Drury's
Bluff, Va., May 9, 1865.
We were
reviewed by Howard, Logan and Hartsuff this morning as we passed through
Petersburg. We lie tonight along the outer line of Drury's Bluff defenses which
Butler took a year ago this month. Signs of a good deal of fighting; good many
roads, etc. The James river is about one mile to our right. I have been to some
very fine forts. Fort Wagner and Fort Stevens (or Stephens) are the best, on
the second and main line of Rebel works, which Butler was working against when
the Rebels came out and whipped him. From one fort I saw the spires of
Richmond, James river and Shipping, Fort Darling and Fort Harrison. Coming back
toward camp we found one of our soldiers unburied in the bushes. His skull was
brought in by our hospital steward.
SOURCE:
Charles Wright Wills, Army Life of an Illinois Soldier, p. 379
