he Federal troops, but they soon ceased. The
evacuation is going on quietly. The place has a deserted and gloomy
appearance.

Friday, April 29.--The place is quiet. Transport boats are steaming to
Newbern, laden with the Federal troops and provisions of the place. Two
gunboats, the United States steamers Commodore Barney and Commodore
Hull, steamed up the river to assist in the evacuation. At 3-1/2
o'clock p.m. the Valley City, with thirty-one barrels of powder aboard,
and a large number of shells, weighed anchor and steamed for Newbern.
In going down the Tar river, one of those violent thunder-storms
peculiar to that climate came up. It was not considered a very safe
place to be aboard the Valley City with all this powder during a
thunder-storm. I was glad when the storm was over. We got aground for
one hour in Pamlico Sound, but arrived safely at Newbern at 9 o'clock
a.m., Saturday, April 30th, 1864. Washington, N.C., is evacuated.

Sunday, May 1, 1864.--The Valley City took in coal and then proceeded
toward Washington, N.C. At 8 p.m. she anchored off Brant Island
light-house. May 2d, Monday. We got under weigh at 5 a.m., and
proceeded toward Washington.--At 4 o'clock p.m. we anchored off
Rodman's Point, and fired a shell into Washington at a number of
Confederates. We then got under weigh, and proceeded down below Maule's
Point, and anchored.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, May 3d and 4th, nothing of note transpired
but taking refugees aboard. On Thursday, May 5th, the Valley City
shelled Hill's Point, then she got under weigh, and proceeded up Pungo
river, and anchored for the night. On Saturday, May 7, 1864, the Valley
City got under weigh, and proceeded to Newbern, where she arrived at 9
a.m. of the 8th. James W. Sands, John Maddock and myself, attended
church.

Newbern is a beautiful town on the right bank of the Neuse river. Just
below Newbern the Neuse river receives the Trent river as a tributary.
The houses of the place were brick and also frame. They stood back from
the street, with yards in front of them, in which choice flowers grew
and bloomed. The streets are at right angles. In the cemetery, in the
western part of the town, are interred many of the early settlers of
the place. The cemetery is very old, and the tombstones, many of them,
present an ancient appearance. On the 9th I was ashore--on the 10th we
left Newbern. The 11th we arrived off Maule's Point, and took on as a
refugee Mrs. Forbes. The 12th