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took a gun and went into the fight, where he presently got a bullet, that entered on one side of his nose and came out under his ear!
Thereupon he received a commission in the regulars, where he still remains. . . . There was rain still to-day, making the ground so bad that orders were finally issued that no waggons should go west of the plank road, all stores being sent thence on pack mules.
In the morning came a couple of hundred Rebel prisoners, taken yesterday.
Among them were a number of their Maryland brigade, quite well dressed and superior men, many of them.
They were very civil, but evidently more touchy than the extreme Southerners, who exhibit no feeling at all. These Marylanders, however, were very anxious to say they were fighting hard when taken, which I don't doubt they were.
They had the remains of fancy clothes on, including little kepis, half grey and half sky-blue.
There was one officer who was next-door neighbor of Dr. McParlin, our Medical Director, and the Doctor went to see him. General Williams has just been in. His great delight is to rub the fuzz on top of my head with his finger, and exclaim: “Wonder what color the baby's hair is going to be!”
August 21, 1864
Last night, Hancock, with his two remaining divisions, marched from Deep Bottom and took position on our left, ready to support Warren.
The long, rapid marches of this Corps have given it the name of “Hancock's cavalry.”
When a halt was ordered, one soldier said to the next: “O Jim, what er we a-stoppina for?”
“The Staff is getting fresh hosses!”
replied James.
At 9.30 in the morning we again heard Warren's artillery opening very heavily.
I felt anxious on account of the nature of the last attack.
This, however, turned out a very different thing.
You 