May 18. — Rode down to the Fifth Corps and saw Captain Batchelder, and then went to General Reynolds’s headquarters. The general told me to come over to his headquarters to-morrow. Captain Clapp went clown to the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry in the evening.
War diary and letters of Stephen Minot Weld
May 17. — Major Whittier came over here this morning, and told me a few things in regard to Brigadier General —. The major was on his way to Washington. I saw General Benham during the morning, and told him that I should like to leave him, on account of what had occurred between us in regard to the night of laying the bridges. We had a short conversation, and I told him that I should like to resign my place as A. D. C., to take effect on the 19th. I then went over to headquarters, where I saw General Reynolds, and told him everything that had happened in regard to this affair. He told me that I had done right, and in reply to my question as to whether he would be willing to have me as an acting aide, said that he would. About 5 in the afternoon we had a severe wind, followed by a heavy shower.
May 16. — Captains Clapp and Strang came back from Washington. Went over to Captain Starr’s in the afternoon, and also to headquarters. Day breezy and pleasant.
May 15. — Day was pleasant. Rode down to the 1st Massachusetts Cavalry with Whittier. Saw Dr. Perry there, and Dr. Heywood. Saw Osborne also. Stopped at General Griffin’s on my way hack.
May 14. — Weather was much cooler to-day. Very windy at night. Went over to headquarters in the evening. John Perry came over here to lunch. Two wrens have been building a nest in my stove-pipe for the past two days; they are quite tame, and come to the door of my tent to pick up rags, etc.
May 13. — Had a thunder-storm in the afternoon. Mounted guard at 6 P.M. Went over to camp of the 15th New York Volunteer Engineers. Received an order at 9 P.M. to send a pontoon bridge train to United States Ford. Captain Slosson started with his train at11 P.M.
Headquarters Engineer Brigade,
Camp near Falmouth, May 13, 1863.
Dear Father, — I think I shall go on General Crawford’s staff. He commands the Pennsylvania Reserves and is stationed on the defences of Washington. I hear very good accounts of him, and know his adjutant-general very well.
I am sorry to say that the army have very little confidence in General Hooker. When he was at Chancellorsville, he said that he had a position which God Almighty could not drive him from, and that he had the rebels and God Almighty could not help them. Not much wonder that we were whipped, I think.
I am quite busy and must stop, in order to get this into the mail.
May 12. — Weather very warm. Went down to General Griffin’s and took dinner there. Went to my regiment, to General Barnes, and to the 22d, and stopped at General Meade’s headquarters on my way back. Found that Captain Clapp and Captain Strang had gone to Washington, and that I should have to act as acting assistant adjutant-general.
May 11.— Another hot summer’s day. Sent a note to Captain Batchelder in regard to General C[rawford]. In the evening Captain Starr came over here from headquarters with Duncan Lamb, who is down here trying to find his uncle’s body, who was killed at Chancellorsville. The band from the 50th [New York Volunteer Engineers] came here in the evening, and gave us some very good music.
May 10. — To-day has been the first real summer’s day we have had, the sun being warm enough to make one feel uncomfortable. I went back with John Perry to his camp, and spent a few hours there in the evening. John was here to dinner. Expected a move again to-night, but had none.
