Sat [April] 25 [1863]

Disturbed in night -- by troops passing my tent
for our officers It is a grand high way -- & by calling
roll at 3 A.M. -- Lovely day. Sent a dozen sick to Gen'l
hospl. talked & prayed with men in hos. & also with
some out-of-it -- Labiaux very low.
rode out to new bridge -- helped finish it. Boys in good spirits
Gen Getty & we all rode over it. py meetg in Eveg. --

Fri [April] 24 [1863]

rainy -- In P.M. dept. ordered under arms -- & to be called daily for
roll call at 3 A.M. & remain ^'with' accoutrements ^'on' till 7 A.M.
heavy firing on left --
Young Labiaux very sick, fever & on brain -- poor fellow, hope he
won't die -- A good meetg. tonight. Mowery says "My
Sins are forgiven." I trust so. An engagement
on left front. Tis said 2 batteries & 700 prisoners
have been taken & brot to Suffolk -- A.M, Inglis
saw a long line of them, tongiht while in with
a telegram about poor Labiaux.
hope it wont turn out 2 guns & 70 prisoners

Private Emile Labiaux, Co. H, 25h New Jersey
Quartermaster James Inglis, Jr.

Thurs [April] 23 [1863]

rain in night -- firing yesterday Eveg -- 22nd Conn & 9th
Vt. & 19 Wis. are now added to our brigade I believe --
py. meetg in eveg. Also Ch. com. examined two for Ch. membership --
Young Mowery [?] came to my tent greatly distressed with Sins -- Counseled
& prayed with him.

Private John Mowery, Co. K, 25th New Jersey

Wed [April] 22 [1863]

Many Visitors in & out of Regt. rode to extreme right called
on Col. Burnham 22 Conn. married Mary Archer -- vis. several
batteries saw place where we captured rebel battery. Vis. hosp.
repitched prayer tent & made new seats. large meetg in eveg.
Riding along lines met a negro large bent & old -- sd. was "crippled
& de-misery settled in his legs -- prayed sometimes, went to ch -- not
Year before last nor year before dat -- Prayed for ____ most forgit what -
Well. was last summer prayed Lord to con - ver -ver - vert my soul
(he stammered) Has he -- Yah Yah --spec. not. war knocked it all out
my head -- most --"

Colonel George S. Burnham of the 22nd Connecticut

Tues [April] 21 [1863]

Cool & misty. sat for picture vis. hos -- wrote &c
Tis said we have withdrawn our forces bringing the
captured battery from other side of river.
Cool & clear eveg -- letter fr. Mr. H -- all safe -- also
of Helen's wedding -- Heard salute, Said Gen Halleck --
Comd. in chief W. La [?] -- has arrived -- also rumored
we are to attack on other front tomorrow with
15000 men & 4 days rations -- rebel also says Longstreet
has cut us off, fr. Norfolk, & captured us, but
as boys say "we dont see it." Held a crowded
& unusually interstg meetg. tonight.
Heavy guns at intervals -- today Sat for picture. Mr.
Alexander finished it today, began 13 March -- The
background is representative of heights back of Fredericks-
burg -- & the action going on -- The 25th with colors advancing
to deploy before the charge Mr. A (of Co H) fired the last
shot in that battle.


Henry Wager Halleck (1815-1872)
Co. H had a private named Donald Alexander. Does Butler mean that the painter Donald Alexander and the private Donald Alexander are the same man?

Mon [April] 20 [1863]

Sat for picture & wrote. Sd. 5000 of our
men are over river strengthing position --
rode out to batteries all along on left. a crowded
pry. meetg -- a young man ^'who' rose among those who asked for
prayers -- told me after meetg. he had lived in sin long
eno, had promised his mother to meet her ^'now' in
heaven, to meet her there, meant to do it.
about 15 men returned fr. hospt. to reft. among
tje, Cummings who left it Oct 28 -- I trust he
is converted

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.