by the marine department, which had been doing duty on
the river craft about Dutch Gap, Drewry's and Chaffin's bluffs, etc.
Altogether, it was a motley combination, which afforded much amusement
and the usual sallies of wit at each other's expense. The marine element
was the most striking in appearance, and encumbered with enough baggage
for a voyage to the North Pole. In three days' time this had all been
discarded.

After marching day and night the two wings of our army, having been
separated since the previous summer, united at Amelia Court House,
about 40 miles from Richmond. Ours--that is, the one from the north side
of the river--had not been pressed by the enemy up to this point. As if
in recognition of and to celebrate the reunion, an explosion took place
far too violent for an ordinary salute. During a short halt, while the
road was filled with infantry and artillery side by side, we felt the
earth heave under our feet, followed instantly by a terrific report, and
then a body of fire and flame, a hundred feet in diameter, shot skyward
from beyond an intervening copse of woods. It proved to be the blowing
up of sixty caissons, one hundred and eighty chests of ammunition, which
could not be hauled farther for want of horses. For a moment the roar
and concussion produced consternation. Those who were standing crouched
as if for something to cling to, and those sitting sprang to their feet.
The Crater affair at Petersburg had not been forgotten, and that we
should be hurled into space by some infernal eruption flashed into our
minds.

Provisions had been ordered by General Lee over the railroad from
Danville to Amelia Court House in readiness for the army on its arrival
there. By some misunderstanding, or negligence on the part of the
railroad management, these supplies had gone on to Richmond, so that all
expectation of satisfying hunger was now gone. Corn on the cob had
already been issued to the men, which, it may be presumed, was to be
eaten raw, as no time nor means for parching it was available. Three of
these "nubbins," which had been preserved, I saw many years after the
war.

After trudging along, with short halts and making very little progress,
our battery of only two guns went into park about midnight, but without
unhitching the horses. After being roused several times from sleep to
march, I concluded, after the third false alarm, to lie still. When I
awoke some time later the battery had moved and,