The Army of the Potomac : behind the scenes : a diary of unwritten history : from the organization of the Army, by General George B. McClellan, to the close of the campaign in Virginia, about the first day of January, 1863

Front matter

EMORY UNIVERSITY LIBRARY

Purchased from the

funds of

Preface

In offering this journal to the public, my own inclinations and my ideas of expediency are overruled by the wishes of my friends. It is offered, except the introductory chapter, just in the style in which it was written, without correction of even its grammatical errors. The charitable reader Avill not lose sight of the fact, that it was written, not for the public, but for myself, whilst performing the most arduous duties — in the confusion of camp life — sometimes amidst the depressing scenes of the hospital, sometimes in the tumult of battle, and amid the groans of the dying — much of it on horseback, whilst witnessing the scenes described, but none of it with the slightest idea that it would be subjected to the ordeal of public criticism.

The hyper- critical reader may be disposed to smile sometimes at my quotations, and to exclaim "with just enough of learning to misquote." To this I plead guilty, in advance ; and in extenuation offer only the fact, that in every case I quoted jixst as the author should have written to make his language accord with my feelings.

PREFACE.

If a pronoun of the first person, singular number, should seem obtrusive in the pages, bear in mind that the journal was written by it, for it, and that whatever, or whoever else appears in the narrative, does so by sufferance of that perpendicular part of speech.

The record, having been made for the writer, is for the most part confined to a statement of such things as are not written in histories. Histories of the war will be always accessible. This was intended to perpetuate, in the mind of the author, such thoughts and scenes as are not elsewhere written.

With this explanation, but Avithout apology, the book is offered to the public.

CHAPTER I. Introductory

Camp Curtin, Harrisburg — First Night in Baltimore.

CHAPTER H.

Regiment Leaves Baltimore for Washington — Sick Left at Baltimore — Fort McHenry — Hospitality Extraordinary, i'l

Fort McHenry, Baltimore — Sick Sent Forward — Kindness of Baltimoreans.

CHAPTER HI.

At Washington — Across Chain Bridge — Capt. Strong's Adventure and Fight with six Rebels — He shoots fom* of them and escapes — "Paid Off" — Our First Fight — Alone — As it was, and as it is.

Washington Threatened — Pickets — A Sad Picture — Brigade Moving- Captain Strong's Adventure — Pay Day — Ruinous Victories — Alone — Camp Advance— What was, and is — Kalorama — Pest House— Taking Notes — Foraging Expedition.

CHAPTER IV

Move Camp — Lewinsville — Commodore Ap' Catsby Jones — An Incident — Our Generals — A Review — ^Arlington — •'The Grand Review."

Commodore Jones' Mansion— No Fight Predicted — In Search of Adventures— Brigadier's Profanity — Ofllcial Interference — Fort Mc- Henry, Baltimore — An Army at Drill — "Vandalism — A Grand ^Review—Difficulties Adjusted.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER V.

Canard—" Trash Too Fresh"— My Hospital — From Home- Battle of Drainesville — U. S. Sanitary Commission.

How Camp Life aflfects Henltli— A "Track'' of The Enemy— Tents for the Siok — Malicious Representations — Our First Fight Victory— IT. S. Sanitary Commission.

CHAPTER VI.

New Year's Day, its Celebration — Serenade — Foul Air in Hospitals, \vith Hospital Sores, Etc — Guard Houses — Crickets on The Hearth — Sword Presentation — Its Results.

Excitement about "Piggy'' — Gangrene of The Mind — Outside Pressure— Official Negligenee — A Sad Case — Leaped before be Looked Rumors and Opinions Petty Tyranny — Vindictivencss— Kemonstrance—Hunted Out — Disheartened — New Nurses — Hands Full — On the Move.

CHAPTER VII.

To Fairfax and Alexandria — We Embark.

Firm Resolves— Forgot them— Social Enjoyments — Contrasts — Moving — A Grand Scene — Mistakes— Poisoning — Alexandria — Embarking.

CHAPTER VIII.

Hampton — Monitor — Fortress Monroe — The Cumberland aird the Congress — Warwick Creek, near Yorktown.

Hampton — Sad Scenes — James River— Newport News — Fortress Monroe— Frigate Cumberland — Yorktown — Rebel Quarters--No Rations — Promises — Starving Animals — Letters from Home — The Monitor — Slavery— Sad Effects — Ridiculous Position — Sanitary Commission — Its Efficiency.

