Having arrived very late in the evening at our destination, we bivouacked under the trees close to the headquarters of the general commanding, who was away at the front, and not expected back till the next evening.

The rattle of musketry and the boom of heavy guns all through the night reminded us of our vicinity to the theatre of war, and somewhat disturbed our rest.

But if we were a little nervous, we took care not to show it.

In the morning we started in our waggons, and, after travelling a few miles across the country, came to the railway that connected the camp with Richmond.

A train shortly afterwards picked us up and landed us at the capital of Virginia, where we took up our quarters at a comfortable-looking hotel.