November 5, 1862; The Assistant Surgeon arrives.

Geo. Spafford

Wednesday 5th Got up this morning & went to the depot hoping to meet Geo. but did not find him, thought prehaps he had come in the yesterday mornings train & I had passed him on the road in going down, so after stoping about the city until 2 P.M. concluded to go back to camp & see if he was there. Got back about 4 P.M. but he had not been there, but I had not been there more than half an hour before he came. Said he came in the noon train, said he got down to the wharf just as the boat I was on started for Alexandria so he was one boat behind me, the boats run every hour. ~ Joseph Spafford, 1st Lieutenant, Company E, Sixteenth Regiment, Letter, November 9, 1862

Note: Today Lincoln issues the order relieving Major-General McClellan of command of the Army of the Potomac. ~ Zphx