CHAPTER IX.

Earth Works Thrown Up — Tender Sympathies of a General.

Warwick Creek — Falsifying and Exaggerating — Demoralization of War — Prophecy —Evacuation .

CHAPTER X.

Yorktown Evacuated — Planted Shells under the Eaves — Battle of Williamsburg — But we are out of the way.

Farewell Dear Home Forever — Anxiety — Dispute about Rank — Fifth Wisconsin— Noble Stand— Battle of Williamsburg — Official Deception — Pursuit.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XI.

Forward — "White House" — Blasting Effects of Slavery — Fishy — Disappointed — Ballooning — Dreamland — Liberty Hall.

Injustice — White House — Oaths— Interference — Ballooning Reflections — Sick — A Dream — Blunders— Hancock's Brigade — Criminal Neglect.

CHAPTER XII.

(Across The Chickahmoiny) — Incident in Hospital — Acknowledgments.

Threats of Disinissal — Incident— Neglect —Something in the Wind.

CHAPTER XIII.

Battle of Mechanicsville — Beginning of The '• Seven Days' Fight Before Richmond" — '• StoneAvall Jackson is Thoroughly Whipped" — Retreat Commenced — Savage Station — White Oak Swamp.

Can't Cheer — Escaped Capture— Jrying Day— Toombs' Brigade — Grea" Destruction of Property — Stampede^ Among Litter Bearers.

CHAPTER XIV

Night March — Malvern Hills — March to Harrison's Landing

— General Smith — Fourth of July.

Malvern Hill — Confusion — Fight it Out — Drafting— Conscript Act.

CHAPTER XV

One Year in The Field — Drvmkenness and Good Liquor — Review of The War — Disappearing — We March — William and Mary— Yorktown—" Water, Water," and "Mutiny."

Retrospection — McClellan's Report — A Letter — Liquors— Incompetence— Mysterious Movements — Want of Confldcnce — Terrible Losses — Shiftless — Pontoon Bridges — Near Williamsburg — The Institution— Tyranny — Bethel — Hampton.

CHAPTER XVI.

Farewell to the Peninsula — McClellan and Pope — Republics, Can They Stand Pressure ? — " Home Again" — One Hour Too Late — Our Retreat.

Pope and McOlellan— Up the Potomac — Acquia Creek — Blunders — General Jackson— Significant— Centreville — Fall in — Towards Washington— Mails — The Truth must be Told.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER XVIIw

Wonderful Campaign Commenced — " Cock-A-Doodle-Uoo" — Prospective, Amende Honorable — Cure for Home Sickness— South Mountain — Crampton's Gap — Harper's Ferry — Battle of Antietam — ^Furlough — " I am on my Journey Home."

" Hail to The Chief" — Increasing Confidence — Frederick — Dreams Maryland — South Mountain— Harper's Ferry — Treason — Battle of Antietam— Chloroform — An Angel of Mercy— Burying the Dead — Supplies from Home — General Hancock Removed — Antietam— Exhuming Bodies.

CHAPTER XVin.

Into Virginia — Fighting ahead — McClellan Removed and Burnside in Command — Church in tlie Wilderness — "Say it to His Face."

White Plains— Why McClellan is Popular—" Old Burney" Begins Right— Forty Miles from "Any where'- Predictions— An Od Church — Antiquities — Party Slime — Blunders— Negro Sentiment — Letters from Home.

CHAPTER XIX.

My Opinion — Advance on Fredevicksbiu-g — Crossing "^the Rappahannock — The Battle — We re-cioss.

Individual Opinion — Bombardment of Fredericksbuig— South of the Rappahannock— Why all the day Idle ? —Surgical Operations— Retreating—Whispers— Personal Inquiries— Cruelties of War — Public Opinion— Pressure — Burnside's Manliness— Go forth Little Book.

CHAPTER I

JULY, 1861 IXTRODUCTOET.

