Sun [April] 19 [1863]

Vist. & spoke at hospt. Also walked to Ft. Jericho -- & along
rifle pits to Cos. K & G -- spoke distributing tracts, Spoke at K
read at G -- both ordered in. returned to dinner Sey [?] Fuller dined
with me. Mounted old Speed rode to left gave tracts & spoke
at three points plus batteries) returned to Camp -- preached to those
here -- all voluntary. Crowded py. meetg. in Eveg --
vis. hos. & fort heavy guns almost all day. Met 89th. with
Stretchers going down river.
About midnight Col. came in with 120 privates & 9 officers
of 44th Ala. & Striblings Va. battery. taken with their
battery of 6 guns, by 8th Conn. & 89. NY who crossed
river & surprised them. Our They halted in our camp
to drink -- carried water with them -- talked with poor fellows,
one Capt. Rogers knew Douglas Forrest -- shook hands with
me on strength of mutual acquaintance. Sergt Mason talked
freely, good lookg. well dressed & plenty to eat -- they sd.
I told them ought ^'to' have helped our boys bring guns over.
Sd. bad end. to come themselves. Warm lovely day

If Butler is referring to the 89th New York, which was at Suffolk, the Col. was Harrison Fairchild.

Sat [April] 18 [1863]

Fine day. Regt. not relieved, wrote letters -- no prayer meetg. last
night -- quite warm, rode out to Ft. Conn. shot rifle fr. pits to
a tree on opposite shore -- called on Chapl. Francis of Monitors
regt. & Mr Knapp of 19 Wisconsin. vis. hos -- sat for pic-
wrote home. good py. meetg in Eveg. Reid (armorie)
sd, he 11 mos, ago sought Sav. no relief -- remembered
his bad conduct to his mother when in passion --
went to her knelt beged pardon -- She pressed her lips
to his forehead -- & forgave him -- His doubts of Christ
willingness to forgive when were removed. He sought
& found pardon fr. Jesus --.

Chaplain William Knapp, 19th Wisconsin Infantry
Chaplain Eben Francis, 127th New York, a regiment nicknamed the National Volunteers or Monitors

Fri [April] 15 [sic] [1863]

Brot in morg. reports; Attended Brewtons
funeral -- talked with several recent converts.
Had to wait at cemetery while grave was dug.
Saw three large regt. just arrived as reinforcements
Among them 22. Conn. wh. has one Co. fro. Suffield.
Saw several of our boys & capt whom I knew, had
seen them leave Suffield. Fuller married Miss
Peace -- Col. Burnham of 22 mard. Miss Mary Archee.
We sent 150 men across river to scout last night
Saw some rebs, but accomplished very little
I suppose Helen & Joe were married last night --
While I was sleepg. in ambulance -- a party going on
[word struck through and illegible] Sat for picture, face done,
Rode about 6 miles down river to point near where it
widens -- While Col was eatg. supper in negroe hut
I was by river -- gun boat passed, hailed me -- for a pilot
theirs just mortally wounded by 12 lb Shell from
rebel battery. (Rebs have two batteries [word struck through and illegible] now.)
-- I had none -- a surgeon? no -- shell went thro. pilot-
house, the second pilot killed to day. We are building
bridges & roads to connect forts & batteries -- (Billy Buch
Did'nt get thro. with his religion satisfactory to himself & [-]
told him he would receive what he still needed when baptized --
but he swallowed his tobacco in act 00 & no better. Christie
remarks as I write.) -- our regt. was to be relieved tonight. I
returned about 9 -- with some chickens. vis. hospl.

Col. George S. Burnham of the 22nd Conn.

Thursday [April] 16 [1863]

Regt. called out in night to rifle pits &c
rose early & rode out to former camp of 21st Conn --
5 Cos. of our regt. there. Spent day looking at rebs,
in a battery where we dismounted their guns
yesterday -- My glass and a Artillery Capt. sd. what
you take -- I sd. I pd. $15 "-Didn't wish to sell -- he had
Gen. Gettys glass -- much inferior -- will you take $20?
$25? Name yr. price [-] -- was sorry but didn't
like to part with it: rode to other points -- to camp
& back to the woods with & spent night with Regt
Slept in ambulance with D. B. & Geo. latter called
in night to give whiskey ration to men digging
rifle pits -- Had a smaller prayer meetg. around
a camp fire -- Conn camp finely fixed up grape
vines [-] into chairs, Sofas, & Gates -- very handsome
visited other outposts --

Wed. [April] 15 [1863]

heavy rain -- Artillery & muskets in morng. some reinforcements
are here -- vis. hos. bade patients who go goodby -- arranged
[-] wrote letters &c. Yesterday as batteries & gun boats were
playing I asked a young contraband girl about the rebels
She said, De gun boats will make dim Jackets hot for 'em
yonder [?] reckin -- Affectg to see poor Joseph Brewton
seeing his brother so sick -- prayed with them.
Reported that rebels are coming in our rear -- that is,
right flank rear by us -- Good py. meetg. Ackerman
professes hope in Christ -- was awakened by profanity of his
fellow teamsters one night, rose in his wagon & prayed.
[seens?] very clear -- Reid the armorer likewise --
Poor Brewton died about 7-- P.M.

Four men named Ackerman in the 25th New Jersey: Privates David, Jacob, John and Peter. Likewise three men named Reid: Privates John, Thomas and William.

