On the 29th [May] we got on board the train and went to Washington. There we left the general with his friend Williams and both of us proceeded to New York, where we renewed our social gaieties and fell at once into the ways of city life. There is much less enthusiasm now for officers from the seat of war and one gets little attention except from one’s immediate friends.
On the 17th of June, the papers announced the enemy in motion and the army of the Potomac as leaving their winter quarters about Falmouth. By nine o’clock I received a dispatch from the general, directing Broom and me to leave for Washington immediately; and so we took the train the same evening, arriving there the following morning, reporting without waiting for breakfast. Received a hospitable greeting from both the general and his friend Williams, who pressed us to remain and breakfast, but we respectfully declined in favor of our usual headquarters when in Washington, the Metropolitan Hotel. We remained in the city until the 21st before we could ascertain in which direction to go to reach our command, the general in a state of great disturbance on account of the delay. Early this morning we found out and took the military train to Fairfax court house, arriving there in the evening to find the corps had marched from that place early the same morning; each of us had a valise to carry, and being without horses or servants were at a loss how to proceed. Broom, however, proved equal to the emergency. He called upon the depot quartermaster greeted him in his usual irresistible and hearty manner, claimed an ancient acquaintance and comradeship as an old quartermaster, and finally wheedled an ambulance out of him, with directions to the driver to take us wherever we desired to go; thus comfortably cared for we started off in fine condition, arriving at Centreville, only to find the corps had gone on to Gainesville, and so we kept going, finally arriving at division headquarters at 7 P. M., after a tiresome journey lasting all day. General French’s division and our brigade were the only infantry troops in camp. All the rest had gone with General Hancock to Thoroughfare Gap. It was delightful to be back again to our command and meet with such a hearty welcome. The troops always like their regular officers along, when going on a campaign. General French occupied the best house in the place as headquarters and invited Zook to share it with him. The general accepted, and immediately assumed command of his brigade. From General French we received the first reliable information of the movements of the army and a full record of the events, which led up to the present movement. It seems Lee has taken the initiative again, and is believed to be moving a second time to the invasion of the Northern states. The army of the Potomac is watching his movements, moving on an inner circle, covering the capital and expects sooner or later to plant itself across his path.
Almost every foot of ground in this vicinity has been fought over time and again, since the beginning of the war. The Bull Run battlefield is only a short distance east of us, and Thoroughfare Gap and Centreville are on either side of us. Several roads converge here, and it is strategically a place of considerable importance and has been occupied by both armies alternately several different times. Outside of its military importance, it amounts to nothing.