1861, July 31.— On the 19th of June, 1861, the 5th Regiment of Wisconsin Vols.,, being partially organized, went into camp at Madison, Wis. Here it remained for a time, perfecting its organization, drilling and preparing itself for the hardships, the dangers, and the responsibilities to be encountered in the battle-field, against a people warhke and chivalric ; a people who are taught to regard physical courage, and recklessness of physical danger, as the noblest qualities of the human race, and a people whose chief pride was to win in fight, whether with individuals or in masses ; but a people, who, having entrusted their politics to professed politicians, were misled to believe that, by their brothers of the Northern States of this Union, their rights of property were invaded, and their homes were coveted as a prize for distribution amongst the overgrown population of the Xorth. But to enter into a discussion of the merits of this rebellion, now devastating the most beautiful country known to man, carrying in its march a passover of beggary, of destitution, and of death, is not in accordance with the object of this httle book. It is therefore passed over, that the reader may at once be permitted to enter into a detail of the subjects indicated in our

preface.

From the time of the commencement of the rebellion, by actual war on Fort Sumter, in April of this year, its settlement by rapid and decisive victories over the rebels was subject of merriment, and looked on as matter of course. We were going to war with a people of not half our numbers, without money, without munitions of war, without navy, without anything in fine of those elements which go to make up the ensemhle of a people powerful in war, and we were entering into the strife as a short interlude to the hum-drum vocations of life. " How could a people thus situated hope to compete with the parent Government, rich in every element which makes a great people f This was the reasoning. In vain were our people told of the character of the Southerners. In vain were they referred to the results of our own rebellion and successful revolutionary war with England. " Oh !" was the rej)ly, " Steamships were not known in those days, and England had to cross the ocean to fight us." " But Hungary, with its population of only 3,000,000, and without revenue, withstood the whole power of Austria, till the hordes of Russia had to be called in to aid in their subjugation." "But Austria had become a superannuated and feeble people." No reasoning would answer. The subjugation of the revolted States Avas to be a pastime, and could be nothing but a pastime. Thus went on matters, drilling as an amusement, preparatory to the enjoyment of a war, all the results of which were to be on our side, and obtained without sacrifice or uflEering.

On the afternoon of the 21st July, 1861, the electric wires brought us the intelligence from Bull Run that our army was whipped, was routed, was scattered in flight. The heart of the whole North received a shock of sadness and of disappointment. Soldiers in camp began to reaUze that war meant

CAJMP CUETIN, HARKISBUEG. 7

work and danger, and the Regiment of which I was a member at once received orders to be in readiness to march at the earhest possible moment, to hurry to the aid of its companions in arms. It was in sad phght for the exposures of camp life. 'Twas in the heat of summer, when fevers and diarrhoea prevail in their worst forms. The measles had broken out in camp, and one-third of the soldiers were suffering fi-om disease of some kind. Nevertheless, active preparation went on, and on the fourth day after the receipt of the sad news the Regiment was on its way to battle.

On the 27th of July we reached Harrisbm'g, Pennsylvania, and went into Camp Curtin. For months this had been a rendezvous for regiment after regiment. The grounds had not been cleaned — ^the weather was intensely hot, without a leaf to intercept the scorching rays of the sun. The stench of the camp was intolerable, and the sickness of the troops rapidly increased. *

On the 29th of July, at night, we received orders to be ready to march at 3 o'clock next mornuig. Our destination was supposed to be Harper's Feny, where we were at once to engage the enemy and to " wind up the war." So great was the excitement (these things were all new then) that very few laid down for rest during the night. At 3 a. m., of the 30th, all tents-were struck and rolled up ; mess chests were

*I made it my business to visit every tent twine a day, to see that they were thorouglily cleaned, and tliat the sides of the tent were raised so as freely to admit a current of air. But here the air without was so foul as to improve the condition inside but little. I will here say, however, that the Surgeon of a Kegiment who does not visit every tent in his encampment at least once a day, to satisfy himself by personal inspection that it is thoroughly cleaned and ventilated, and that at least once a week the tents are all struck, and the sun admitted for several hours to the ground on which they stand, is not deserving of the position which he holds.

THE ARMY OF THE POTOMAC.

packed, and everyone ready for the order to move. But sunrise came and found us sitting on our packages. Tlie day -wore on, I think the hottest I ever experienced. The troops remained exposed to the broiling sun till 2 o'clock p. m., when we embarked on open platform cars, without seats, and without covering. We ran down through the city, crossed the Susquehannah Bridge, halted, and remained sitting or standing in the sun till evening. The heat of the day, determining the circulation to the skm, had brought out the eruption in many cases of measles, and the poor fellows had to sit and suffer, without a place to lie down, or even a back to lean against. .Vt dusk we found oiu-selves again under way ; ran down to York, Pa., al)Out forty miles. It had now commenced raining, and the cars were run out from the depot, and the suffering men who had been all day washed with their own ]icTsjiir;iiiiiii, wiix' c-()m]>elled to sit all night in the rain. Sifk ur well, "tuns all the same. None were permitteil to leave the ojieii cars and go back into the depot. Towai'ds morning tlie rain slopped ; the M'ind shifted suddenly 1o tln' Northwest, and it was cold as November. After the Iniig tedious night of suirci-ing, the morning came, and ^V(■ ran down to llaltiniorc, .arriving there at 8 o'clock on the morning of .Iiily .llsl.

