1863 February 5 camp across the Rappahannock from Fredericksburg

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



Thurs 5.  Snow changed to rain moderated at night
Col. D. went home – vist. hos. &c   Got orders for
9th A.C. to Sail for Fortress Monroe without delay
3 days rations – under Gen W. F. Smith to report to
Pleasant letter fr. Mr H. “Wm. sails for Cuba”
Mr. Evans’ writes to know if I will accept call to
Cong. ch – ansr. not unless unanimous, don’t know
about it even then.  Wrote Col. & Mr H. & Mr Evans
than unless call was unanimous I could not entertain it –
if it was I would see – retired late

General William Farrar Smith, head of the VI Corps at Fredericksburg
General John Adams Dix, commander at Fort Monroe

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 12935