1862 September 2 near Alexandria, Va.

[from the diary of Private Ephraim A. Wood, Co. C.,  13th Massachusetts]

   Tuesday   Sept 2nd/62

     About noon we marched through
Fairfax and toward Alexandria.
I had an attack of Reumatism
in my left shins and right shoulder
so that I could hardly walk.
I told my Captain that I was
unable to go farther with out
resting.  He told me that I must
get a pass from the Surgeon
to fall to the rear.  I went to
the Surgeon, and he told me
to keep with the Regt, that
marching would do the Rhumatism
good.  I told him that I should
have to take of my things and
rest, and I steped one side, took
them off and rested.  We had
a hundred rounds of Catridges
given to us the day before
and I destroyed half of them.
It was killing me to carry
them.  If the Doctor had give me
a pass I could have rode on
an Ambulance.  After resting
half an hour I started on again.
The Regt went towards Hall Church
At night I stoped over night in
a barn with two privates of the
Ninth New York.


[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12021