Arrived at camp early
next morning, and found our entire force had moved in the direction of Hampton.
The rain was still falling without intermission, and my cakes having long since
become all dough, I threw them away. Followed the tracks of our troops until I
was within a short distance of New Market Bridge, when I found they had turned
off the main road and had taken the direction of Newport News; then I became
completely bewildered, and wandered about in the woods for a long time, unable
to find my way back, and fearing to go forward, as I was, knowing the distance
I had ridden, not more than a half mile from the enemy's camp. Finally I got
into the main road, and soon after came across one of our scouts,
"Uncle" Ben. Phillips, and he put me on the right track. We captured a
negro, dressed in a blue uniform, just as he was going into the enemy's camp at
Newport News, and turned him over to General Magruder.
SOURCE: William S.
White, A Diary of the War; or What I Saw of It, p. 104
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