My Dearest Mother.
Last Thursday
the 25th we finally received the
Joyful orders to break camp, which
we did on the double-quick.
At 2 P. M. we left City Point, per
the Steamer Champion. we arrived at
Fortress Monroe the next morning
anchored there a few hours and
drew rations of bread, but did
not see anything of Jeff. Davis.
Although we had the satisfaction of
seeing his safe abode. About 10
A.M. we started up ^ ‘the’ Chesapeake
for the Potomac River and Washington.
As we got out into the Bay
the wind began to blow and
the waves to roll, and finally the
rain came down, and we had
[page 2]
a “right smart storm I reckon.”
as the southern phrase is: the storm
in itself was not so much to be
feared, as the rickety condition
of our boat, and its heavey [heavy] load,
there being a thousand souls aboard.
We were unable to make
Point Lookout and the Potomac,
during the storm, but were
obliged to put into Rappahannock
Harbor, in the mouth of that
river, where we remained two
nights and one day, and when
finally the “tempest was over
past,” we went on our way
rejoicing. at Point Lookout, we
drew sugar, tea, bread and pork,
but we go no water, and
the boys suffered considerably
until we got far enough up the
river to use the water: we
arrived at Washington late
Sunday night, staid[stayed] aboard all
[page 3]
night, early the next morning we
marched through the city, by
the capitol to the Baltimore Depot, and
the Soldiers Rest, where we took
breakfast: we soon met the
cav. corps, moving on their
way to Alexandria. we were
ordered to fall in with them.
we went back again through
the city, and crossed the Potomac on
the Long Bridge – a mile and a
half long – we marched all day
under a boiling sun, and finally
went into camp Just at dark
five miles beyond Alexandria,
making in all fifteen miles.
some of the boys dident [didn’t] come up
until the next day: I find that
I never was cut out for an Infantry
man. I can ride a horse as long as
any of them, but come to foot it and
it takes the starch out of me. We
now are very busy making
[page 4]
out our final papers, and
muster – out rolls. We worked
on them until late last night
and are at them again this
morning. we are in hopes of
completing them to –day or to-
morrow. we will in all
probability be mustered out
of the service in a week or
ten days: and then we will
go “Rolling Home Rolling Home
Boys.” &c.&c. I have heard
something about a grand reception
that is to come off when we arrive home.
if it is as yet in embryo, I hope it
will remain so. I wish to come
home in as quiet at manner as
possible, and think it is all foolish-
ness, and most of the boys think
so too. Excuse this hastily
written letter as it is awful hot
and I am in a bad position to
write. Write again to Your
Affect. son
Hervey.
The Civil War letters of Hervey Eaton end with this post.
MSS 14890
