Leaving for the regiment tonight via St. Louis. During my
stay in the North I have through the kindness of my old and valued friend,
Keller Leet, now a captain on General Grant's staff and who has charge of the
office in Washington, been ordered on to Washington and after spending a
couple of days there was permitted to visit the headquarters of the army
at Cedar Point. I visited Fortress Monroe and found General John Tanner, a
valued friend, lying very ill at the hospital here, so ill that his life was
despaired of. Met some army friends quartered in Fortress Monroe and had the
opportunity of thoroughly inspecting the works. After spending a day here, took
a steamer for City Point, General Grant's headquarters, where I met several intimate
friends. My observations were that the men of the Potomac Army were better fed
then our western men, they being nearer the base of supplies and having the
whole East through the Sanitary and Christian Commissions to provide for them.
Still I do not complain as they doubtless have had hard fare, at times, as we
had.
SOURCE: Joseph Stockton, War Diary (1862-5) of Brevet Brigadier General Joseph Stockton, pp. 21-2
