Sat [February] 14 [1863]

Fine, but cool -- had windows put in our house --
we are living well now -- Dr. [James] Reily went home Dr.
[Robert M.] Bateman returned visited hospl. letters fr. Tilly &
Mr H -- Hear that 9th A.C. is to be divided part go
to Newbern -- & part (we) to Suffolk -- 27th N J has orders
to be ready to move at mom hours notice

Fri [February] 13 [1863]

Cool, clear, distributed papers & temperance tracts
thro. whole regt, took stroll -- made sketches of map--

Thursday [February] 12 [1863]

Mild, windy day -- drew sketches, rode on
beach with Major -- walked with Dr. & had hair
cut. Called on Col. Stevens -- his wife gave us mince
pie -- pressed sea weed -- It seems like Newport days
cloudy, but soft air, fine appearance at dress
parade -- Eight or ten regts. in a line --

Wed [February] 11 [1863]

Cool & cloudy, went by Govt. boat to Fortress
Monroe for mess supplies -- very successful -- back
in three hours. Officers hilarious with good feeling in Eveg
laughing talking & gymnastics -- Gen [George Washington] Getty sent an
orderly to request less noise -- wrote W -- at Cuba --

Tues [February] 10 [1863]

Lovely June -- like day. Charming spot Shore a
level sandy plain with pine woods in rear.
We are 200 miles fr. our late camp -- 100 miles further south --
in direct line --
took Sail boat, Chester Maj., Cap Stevens & Dr. Daily & sailed out in river
good breeze & warm, boarded the Monitor "Nahant" examined
her turrets -- has two cannon 11 & 15 inch. Shot of lattter 444 & takes 35 &
50 lbs. powder & costs 30 $ to load - & fire once -- Lt. Harmony [?]
very polite -- one man turns turret, 70 man her, compass above
center of turret reflected down by mirrors -- avoid attraction,
Rack solid iron 30 in. above water, stepd. down fr. one boat
to get on her -- Saw Minnesota & Galena near, bot 2 bus
oysters, of Negroes, sailed back Maj & Cap opened & ate oysters
on way. Sketched the shore -- a beautiful live oak, set
on fire -- put it out -- in night. With [?] & Capt S,
Soldiers parade -- pleasant letters from home.

Mon [February] 9 [1863]

Lovely May like morng. Capt invited Col. A[yres] & me to breakfast
& transport [?] on shore in his boat. Air calm & sweet. visited
fortress Monroe - & reported to Gen. [John Adams] Dix -- moat 75 paces wide filled
with water, immense work -- beautiful parade, large eno. for
a village 3rd N.Y. guard mountg. -- splendid drill & fine band.
Sketched Gen Dix's head Qrs while sitting with Col. [Ayres] Maj. [Brown] & Dr. Reily [sic] under
a live oak tree -- beautiful clumps of those trees all about
look like apple tree -- or olives -- dark olive green leaves.
pretty little acorns gathered some, birds singing --
We are ordered to Newport News immediately -- Saw the
rif rafs -- Am writing in Cabin by an open window near
fortress -- transports loaded with troops about us -- whole 9th A.C.
go to Newport News -- Sailed at noon -- about 10 miles to Nep. N.
Saw the wrecks of the Congress & Cumberland sunk by the
Merrimack -- Got boat of Capt. Stone & pulled off with Chester
Dr. R. & Captn. Stevens, to Cumberland climbed into her main
top to cut off some of her mast[?] &c for relics.
Regt. went ashore & encamped near shore -- which is sandy here
right bet. wrecks of Congress & Cumberland War ships in the
roads -- one a monitor, beautiful trees of pine -- cypress & live
oak skirt the beach -- & fig trees grow close by our quarters
took two old houses one for all our officers & one for horses --
Men in fine spirits -- & like it very much.

Possibly Private James Chester, Co. I, 25th New Jersey?

[Sunday, February 8, 1863]

morg. ate cold rations with Mr. Holms of Paterson.
Col. [Enoch J.] A[yres] got rgt on board of Str. Jno. A. Warner. fine steamer.
horses & baggage & men all right, lovely day, but cold -- ran
down Potomac about 11 A.M. fine places all along,
about 4. held service -- preached on What must I do to be
Saved -- we felt great liberty in speaking. Col. sd. twas best
discourse I had given since in service -- men seemed attentive.
Got thro. just as we entered Chesapeake Bay. Calm night
dined on board all officers -- Capt. very polite
to me -- attended service -- In night ^'he' sent for my
telescope -- Anchor made nice bed for Col. A & me --
About midnight -- anchored in Hampton Roads, had prayers
before retiring. Christie pointed out several curious
& remarkable places. In P.M. called R. [Dr. Riley?] aside & renewed our
friendly relations -- since Friday night interrupted. We both felt
better -- I preached better for it.

Sat [February] 7 [1863]

Beautiful morng. No orders yet. Zouaves have

my birth day -- had some

gone. After dinner struck tents, loaded train & about 10 P.M. -- Sent horses by land
Cold -- Chilly night, ice makg -- a Soldiers wife asked me to hold baby.
Set off for Aquia's Creek about 11 -- tried to sleep in baggage train too
cold. Maj. walked. Got out & was left. Arrived about 1. oclk -- cold
night Col & I on boat awhile -- not allowed to lie down--