Camp Dismounted Cavalry
		Near City Point Va
		     Sunday March 26th/65
Dear Nell
	 You have doubtless ere
this seen the notice of our arrival at
White House and are wondering “why
Ed dont write” but the enclosed lines
will show that I did write but
yeilding to the force of circum
stances I have not mailed them.
     Referring to my diary I find that
at noon of Tuesday last M'c'h 21st 65
our squadron (four Co's) are ordered to turn
all serviceable horses over to another squad
ron and all men having horse equipment
and arms are sent on Grand Transport
steamer George Weems, and at 4½ P.M.
we are steaming away down the Pa_
munkey. Next morning we find our
selves at anchor in the river five miles

above Yorktown with a hole “busted”
in the boiler and a fair prospect of
laying there all day. and this we do.
tinkering up the boiler while the wind
blows a perfect “Cane in a hurry”
all day. We lay around shivring till
dark and go to bed. Wake up at day
light next morning and find the thing
in motion and just entering Chesapeake
Bay. The wind “just a blowin' ” pass
Fortress Monroe at 9 A.M. and peg
along slowly against a wind that was
increasing every moment till sundown
when it abated a little. We reached
City Point and came to anchor at 9 P.M.
I had been detailed as [illegible in original] S.g.t
for the detachment and together with the
Col. [line illegible in original] of
the [illegible in original] went on shore and paid “Old
Useless” a visit. Found him and Gen
Meade and their respective staffs having
a big time on board the “[illegible in original]”
a very large and beautiful steamer

     that had come down with a
select party of “big bugs” from
Washington.. reported the fact of
our being there and returned to
the boat at 10½  P.M. Got up at
daylight next morning and commenced
unloading. got breakfast at Soldiers
Rest and  went into camp half a
mile below the “Point” in the 
bank of the James. I with with
Col and [line illegible in original]
for instructions. Col went to work
on “Red Tape” while the rest of us waited
for “further developments” which resulted
in our standing around for an hour
hour and a half or two hours watching the
folks. Among the noted persons I saw
there were U.S. Grant. Lieut Gen [illegible in original]
U.S.A. [illegible in original] Maj Gen Meade, Brig Gen
Rawlins Chief of Staff to Grant Maj Gen
Webb. Chif of Staff to Meade. Brig Gen
Ingalls. [illegible in original] G.M. of Armies operating
against Richmond. besides [illegible in original]

Majors Capts Lieuts and Civilians
than you could shake a stick at
A Brother of Gen Grant was visiting
there and nearly every officer had his
family, and the grounds presented more
the appearances of the public Park in
some city than a military camp.
   Ladies and children were very
plenty I can assurre you. City Point
since last August has grown from
a small insignificant village to
an extensive city. filled with hotels. saloons
stores, work shops. and factories of all
kinds. and all that one wants to
obtain all necessaries. and nearly
every luxury of life is “Green Backs”
of which we are entirely out. If the
largest steamships were selling at ten
cents apiece I could'n't buy a gang
plank,. There was severe fighting on 
the right yesterday which basically 
resulted in four of our forces [illegible in original]
the rebs had the best of it in the start
     I have heard it reported that there has
been heavy fighting on the left to day
but know nothing of it further than
a mere report. The dismounted men
of our Brigade received horses today
and all that we want now is to 
join the comand again
     Don't forget to write to
			    Ed