May 1. A holiday with us; warm and lovely as one can imagine. All, save the guards and pickets, take a stroll and come back to camp with a bunch of wild flowers or peach blows." ~ Lt. Edwin Palmer, 13th Regiment, The Second Brigade: or, Camp Life, By a Volunteer (1864)
"Friday morning at half past seven. It quite pleasant this morning. The sick ones are all as well this morning as they were yesterday Harler is on light duty to day that is simply to answer to roll call & to go out at dress parade. J.W. Perkins is as tough as ever. He sends his respects to all - is going on picket to day. W.A. Herrick is going on picket he is well.
"G.W. Cook thinks that he is a little better this morning. He has got a light fever. J.W. Taylor is pretty sick & very nervous (or in other words) I think that he would be as well contended if he was at home. We now have 17 men sick at Alexandria. Four in the hospital here & four sick in quarters making in all twenty five sick ones. James Bowers got a letter from one of the boys at Alexandria that Charly Bowers was very sick. Do not know the disease. But think that it is the chronic Diareah. James is going to see him as quick as he can get a pass." ~ Jabez H. Hammond, West Windsor, age 20, Sgt. Co. A, 12th Regt Letter No. 38
"May 1st 1863. I believe this is the first May-day, on which I have ever been absent from home. Taking it very easy, in my present quarters. About 5 P.M. started for Occoquan to see the process of fishing with dip-nets. As we approached the river at O. had a splendid view of the Potomac & intervening country. It is about 7 miles to O. from Mr. Davis'." ~ Diary of Horace Barlow, 112, Pvt., Co. C, 12th Regiment
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