Tues [April] 14 [1863]

Passed quiet night, except our guns threw shells at intervals
to keep rebels awake -- this morg. cannonading all around -- pretty spirited --
we are throwing up rifle pits on right flank of our camp close to my
tent -- the 1st in line now -- vis. hos -- have a case of measles in new
hos -- Sat for picture -- distributed tracts to men in rifle
pits worked with them & also on our new fort to left --
rode along lines & out to front on right --
rebels have force guns in position on bank. two of our
20 lb. parrots -- are gone fr. Jericho to dislodge them.
Contraband & 10th N.H. gone to erect works & sharpshooters
to protect gun boats. Tis camp rumor that Gen.
Peck had been sent as traitor to F. Monroe.
As Dr. M. & Capt Valle & I are riding along lines --
I in front Capts -- horse stumbled. Capt. fell over
his horses head -- horse I fear stepped ^'on' certainly hurt
his breast -- Capt got up -- took another horse fr his
orderly & on -- narrow escape -- heavy cannonading
all day -- some injuries to our sharp shooters --
No engagements except by batteries gun boats & skirmishers
Heard great cheers near town toward Eveg. Tis sd. 100 deserters
of 4th Georgia regt. beckoned to our cavalry & laid down arms --
Sd. 7000 more were ready to do likewise -- starved out - ^'important if true'
a large building on right is in flames -- tonight effect
on Camp is [-] that of thin layer of snow on ground & trees

Major General John James Peck (1821-1878) According to "Generals in Blue" "...while commanding at Suffolk, Peck rendered his finest service to the Union cause by beating off the two Confederate divisions of John B. Hood and George E. Pickett, who were under the command of the celebrated General James Longstreet, in their attempt to envelop and capture the town. He was badly injured in this encounter...."

Mon [April] 13 [1863]

passed quiet night -- regt called out under arms before day light
as precaution -- All seems quiet now -- Mr. H intends going this morng.
carries about $5000 -- for men &c -- they have to go because all
ladies are ordered off -- about 60. went down yesterday on open car without
seats -- Dr. Masson says his battery[?] drove rebels back a little --
Brid[g]e was repaired yesterday. Other road still out of order --
Gen Cochrane shot Col Kimball of Hawkins Zouaves died for
attempting to stop his horse Sat. Night. Col. was intoxicated -- poor fellow has served
gallantly for 2 years - & term expires in about 10 days.
Went in Ambulance to Depot with Mr. H Mrs D -- Mad[am] M. & waited
there from about 10. til 5 -- before they got off meantime we climbed on
to a pile of hay -- witnessed opening of our batteries on rebel forces -- in
front- on left --& their reply -- infantry & cavalry moving forward &c
houses burning -- to prevent sharpshooters getting lodgement
a poor family near rebel line attempted to escape fr. our shells,
bursting near them, when ordered by rebels to halt & fired upon --
The mother killed -- body brot. in a cart into town by her
husband. Mr. Causan saw it -- Good deal of cannonading from
Batteries & gun boats one of our men on gun Boat wounded --
conductor on train very rude to Mr H -- I demanded apology -- he refused
perhaps will think better of it. Met my old friend Wm. Felt he
is at present Chief of subsistence for Gen. Peck -- Our (25)
men still in fort -- rifle pits & on picket -- saw several citizens
under guard -- going to fort Monroe. houses near river dismantled
& Rose hill -- ordered to be ready to vacate for a bettery to be
planted there -- Saw an old lady come fr. a large house
tottle down St -- leaving her house -- fr fear -- An old man grey
haired with wife & pretty daughter grown up & little child coming
in -- in a cart guarded by a youthful dragoon -- riding behind
the cart. Young Woman & Soldier seemed to be very animated in
some spirited conversation --
Our Gun boats throw a shell every 20 min -- this Eveg -- to Keep
rebels awake I suppose -- now past 10 P.M. --
What will tomorrow bring forth -- battle or peace -- The Lord directs --
A good py. meetg. tho. but few could be present --
vis. hos -- poor Brewton very sick -- two rose for prayers tonight --
one an old British soldier -- A shell fr. rebel batteries struck
in rifer close by rose hll just before I reached there this P.M. they sd.

Brigadier General John Cochrane (1834-1898)

Colonel Edgar A. Kimball (1822-1863) of the 9th New York Infantry (Hawkins Zouaves) and a veteran of the Mexican War was known as 'Old gunpowder' to his men. The altercation between the two men apparently involved Cochrane refusing to give a password to the Colonel. The Zouaves nearly mutinied over the death of the popular Colonel.

Major General John James Peck (1843-1878) would soon be severely wounded in the siege.

Private Albert Brewton of the 25th New Jersey. His brother Joseph in the same Regt. (See posting for April 15)

Sun [April] 12 [1863]

Very warm, thunder & shower at Eveg -- Regt under Arms.
Some in
fort some in rifle pits, some in Camp, some on picket. Vis. hos -- carried
relig. papers to men -- & after dinner called perhaps half regt together &
Mr. Hornblower made address & prayer -- I a few words -- heavy guns
on left. While on fort raparas of fort and came -- Ambulance ready --
Went in with Mr. H., Mrs. D. & Madam M -- to depot. No train til dark
So returned -- held good py. meetg. in Eveg I & Mr H both spoke & prayed.
two rose for prayers. Gen. Getty expected rebels to attack in P.M. but did
not. gun boats threw few shells while we were in town --