1862 December 6 below Aquia Creek, Va.

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



Dec 6. Sat. Fine bright day, passed very comfortable night tho.
tent floor is still covered with Snow.  Roasted two turkies
during night.  We march to & then cross river this morng.
I sd. to act as Burnside’s reserve – The march thro. the
low thick pine woods, covered with Snow – in a forest by road on
the bright morng. was very picturesque – tho ice half ice[inch?] thick.
Crossed river – with G. Cos.   very cold – about 1 oclk – marched
a mile or so up river rail road.  from Aquia Creek to
Fredericksburg – encamped on low hills left of R. R.   I staid
at Wharf waiting for baggage rear guard till dark – hungry
& cold.  It did not come – found poor Maryland boy whose horse
was stolen – by Brigade before us.  He was shivering without an
overcoat in cold eveg. air – biting & keen – He had nothing to eat –
not a cent – no friends & no way to cross over to his home.
I asked Capt. of a St. Bt. to take him in – give him supper – lodging & passage over in Mary.[Maryland]  Capt. promised to do it –
The boy was very grateful, he had not found his horse –
Col. Wisewell lost horse fell in river in crossg.   Col Brown
12th R.I. came over abt. dark – I led him & regt. up to camp
ground - & then went back to dock with Col. D. to wharf –
& slept on table of St. Bt. haversack for pillow – Mr Budan
gave me part of his shawl for cover but very cold.
One officer sprang up in night.  Sd. cannonading was going
on at Fredericksburg (abt. 15 miles distant).  it was [?]
unloadg. Army Supplies – Saw 1st. Conn. & heavy guns on
wharf loaded up to go to Burnside.  We are now under
him.  Rebel Army under Lee is at F. & B. this side river

So we are not over 14 miles fr. the two largest Armies ever
massed on this Cont, I suppose & we a part of it one of them.
[word lined out] We marched only abt. 3 miles today.  Sailed 6 miles
diagonally across Potomac, which is abt. 4 miles broad here.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

Col. Moses N. Wisewell, 28th New Jersey

Col. George H. Browne, 12th Rhode Island

MSS 12935