1863 January 14 Camp across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg

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


Wed 14. floored, mess tent, with boughs. & boards.  Expect Lt. Col. A
& John tomorrow, also paymaster;  At hos – are building oven
to bake bread.  rumor of battle soon –
My plan of the war is – for Banks with his 75,000 men
to move fr. N O. up take Vicksburg, unite with Rosecrantz
come up thro. East Tenn - & take Richmond in rear –
While Foster demolishes Charleston, then take
Lee in rear while we assail him in front & flank
This would grind all to powder & restore Union! but
man proposes but God disposes –

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935