of
ambulances was loaded with wounded men, I among them, and taken to City
Point to make room for the wounded they were hourly expecting to be
brought from the front. The ride from the hospital to City Point was most
trying. The ambulances went rolling and jolting along across trackless
fields the whole way. My wound bled a good deal and pained me badly, but I
bore it quietly, my companion in the ambulance being apparently so much
worse off than I. He complained and moaned dreadfully until we were near
City Point when he became quiet and remained so for the rest of the
journey.

When we reached the hospital at City Point, a man came and helped me out
of the ambulance and into the hospital. At the same time two men took out
my companion. He had to be lifted bodily out, his form was rigid and
cold--he was dead. Then I understood why at a certain time on the way his
moaning had ceased. My wound was dressed, I had a bath, a nurse brought me
a plate of soup and I felt very much refreshed.

August 1. Notice was given in the tent where I was that a boat was at the
wharf down at the river to take to Washington all wounded men who could
get down to the wharf and get aboard the boat. I told one of the nurses
that if I had a pair of crutches I thought I could get down there. She got
me the crutches and I set out. I had not gone many rods when my head began
to spin around and I began to feel very strange. I stopped and stood still
for a moment, then who should pass by right in front of me but Alf Rider,
a Company K man. I shouted, "Alf!" He looked around, saw who it was, came
back and helped me down to the boat. He then went and got a canteen of
water and brought it to me. Wounded men were coming aboard all the
afternoon. By seven o'clock the boat was crowded and we started for
Washington where we arrived the next afternoon. On the way we had no food,
but water we had. My neighbors, none of whom had any canteen, all used
mine, and between us we emptied it a number of times. But one of the boat
men, a fine fellow, did not allow it to remain empty long at a time. He
kept us supplied with water and we got along very well.

As soon as we reached Washington I was taken in an ambulance and carried
to Emory Hospital and placed in Ward 4. Doctor Ensign, a New York
physician, had charge of the ward. A Mr. Gage, a medical student from
Massachusetts, was wound dresser and took care of my wound. I had been in
the hospital only about a week