We liad antieii).alcd trouble here. We disembarked, marched witli nm>kcls lo.ulcd. and bayonets fixed, from north to soiiili tlirough the entire lengtli of tlie city, without molestation, i)X(H'pl from the scowls of secessionists, and the welcoming liurrahs ot' friends.* At the Camden Street depot we remained in the most uncomfortable condition

^ *Only two companies were armeJ. Tliey were placed one in front, the other zn the rear ut the Regiment, and to marched through the city.

FIRST NIGHT IN BALTIMORE. 9

which it is possible to conceive till sunset, when we were ordered for the twentieth time during the day to " fall in." We disembarked, marched about two and a half miles, and camped on an elevated ground to the north of, and overlooking a large part of the city and bay. The regiment did not get settled till midnight, and many were so exhausted that they threw themselves on the ground, with their clothes still wet from the previous night's rain. TJie medical department, however, succeeded by 10 o'cl<jck in getting up tents to protect the sick, and they were made as comfortable as the circumstances would permit.

Here the regiment remained till the 8th of August, without any occurrences worthy of note, except that sickness continued to increase, and the knowledge I gained as to how little some military commanders cared for the comfort of their sick men. After we had been here five or six days, the Colonel was positively ignorant of the fact that we had a hospital on the ground, though there were three within fiftv feet* of his quarters, filled to their utmost capacity with the sick and suffering. I was now receiving but little support in my efforts for their health and comfort.

Chapter II. Baltimore, August, 1861 Regiiment Leaves Baltimore For

AVASHINGTOX SICK LEFT AT BALTIMORE FORT M'hEKRY

HOSPITALITY EXTRAORDINARY.

August, 8th. — " I am monarch of all I survey." Last night, mtelligence being received that an attack was expected on Washington ; "\ve were ordered to move there instanter, and at once the regiment was in motion. It got off in the course of the night, leaving me here in charge of about forty men Avho were too sick to be moved. I am left without provisions or moiiej', except a few pounds of flour with which to feed and care for the sick, and the ten well ones left with me, to aid me and to look up deserters who have been left here. How om I to do it ? I find a strong secession element here, and at times it is very bold. The hurrahs for Jeff. Davis are frequent, and all day the children are flaunting secession flags in our fisces, and flying Kccspioii kiUs in our camp ground

dtl). — Y^'hat a wonderful effect the hardships of camp life, with the troubles and cares which they entail on a surgeon, have had on my health. For many years I have been dyspeptic. Now I can eat what I please, and go without sleep almost entirely, and suffer no inconvenience. Last night, at 1 1 o'clock, after having ate a piece of hard salt beef for my supper, I "cared for" a pint of rich ice cream, and feel no inconvenience

FORT M'hENKT, BALTIMORE. 11

from it to-day. This would kill aa ordinary civil man. I have to work very hard, but feel it a gi'eat ^comfort to work amongst the sick without suffering from fatigue, as I have been accustomed to.

Having received an order this morning from Gen. Dix to put all my sick into general hospital, and finding them bitterly opposed, I visited Fort McHenry, saw Gen. D., and prevailed on him to rescind the order.

I was highly gratified with what I saw at Fort McHenry. It, being the first equipped fort I ever saw, was an object of much interest ; its numerous cannon, large enough for a small soldier to sleep in, pointing in all directions overlooking Baltimore and guarding all the approaches to it. No matter from what direction you come, you find these monster guns looking right in your face. Low down behind the walls lie almost innumerable ugly bull-dog-looking mortars, not over two and a half feet long, loaded with a 20 to 40-pound shells filling them to the very muzzle, and ready to be vomited forth at the first ""approach of trouble. There, too, is the great Dahlgren, stretching its long black neck away beyond the embrasures, asjf looking for an object into which to pour its monster shot and shell, or its shower^of grape and cannister. Its howitzers are there, and its great Columbiads, into some of which I was~strongly^tempted to crawl and take a nap, but a sudden recollection of the history of Jon ah ^ reminded me that its stomach, too, might sicken, and that I might awake in a trip across the mighty deep on the wings of the wind. I didn't go in. The bright little brass 6, 8, and 10- pounders, on the greater number of which Xapoleon said God always smiled in battles, were conspicuous amongst these great leviathans, and above all, the newly invented rifle cannon, ready to demolish ships or houses at two to five miles distance.

