Thursday, 1st—The weather is quite sultry. There is nothing of importance. Our camp duty is very light here. The ground is rough, and it would be impossible to find a place for a drill ground or even a parade ground.

Wednesday, 31st—I got a pass and went to the city again. I spent most of the day in the patent office and in the Smithsonian Institution. I also got my watch repaired, which cost me $3.00. The city seems to be astir; new buildings are growing up all over and some of the Government buildings [...]

Tuesday, 30th—The weather is pleasant and seems to be settled. There is nothing new.

Monday, 29th—It is reported in camp that the western men in General Sherman’s army will be transferred to Louisville, Kentucky, by rail and by transports on the Ohio, there to be mustered out of the service. The veterans are anxious to get their discharge, for since the war is over we have no desire to [...]

Sunday, 28th—It is clear and pleasant today. We cleaned up our camping ground and put up our “ranches” in regular order. News came that the rebel general, Kirby Smith. commanding south and west of the Mississippi, had surrendered his army and the navy.

Saturday, 27th—It is cloudy and still raining some. I received a pass and with six other boys of our company went to the city to spend the day. We went through some of the public buildings, the capital, patent office and the treasury building; they are fine buildings, all being built of marble. We viewed [...]

Friday, 26th—It is raining again today, and the roads between our camp and the city are almost impassable. We are poorly fixed here for washing and cleaning our clothing. The long march from Goldsboro, North Carolina, has been pretty hard on our clothes. We have not received any pay since November, 1864, and some of [...]

Thursday, 25th—It rained nearly all day—at times very hard. We remained in camp all day and nothing of any importance occurred. Now that we are so near Washington, the boys are waiting their turns for passes to go to the city, for since there are so many provost guards there, it would not be safe [...]

Wednesday, 24th—This is a very pleasant day, for which we are all thankful. We left for Washington City at 8 o’clock, and crossing the Potomac river over Long Bridge, marched up to the south side of the capitol. Our column was formed on the east side of the capitol, and at 9 o’clock commenced to [...]

Tuesday, 23d—We started at 8 a. m. and by 10 o’clock had passed through Old Alexandria. We went into bivouac within three miles of Washington City. The Army of the Potomac was reviewed by the president of the United States and Lieutenant General Grant. Sherman’s army is to be reviewed tomorrow.

Monday, 22d—It is quite warm. Still in camp, and there’s nothing of importance. We had company inspection at 2 o’clock this afternoon.

Sunday, 21st—It is still raining. We remained in our bivouac all day. Some of the troops are moving toward Washington for the grand review. News came that Jefferson Davis had been captured by General Wilson at a small place in Georgia, called Irwinville, in the county of Irwin.[1] [1] The capture was effected on May [...]

Saturday, 20th—There are three armies in camp here, the Army of the Potomac under General Meade, and the Armies of the Tennessee and of Georgia, both under General Sherman. We received orders that the Army of the Potomac would be reviewed by Lieutenant-General Grant on the 23d inst., and the armies under General Sherman on [...]

Friday, 19th—Started at 10 a. m. and after marching fifteen miles, went into camp within four miles of Alexandria, Virginia. Sherman’s entire army arrived today and all, including the artillery, which we kept with the infantry all the way, are in camp near Alexandria.

Thursday, 18th—Some of the troops started quite early this morning, but our division left later, taking up the rear today. We marched fifteen miles and went into bivouac after crossing the Acon river, wading it just below the mouth of Bull Run creek, which empties into it. There are some fortifications here, it being near [...]

Wednesday, 17th—We started at 4 o’clock this morning and marched thirty miles today. It was very hot and a great many of the boys gave out. Our division led the advance. We passed through some very fine country and the crops are looking fine.

Tuesday, 16th—Started at 4 a. m. and marched twenty miles today. We passed through Fredericksburg at 1 p. m., crossing the Rappahannock river at that place. On coming into Fredericksburg we marched along that stone wall by the bend of the river and looked down upon the lowland below where so many of our boys [...]

Monday, 15th—We left bivouac at 5 o’clock this morning and marched eighteen miles. Went into bivouac for the night near the Fay river. The weather is quite warm and the roads are very bad.

Sunday, 14th—It is quite warm. We remained in bivouac until 1 p. m., when we started and covered ten miles before night. We crossed the Pamunky river at 2 o’clock, after which the army divided, in order to get better roads. The Fourteenth and Seventeenth Corps took a road on the left, while the Fifteenth [...]

Saturday, 13th—Started at 10 a. m. and marched twelve miles today. We went into bivouac for the night near Hanover Court House. It is quite swampy and the roads are very bad, on account of so much rain the last few days. The country through which we passed today is considerably cut up by fortifications [...]

Friday, 12th—It rained very hard all night. We left our bivouac at 4 o’clock this morning and at 6 o’clock passed through Richmond.[1] The town looks fine and business seems to be good. We marched ten miles and went into bivouac on the Chickahominy river. The entire army is taking the same route and thus [...]

Thursday, 11th—The Fourteenth and Twentieth Army Corps started on their way for Washington City. Our corps remained in camp all day. The sick were all sent down to the wharf to go around by boat to Washington. The doctor had my name listed for that route, and I started to go, but got a release. [...]

Wednesday, 10th—Remained in camp all day. General Sherman’s cavalry corps, under Kilpatrick, passed here on their way to Washington City. We are camped in plain view of the city of Richmond, once the capital of the so-called Southern Confederacy, but now desolate, its defenders having fled. It is partly burnt, the rebels having set it [...]

Tuesday, 9th—We started at 3 o’clock this morning and marched fifteen miles, going into bivouac on the banks of the James river near Manchester. Sherman’s entire army is arriving at this place and will lie here three or four days, after which we are to start for Washington City to be mustered out of the [...]