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enemy, coming in under guard, of whom about a dozen had their muskets, a sight I never saw before!
They bring them in, all loaded, and we pay them so much for each weapon.
The new line is a very handsome one, with a tremendous sweep of artillery and small arms.
To eke out this short letter I enclose the report of the Court of Enquiry on the “Mine.”
You see it gives fits to Burnside, Ledlie, Ferrero, and Willcox, while the last paragraph, though very obscure, is intended, I fancy, as a small snub on General Meade.
March 5, 1865
. . . Well, the rain held up and some blue sky began to show, and I mounted on what I shall have to call my Anne of Cleves — for, in the choice words of that first of gentlemen, Henry VIII, she is “a great Flanders mare” --and rode forth for a little exercise.
Verily I conceived we should rester en route, sich was the mud in one or two places!
She would keep going deeper and deeper, and I would strive to pick out a harder path and would by no means succeed.
Nevertheless, I made out to find some terra firma, at last, and, by holding to the ridges got a very fair ride after all. I found not much new out there, towards the Jerusalem plank: some cavalry camped about, as usual, and a new railroad branch going to supply them, and called Gregg's branch.
Gregg, by the way, has resigned.
He is a loss to the service, and has commanded a cavalry division very successfully for a long time.
I don't know why he went out, since he is a regular officer.
Some say it is a pretty wife, which is likely, seeing the same had worked in that style with others.
Then there is Major Sleeper, resigned too. He has served long and well, and been wounded; so I say, what a pity that he should not stick to the end. It is human nature to expect a full performance of duty, 