Diary of 5th Sergeant Alexander G. Downing: Tuesday, May 9, 1865

We started at 3 o'clock this morning and marched fifteen miles, going into bivouac on the banks of the James river near Manchester. Sherman's entire army is arriving at this place and will lie here three or four days, after which we are to start for Washington City to be mustered out of the service.

Source: Alexander G. Downing, Edited by Olynthus B., Clark, Downing’s Civil War Diary, p. 274