War Diary and Letters of Stephen Minot Weld.

June 8. — Remained in camp until after dinner, when I started for the Engineer Brigade. On the way there, I met Clapp, Strang, and Nares, on their way down to the river. I tried to get my horse shod at the Engineer Brigade quarters, but the wind was so bad that it could not be done. Came back to camp in about an hour. We had a very pretty serenade last night from a violin and a tambourine. Weather cool and pleasant. I heard that, when we crossed the river this last time, some fifty prisoners were taken in the rifle-pits, belonging to the 2d Florida. General Benham rushed up to them and asked them whether they knew him. They said they did not. Then he asked them if they did not know who built the sea-wall at St. Augustine. One of them said that he had heard it said that “red-haired Benham” built it. I hear that General Benham now tells every one that he was recognized by the rebels from their rifle-pits on the other side of the river.