1862 October 28 Arlington, Va.

[from the diary of the Rev. Francis E. Butler, chaplain of the 25th New Jersey]



Tues 28.  Fine, sweet day – Struck tents, packed up - & marched across
long bridge - & so n.w. up Potomac & encamped just under Arlington
heights – within quarter of a mile ? of Gen Lee’s famous house.
Almost exactly west of the capitol - & not over two & half miles distant
I judge – I lead way to bridge & then after crossing – while crossing
the men fired at a duck – perhaps a hundred shots - & didn’t hit it,
We saw Gen Casey drilling some ten regts. on a field to the left –
we halted by roadside – while whole division marched past –
reached camp ground at 3 – at 5 had tents up & supper over –
Men caught some twenty rabbits, chasing them in the woods
back of our camp – We are on ground of Gen Lee’s Estate, rebel
Comd. in chief I suppose.

[transcribed by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935