Have lost no man yet from sickness, but I have one who, I fear, -will not recover. He is supposed to be poisoned by a glass of lemonade, bought of a man suspected of being a rebel.

I have succeeded, by selling a half barrel of flour, and by the approval of a small requisition made on the commissary, in getting ])rovisions of all kinds to make my little detachment comfortable.

10/^. — The poisoned soldier is very sick to-day, but I have hopes of his recovery. In a city where we have received so much kindness and attention as in Baltimore, it is painful to have to suspect anyone of so devilish an act as that of poisoning a man.

11th. — I was sick yesterday. Last night took an opiate. This morning, when I awoke, I turned over and looked upon a dirty tin cup, and a greasy tin plate, sitting on a chair beside my bed. It required quite a rubbing of tlie eyes to recall my faculties, so as to I'ealize where, and what I was. But at last I awoke fairly to the contrast between what I looked on, and the little waiter with its spotless napkin, its cup of beautiful drab-colored coifee, and its nicely browned toast, presented to me by loving ones who had sometimes watched over my restless slumbers in sickness, and waited at early morn with these delicious antidotes to tlie prostrating efliects of opiates. Had tlicre have been "music in my soul" I should liave sung, " Carry me back, oh! carry me back." But I arose, went to work, and am better to-night. I think, however, that it will be some time before I hunger for another meal from a tin cup and tin plate.

SICK SENT FORWARD. 13

Received to-day, from Miss M. IT. C, a draft on New York for fifty dollars, to be used for the relief of the sick under my care. This is a bright spot in the darkness around me.

" How far that little cxndle throws its beams !" ******

I'liJi. — Sixteen of my sick have so far recovered that I sent them to-day to join their regiment at Kalorama Heights, near Washington. I have quite recovered from my attack, which was rubeolous fever. I had been so much mixed up with measles that, notwithstanding I had passed through the disease in childhood, the system in some degree yielded to its contagious influence, and I have had all the symptoms of measles, except the eruption. I have termed this rubeoloid, or rubeolous fever. It is common in camp.

loth. — H. S. S. arrived at my hospital to-day, with orders, as I was sick, to take charge of and bring forward all the men left here. From the tenor of our Colonel's letter of instructions to his messenger, I should take him to be a little " miffed " at the men's not being sent forward earlier. What in the name of heaven can he Avish to do with sick men in camp ? However, I have no discretion, but shall turn over the men to S., and see how he will carry out instructions. I had already sent forward to-day, before his arrival, quite a number, leaving me only ten here.

li^th. — I left the camp to-day, and have determined to make my headquarters at Barnum's Hotel, for a few days, till I recover some of the strength lost by my sickness and over-exertion. My ward master, on whom I have mainly to rely for assistance as a nurse, has been drunk every night, which has made me much extra trouble. Oh the misery resulting from whisky !

l^th. — I wish to record, what I have omitted, an acknowledgment to many of the people of Baltimore during our stay here, for such kindness as I never expected 'to meet with amongst strangers. On the morning of our arrival, at the depot, in this city, I was detained some time in looking after the sick who were brought forward, and in getting them into conveyances to the depot where we were to re-embark. The regiment marched forward and left me, so that I must pass through the city alone. I armed myself well, expecting to be insulted at every corner, and, perhaps, to meet with personal violence. My dress showed me to be a member of the regiment which had just passed. Scarcely a rod did I walk without being accosted with kind greetings and " Godspeeds;" scarcely a corner did I pass without being stopped by gentlemen, inviting me to theii* houses to partake of their hospitality, in the shape of a cup of coffee, a breakfast, a little rest. Ladies, as I passed, would come to the door, or send out their servants to know if they could do anything for the comfort of myself or regiment.

