1862 December 2 camp near Fairfax Seminiary

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


Dec 2. Col. D[errom]. went back to Washington.   Major Brown
commanded & I assisted.   March thro. fine country
panoramic view of Washington & Alexandria - &
down river – We led advance – but little straggling
in 25th.   Ate sandwich at noon – much impeded by
Abercrombies’ Brigade supply train.   fr. 1 to 5 marched
faster.  encamped then near good water.  in shelter
tents.  one train far in rear.  I ate bit toasted
ham   bread - & sipd. a Lieut’s Coffee – spread my
green blanket & bivouacked by a fire under open
sky, but before well asleep train came up & pitched our staff tent.   hot
coffee & blankets.   prayers
Morng. & Eveg.   marched abt. 13 miles – Fires cover whole
hills – to Camp now asleep.   Pres. message in pocket

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]


John K. Brown, Major of the 2th New Jersey
Brigadier General John Joseph Abercrombie (1798-1877)


MSS 12935