1863 January 5 Camp across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg

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


Mon 5.  Lovely day, write letter of thanks to Gen. Burnside
visited Med. director of Rt. G. Div – to see about sending
Posts body home, visited hospl. – wrote several letters –
We are now brigaded as 3rd. Brig – Col Dutton of
21 Conn Comdg – also 13 NH & 4th R.I. –
Dr. Reiley was appointed Brigade Surgeon but
order revoked as Surgeon of 13 N H ranks him

Read – “Among the Pines” – It is that. we shall
move Soon – rumors of great battle in West –
& of attack of Vicksburg – also - Pres. proclamation
declares all rebel states free – on 1st.  [-] good.
May the Lord cause it to Secure Liberty & Union
to us all - & peace & joy & to his name shall be
the prayer –

"Among the pines: or south in secession-time" was a  non-fiction travel account by Edmund Kirke, a pseudonym for James R. Gilmore.  It was one of the books known to have been read by Abraham Lincoln. Gilmore later published his personal reminiscences of the president.

[transcript by Mary Roy  Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935

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