Manchester,
Va., May 10, 1865.
The rain
yesterday made the road, which is a splendid one fifty yards wide, just right
for traveling. We passed through three lines of Drury's Bluff and Fort Darling
defenses, and are now at the second and inside line of works for the defense of
Richmond. Hostile Yankees never saw either of these two lines at this point, or
any other, I guess, this side of the James River. It is
about 22 miles from Richmond to Petersburg. "Old Brains" (Halleck)
issued his proclamation that no soldier or officer of this army should enter
Richmond only when we pass through. Howard and Logan say they will pass around
if they can. I hope they will.
We have a
fine view of Richmond from here. It is situated much like Peoria and Columbia,
S. C. The burned district shows very plainly from here and makes the resemblance
to Columbia very striking. Several thousand men and officers of the corps made
a raid on Logan last night and got a little talk from him. He was very careful
not to say too much, all small talk. This got up a real elephant hunting mania,
and I guess every regiment commanded in the corps was called out. Colonel
Wright had to make a little talk. The 14th and 20th move out tomorrow.
SOURCE:
Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 379-80
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