VIRGINIA

(The War is over and the regiment marches through Virginia en route to Washington D. C. This Army from the West visited a number of the Eastern battlefields including Petersburg, Richmond and Fredericksburg. They also visited Washington's tomb at Mt. Vernon.)

May 4, 1865

This morning we lay in camp yet. The 2nd Div goes first. It is now 9 oclock. To day we marched 11 miles. We marched awhil after night. We were the rear Brigade. The 17 corps come up to the river after we left. They commenced to cross.

May 5, 1865

This morning we leave again. We march at 5 to day. We passed through Louranceburgh (Lawrenceville, Virginia). There is a prety nies court House in it but a very ugly town. To day we got on the plank road. We stop now for dinner. To day we march 30 miles and got to camp a little before sun down. This was the hardest days march that we have marched.

May 6, 1865

To day we marched hard again. We marched 22 miles and through a very swampy contry. To day we crossed the Notaua (Nottoway) river and the laurel river and the stoney river. We are in camp at the stoney river.

May 7, 1865

To day we march again. We come 18 miles. We come across the battlefield of ream station. (The battle of Ream's Station occurred on August 25, 1864 as part of the Petersburg Campaign. It was a Confederate victory.) We seen several sculls of men a laying around on the field. To day we came in side of the rebels works at petersburgh. They had it prety well fortified but not half like Atlanta. So far the land is very leavel all around the works. It is a little hilly inside of the works but not like I thought it was.

May 8, 1865

This morning we lay in camp yet. We march at 12 o clock for richmond. To day we lay in camp insid of the rebel works. To day I took a walk around some parts of the works. The rebels had it prety well fortified but I supose we hit very heavy.

May 9, 1865

To day we march again. We marched 14 miles and are now in camp. We marched through the city of petersburgh. It is a prety large town but the city is prety well shelled. I seen severl houses that had holes knocked through by our shells. We marched along the turn pike.

May 10, 1865

To day we marched 6 miles and are now in camp. We are now in sight of the rebel capital. Last night we camped on the battlefield where genrl butler had his battle. (This probably is Union General Benjamin Franklin Butler who was involved in battles in this region in June, 1864.) The rebs had it prety well fortified.

May 11, 1865

To day we lay in camp.

May 12, 1865

Last night it rained very hard and thundered very hard. It killed 4 men in the signal corps last night.

May 13, 1865

To day we march again. We march through town in review. To day we marched through the City of richmond. It is a prety large town. I seen Washington (The last word in this diary entry is illegible but he may have seen the famous life size statue of George Washington in the Virginia State Capital.)

May 13, 1865

To day we march through the city of Richmond. I made a mistake on the other page. (Moses had gotten one day ahead in his diary and adjusted it with this entry.) To day we marched 12 miles.

May 14, 1865

To day we march again. We are at the Hanover Court House. We lay in camp. We come here about 9 oclock and still waited for ordr but none came yesterday. We crossed the Brooks Crick and the chickahomeny (Chickahominy) river.

May 15, 1865

To day we marched 16 miles and are now in camp. To day we crossed the Pomonkey (Pamunkey) river and we also crossed the Matapony (Mattoponi). We come by the Hanover courthouse built 1735.

May 16, 1865

To day we march again. Our div is in the lead. To day we marched 22 miles. We marched over a prety hilly contry after we passed through Bolding green (Bowling Green). We are now in camp. We are camped in a nies valley. We can see for about 2 1/2 miles. We are camped near the Massapony (Massaponox) Creek to night.

May 17, 1865

To day we march again. We left camp at 5. We marched 22 miles. It was the hotest day I ever marched. Lots or the boys gave out and some were sun struck. We crossed the Rappahanoc (Rappahannock) river. We passed through the city of Frederickburgh. It is one of the awfulst used up town I ever seen. Most of the houses are all full of holes from canon balls. Two church steeples are shot full of holes. (The Battle of Fredricksburg was on December 13, 1862. This is also near the Battle of Chancellorsville on May 1-4, 1863).

May 18, 1865

To day we march again. We marched 22 miles and got to camp at 3 oclock. We lay over one hour and a half then marched till we got to Aquo (Aquia) creek. We can see over in to maryland across the Potomac river. It is quite a river. We are now camped on top of a high bluff. The first brigad is in now. We were in the front wave of our corps.

May 19, 1865

To day we march again. We cross a big stream this morning. We marched through Mt Vernon up on the tomb of Washington. It is a grand sight. I seen the valt he lay in. It is a very nies place. We are now in camp near Alexandria. We marched 14 miles to day.

May 20, 1865

To day we lay in camp. We had ordr to march to day but did not go. We were all redy.

May 21, 1865

To day we marched to Alexandria. We marched 4 miles and are now in sight of the capital.

May 22, 1865

To day we lay in camp.

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