Sat. [May] 2 [1863]

Quite warm -- vis. hos. wrote letters -- wrote Cols. report of siege
up to yesterday. Ordered to be ready to march at 3 AM tomorrow
with 2 days rations -- then at 8 A.M.

Fri May 1 [1863]

Lovely day -- pickg. wild flowers encountered an
adder[?] wrote Peter -- turned up walls of my tent threw
out the pine "feathers" _ & aired tent floor -- Debate appointed
but no quorum

Thurs [April] 30 [1863]

Fast day appt. by Pres -- not observed by Army
as it is inspection day -- tried to keep myself & gave
tracts to men -- Inspector has not come yet -- after 1 P.M.
meant to have some service -- perhaps can yet --
While waiting his arrival, held quite a large vol --
service. Read Pres. procl. a few verses fr. Solomon,
prayer --& addressed them. made a prayer &
benediction -- afterwards regt. was mustered --
Letters fr. Mr. Hornblower & [?]

Wed [April] 29 [1863]

Showery & warm -- Attended funeral of Labiaux
Curton addressed Co & Vaw H. replied -- I then conducted Service
accompanied remains to cars -- very muddy. Saw Gen
Dix & Sec. Seward arrive while there. Talked with Capt.
Felt -- dist. tracts. & held meetg in eveg. tremendous
thunder shower & small but interestg meetg --
Peter C. sent me Pil Prog. & another good book by Mail

General John Adams Dix
Secretary of State William H. Seward

Tues [April] 28 [1863]

Saw embalming of Emille's body, opening femoral
artery & injecting Choleides of Arsenic & Zinc &c --
putting it also in bow cavity of bowels by opening
abdomen. It occupied only an hour & cost $20
(His Co. (H) sent him home -) done by a man of 6th
Mass -- Large py. meetg in eveg. Showery.

Mon [April] 27 [1863]

Fine day -- Vis. hosp -- drilled with Co. F. awhile --
long talk with Ackerman & with others. Charlie Curtons [?] came
for Labiaux -- rode to Suffolk with him to see about embalm-
ing -- Saw new works -- all along --also the four of the five
brass pieces lately captured -- by 8th Conn & 89 NY -- Wheeler
says his regt. was in the brush Friday -- . Large py. meetg
in eveg.

Four men named Ackerman in the 25th New Jersey. Two, John and Peter, were also in Co. H, Labiaux's Company.

Sun [April] 26 [1863]

Beautiful day. Held Com. baptized one & admitted four
to communion -- large attendance & good time. My classmate
Holden (Sergt. in Co. H. 152 N.Y.) came in at close & spent a few hours
has improved -- Mr. Francis Chap of Monitor Reg. (a Universalist) asked
me to preach at 11 -- I was engaged. at Com -- So asked him to assist
in afternon serv. he made a prayer & read a humn -- preached on
"Go thy way for this time &c: in Acts. held a very large py. meetg in eveg --
Poor Grey very earnest -- seems more at ease in mind --
About dusk Poor Emille Labiaux died -- I was with him &
had just prayed for him and he breathed hi last --
dear boy -- So amiable, noble -- intelligent -- I cant make him
dead" -- wrote to his Father --

Chaplain Eben Francis, 127th New York, a regiment nicknamed the National Volunteers or Monitors