ned to my
berth, and slept soundly till morning.

After a few days spent in visiting the important places in the vicinity
of Hampton, one of which was Fortress Monroe, I took passage on a boat
through the Dismal Swamp Canal to Albemarle Sound, and from thence
through the sounds of North Carolina to the Neuse river, up which we
steamed to Newbern, where I reported to Commander H. K. Davenport, on
board the United States steamer Hetzel, who ordered me to report for
duty to Acting Master J. A. J. Brooks, aboard the United States Steamer
Valley City, which was lying off Hill's Point, near Washington, N.C.,
on the Tar river. Dr. F. E. Martindale, Surgeon aboard the Valley City,
the gentleman whom I was to relieve, met me at Newbern, N.C., and
accompanied me to that vessel.

It was 5 a.m. of April 15, 1864, when I reported to Captain J. A. J.
Brooks for duty. I was ushered into the ward-room of the Valley City
and introduced to the officers, some of whom were not up. James M.
Battin, the engineer, one of the officers who had not yet arisen, on
hearing my name mentioned, thought that letters directed to him were
being called, and he sprang suddenly out of his berth; but it was only
to be introduced to a person of the same name, yet an entire stranger.
Dr. Martindale had been expecting his relief for some weeks; being
anxious to return home to his family, he left for Newbern in the same
boat (the Trumpeter) which brought us hither from that place.

Washington is a small town, situated on the left bank of the Tar river,
thirty miles from its mouth. It was occupied by about fifteen hundred
Federal troops. The United States steamer Louisiana, the vessel on
which the powder was afterwards exploded off Fort Fisher, was lying
immediately off the town. Below Washington, N.C., on either side of
the river, there was timber. On the right bank, just below the town,
was Rodman's Point; three miles farther down the river, on the same
side, was Hill's Point, and still farther down on the same side was
Maule's Point--places which the Confederates had fortified previous to
their falling into the hands of the Federals.

Newbern on the Neuse river, Washington on the Tar river, and Plymouth
on the Roanoke river, lie in a circle which might be described from a
point somewhere in Pamlico Sound--the former and latter towns being
each about thirty miles from Washington, the latter town being in the
middle; so that the report of heavy artillery co