Tuesday, May 24th.
It was comparatively quiet in our immediate front today, but there was heavy cannonading to our left, which is in the direction of Hanover Junction where the Second Corps is supposed to be. All hands took the opportunity to “police” themselves by taking a bath in the North Anna River. Our troops were reported to be in possession of the railroad this side of the Junction. We are picking up many straglers and deserters from the enemy who tell us all sorts of tales. Some say that they have nothing to eat; that all Lee’s men are tired of the war, and that whole brigades would come into our lines but for the fact that the men have been told that they would have to take the oath and serve for three years in our army. Others say that the “Johnies” have more than they can eat and will fight forever. All seem to have a great fear of negro soldiers, and the first Reb we captured in the Wilderness was perfectly wild until we assured him that “Burnside’s niggers” were really harmless unless stirred up with a sharp stick. The churches in this country have no steeples ; are entirely unpainted and stand many miles apart at cross-roads, looking very much like deserted country school houses at the north.
