War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

April 16.— Day was pleasant. Rode over to General Howard’s headquarters, and showed him an order from General Benham to inspect the pontoon train. He was very polite and sent an aide with me to Hope Landing, where the train was. Got down there and saw Captain Lee, Quartermaster, and Mr. Waterman, a civilian, who has charge of the train. The train consists of 22 wagons, with 8 boats, which are taken apart on the march and put together again when needed. One boat consists of some 35 to 40 pieces. The pieces are all tongued and grooved, and then bolted together. The stringers arc 33 feet long, and the bays 25 feet in length. The chess are common plank, and average some 15 inches in width, and 15 feet in length. The boats are 18 feet long and 8 feet wide. I should think that they would be liable to leak on account of the numerous joints. It takes some fifteen minutes to put a boat together. The horses are very poor indeed, and very green. The train is in charge of Mr. Waterman, who receives $150 a month, and 16 mechanics, who have from $2 to $2.50 [a day]. Got back to camp about 2 P.M.