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at first they thought there were many more.
The greater part of the injured were negroes employed as wharf-laborers.
To return to the explosion: Rosy, Worth, Cavada, and Cadwalader were at Grant's Headquarters, and they said it perfectly rained shells, shot, bullets, pieces of timber, and saddles (of these latter there was a barge load near by). Two dragoons were killed, close to them, and a twelve-pounder solid shot went smash into a mess-chest in the tent.
The only man who, at the first shock, ran towards the scene of terror was Lieutenant-General Grant, which shows his kind of character very well.
We dined very pleasantly with Dalton.
You should see his town of tents, with regular streets — accommodation easy for 8000 patients.
Everything as neat as a pin. Steam-engine to pump water from the river; every patient of the 4000 on a cot; the best of food for all; and the most entire cleanliness.
When Dalton heard the explosion, he jumped on his feet, and, true to his instincts, cried out: “Harness the ambulances!”
August 11, 1864
Sheridan has been appointed to command all the upper Potomac forces, which is saying that he is to command all the troops to drive Early out of the Shenandoah Valley.
He is a Major-General, and is an energetic and very brave officer.
This command, however, is a very large one, larger than he ever before had. I have little doubt, that, for field-service, he is superior to any officer there.
Things are cooking, and the Rebels will find they must fag away still, as well as we. I do not exactly know if Meade likes this appointment: you see they have taken one of his corps, added much of his cavalry and many other troops to it, and then given the command to his Chief of Cavalry, while he 