Since I have been left here with the sick of the regiment, then- kindness and attention have, if possible, been even more marked. The house which I use for both hospital and headquarters, is constantly crowded by ladies, gentlemen, children, pressing in to sec what they can do for the relief of the sufferers. The tables groan under the delicacies brought in, and citizens beg for permission to take my sick and care for them at their houses. Nor is this done from the novelty of seeing a regiment pass through. There are alw.iys from ten to twenty thousand volunteer troops here, and from one to twenty new regiments pass through daily.

I confess to myself that this is a discouraging feature in the war. This is a Southern city, and this is a type of Southern character. They become interested, and their whole heart is

KINDNESS OF BALTIMOEEANS. 15

wrapped up in the subject. It is a representation of the character of the people against whom we fight, and on this earnestness for what they beUeve to be right, is based much of their opinion that the Southerner will prove himself so far superior to the Northern man in battle. I fear there is more truth in it than we of the North are willing to admit. Whatever may be the result of the struggle now going on, to the people of Baltimore I shall ever remember that I am under deep obligations for their kindness to me personally, as well as to the sufferers under my care, and for theii* interest in the cause which I believe to be not only right, but sacred. I leave Baltimore with much regret, and beg its kind citizens to remember that at least one soldier, a recipient of their kindness, will ever treasm-e in his heart a gratef.il remembrance of them.

IQlh. — I am still at Barnum's, and having transferred my sick to the charge of Mr. S., I have a little more time to think, and to journalize my thoughts. I have looked around a little to-day, and my observations have almost made me wish I had no country. When every right which freemen hold dear is at stake, to see men calculating the pecuniary cost of preserving them, sickens the heart, and shakes our confidence in human nature. When the poorer classes are laboring day and night, and exposing theu' lives in the cause of that government on which the rich lean for protection in the possession of their wealth, to see these loud mouthed patriotic capitalists^cheating them in the very clothes they wear to battle, the soul revolts at the idea of human nature c iv ill zed into a great mass of money-makers. May we not expect, ere long, that these s2cniQ patriots will be found opposing the war because it v/ill require a tax on the riches which

16 THE ARilY OF THE POTOMAC.

they shall have amassed from it. to defray it- ex|5enses ? We

shall see.

There must be gi-eat imbecility too, somewhere, in the management of om- affau's. We are 20.00li,000 of people fightino- against ii, fiOO.nijo. * We boast that we are united aone man, whUst our enemies are divided. C< 'Ugre^s In- voted men and money ad libitum. We Ijoast of om- hundreds of thousands of -oMier- in the field, whil-t the rebel army is far inferior. Yet Samter yieMe'l to the superiority of numbers. Pickens dares nrit ventm'e out of her gate-, on account of the lio-t- suiTOundiii a- her. At Bij Bethel we fought again-t li'reat rid, I; in numijer-. At Maitin-bur'j; we were aone to three. At Bull Run the imited force- of Beanreganl and John>ton bore down on and almo:^t annihilated our Uith force: whilst even in the Avest we see the Ijrave Lyon sacrificeil. and Siu'el retreating before superior numlier-. And yet we seem in-^'/are even in the defence^ ot our great citie-. We arc in daily a[ipre]iension of an attack on Washington. Baltimore is without an anny. St. Louis i- in danger, and even Cairo defended liy a handful of men compared to the number threatening to attack lier. Suidv the god of battles cannot have made himself fomiliar to our leaders.

*I i'jsuiiio tliiit tlic slave population are not of those again.-t Tvhom we fight.

Chapter III

WASHINGTON, D. C., AUGUSr, 1861 AT AVASIIINGTON ACROSS

CHAIN BRIDGE CAPT. STRONG'S ADA'ENTURl-: AND FIGHT AyiTH

SIX REBELS HE SHOOTS FOUR OF THEM AND ESCAPES " PAID

off" OUR FIRST FIGHT ALONE AS IT AVAS, AND AS IT IS.

l^tTi. — To-day came from Baltimore and joined my regiment at Meridian Hill, where I find the whole country a vast city of camps.

'IQth. — Reported to-day (according to requirements of army regulations) to the Medical Director for instructions. I was astonished and shocked to be met liy the reply that "your assistant has been here, and reports that you have never been commissioned." How pleasant to be associated in business with gentlemen. I had no difficulty in removing the complaint, and think I have lost nothing by the motion.

■21st. — I sit down to-night, journal on my knee, to write by the light of a tallow candle, stuck into the mouth of a whisky bottle, (whisky all out), that "I have nothing of importance to note to-day."