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 [...]
Monday, 8th—We started at 7 a. m., and while passing through Petersburg by platoons, were reviewed by General Ord, in command at Petersburg. The Fifteenth Corps had to pass through the city in our rear. We crossed the Appomattox river at 9 a. m. and went into bivouac six miles out from Petersburg, making a [...]
Sunday, 7th—Started at the usual time and marched eighteen miles today. We bivouacked in some old camps which our men had built during the siege of Petersburg, within two miles of town. I rode all the way today with the wagon train. A part of the Fifteenth Corps came in ahead of the Seventeenth Corps, [...]
Saturday, 6th—We started at 5 a. m. and soon struck the Boydton plank road, which was quite good except at places, where it was a poor makeshift of a road. We marched twenty-five miles and went into bivouac for the night. I was sick all day and in order to keep up with the command [...]
Friday, 5th—It is quite warm. We left our bivouac at 3 a. m. and by 6 o’clock had crossed the Roanoke river. It is a fine stream. One of our drivers had an exciting experience in crossing the river last night, over the pontoon bridge. When he reached the middle of the bridge his leading [...]
Thursday, 4th—We started at 8 a. m., marched four miles, and then lay over until 6 p. m., when we moved on four miles farther, passing the Third Division, and went into bivouac within a mile of the Roanoke river. The Fifteenth Corps is in advance of us and their rear crossed the river this [...]
Wednesday, 3d—We started at 5 a. m. and marched twenty miles today. Crops look fine. There are a great many rebel soldiers throughout the country here, who have just returned from the armies of Johnston and Lee. Our army, for the first time, is passing through the country without destroying property.
Tuesday, 2d—Weather pleasant. We started at 6:30 a. m. and marched seventeen miles today. We crossed the Tar river at 10 this morning, and passed through some very fine country this afternoon. There is nothing new.