another. Very pretty bay, well satisfied.

Monday, May 19th.—Remained at Camp Kirby Smith until May 19th; ordered to Big Creek Gap; left camp at 9 A. M.; marched about six miles through rough country. (Note: picture is of an unidentified Confederate soldier.)

Near Corinth, Miss., May 19 ,1862. Our regiment now is acting as a kind of rear guard for Pope’s division. The enemy’s cavalry in bodies of from 1,000 down have been running around our left flank and threatening to interfere with our trains. Every day we send out six companies to patrol between here and [...]

From Abby New York, May 19, 1862. My Dear Children: I am writing in a bookstore down town. . . . We had a famous letter on Saturday from you, Georgy, and another, half Eliza’s half Charley’s. I did not discover at first at what word one broke off and the other began. Your adventures [...]

E. writes. Spaulding (hospital ship) Half a mile above us is the White House naming the place, a modern cottage if ever “white” now drabbed over, standing where the early home of Mrs. Washington stood. We went ashore this morning, and with General Franklin and his aides strolled about the grounds —an unpretending little place, [...]

Georgeanna Wolsey to her Mother. May 19. We are lying in the Spaulding just below the burnt railroad bridge on the Pamunkey. It is startling to find so far from the sea a river whose name we hardly knew two weeks ago, where our anchor drops in three fathoms of water, and our ship turns [...]

19th.–Marched to-day about eight miles, but by a road so indirect, that we are only five miles nearer to Richmond. I am to-night again detailed from my regiment, with orders to report for duty at the general hospital at White House.

Sunday!! Came again unawares upon me at Princeton. At 1 or 2 A. M. aroused to prepare to move. Moved off quietly; got off, again unmolested, to this point, viz., Bluestone River, Mercer County, Virginia. I hope this is the last of the retreat. We have [the] Thirty-fourth, Twenty-eight, Twelfth, Twenty-third, Thirtieth, Thirty-seventh O. V. [...]

18th.—The 16th was the day appointed by the President for fasting and prayer. The churches here were filled, as I trust they were all over the land.