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29 After remaining at West Point a few days we moved a few miles up the Pamunkey River. We encamped on a large plantation. Exceedingly beautiful are the green meads, the lovely locust trees, the vineyards and orchards, arround this ancient homestead. Landed on three sides by dense pine forests, while on the other flows the Pamunkey whose various windings might rival Meander itself. I visited the old family burying ground, copied some of their inscriptions but I am sorry to say I have lost them therefore cannot give them here.

On the 16th of May I had my first taste of the extreme hardships of a soldier's life. After standing guard the previous night in soaking rain we were compeled to act as rear guard during the day. the army moved only about 12 miles; but the rain continued during the entire day. The mud was very deep. In places however we found