1862 November 10 Camp near Fairfax Seminary

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


Mon 10. Mild lovely day. Rode out with Dr. R. to two of the reserves
& alone to others – Good many persons stopd. & brot. to hd. Qrs.
stragglers – Officers, Soldiers – contrabands, &c.
Mr. Cloud of Cloud’s Mills rode up spoke of his losses – by federal
troops tho. a loyal man. showed[?] protection of Genls. of Union
lost 17000 $ - by destruction of property & now sd. he yr.
troops are quartered in my woods & burning up that -
the last means of support I have – We promised
to sign a paper to indemnify him – Two carpenters
fr. our Reg. engaged in fitting up Mr. F’s. barn –
Just after sundown Col. ( Jenkins - & I rode to right
Support my horse stepd. into a pot hole when in full
gallop & fell heavily catching my leg – got clear – found
my leg bruised & painful for a time – but a merciful
escape – mounted rode on - found a Co. B. man
quite unwell – with chill & fever had been eating “a
[-] of apples grapes & persimmons” – Went into
his evergreen hut talked - & prayed with him. he thanked
me heartily – we promised to send for Ambulance
& take him into Camp in morng – rode along line
of pickets to main road after dark - & then to Fitzhugh
wrote Mr H – Hear McClellan is removed &
Burnside commands – I have always been a
McClellan man – His delay since Antietam I
don’t understand – May God direct all.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS  12935