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mounted on the purloined black pony, ambled along at a great pace, but General Meade, who got his pride up at Grant's rapidity, set off at a rate that soon raised a cloud of dust and left the Lieutenant-General far behind; where-at George G. was much pleased, and his aides much the contrary, as they had to scramble after.
About ten we got to a side road, leading to the right, and here we turned off the 9th Corps, so as to keep the telegraph road open for the passage of the 5th.
Then we took a bend to the left again and came out by the Moncure house, crossing the Polecat Creek by the way — a pleasant stream running over stones, and with the trees quite growing into it. There, I knew, Biddle and Mason “straggled” and took a bath.
We passed also a house where dwelt four women, all alone; we left them a guard, to stay till next morning.
A hazardous position for these people, with all the stragglers and camp scoundrels about!
Old Ma'am Moncure was a perfect old railer, and said: “They should soon see us coming back on the double-quick.”
However, they (the family) were amazing sharp and eager in selling us sheep, and took our greenbacks with avidity.
A gold dollar now is worth about $30 in Confederate money!
This afternoon Warren crossed the North Anna at Jericho Bridge, and was fiercely attacked on the other side by Longstreet; but he repulsed him with heavy loss, after a sharp fight.
Hancock coming along more to the left, stormed the rifle-pits near Chesterfield station and seized the bridge, ready to cross.
I have been lately up at three and four in the morning and I am so sleepy I must stop.
May 24, 1864
We started quite early — a little before six--to go towards the North Anna; and halted at Mt. Carmel Church, where this road from Moncure's strikes the “telegraph ”