id if he had had his "flanking machine" in operating
distance. But time progressed, the world moved, and Richmond fell.

Passing through Richmond, the command marching northward, camped four
miles from Hanover C.H., making sixteen miles. Led out of camp at
twelve o'clock M. on the 12th, and passing through Hanover C.H.,
crossed the Pamunky at Little Page's Bridge, and camped four miles
above it, making eight miles. The course of march on the 13th was
north-west, crossing the railway at Chesterfield, and camped one mile
beyond Childsburg, making eighteen miles.

The march of the 14th was still north-west. The command camped on
Plentiful creek by an old mill, having made an easy march of eighteen
miles. Resuming the march on the 15th in a north-western direction, the
command crossed the Rapidan river at Raccoon Ford, and camped for the
night on the north bank, having marched seventeen miles. Led out of
camp on the Rapidan at seven A.M. on the 16th, the Eighty-sixth
Illinois being train guard and crossing the North Fork of the
Rappahanock at Kellie's Ford, marched and camped near Catlet's Station,
making twenty-two miles.

Marched from Catlett's Station at half past four A.M. on the 17th, and
following the railway, passed through Manassas Junction and camped on
the Bull Run battlefield, having marched twenty-five miles under a hot
sun.

Resumed the march at five A.M. on the 18th, and passing through Fairfax
C.H., camped within nine miles of Washington, having marched fifteen
miles. Again, at nine A.M. on the 19th, the march was resumed, the
command camping at a point equidistant from Washington and Alexandria,
and four miles from each, having marched five miles. From its camp at
this place the Eighty-sixth Illinois saw the distant dome of the
Capitol for the first time.

Soon again the regiment had comfortable quarters, and enjoyed them
hugely after so long and arduous a march. It marched one hundred and
forty-four miles on its journey from Richmond to Washington, consuming
eight days in doing it. On this march all were surprised not to find
the country cut up with all kinds of works incident to war, for such
things were not to be seen to any formidable extent. At Manassas
Junction there were a few old forts, then in ruins, that may have been
at some time quite formidable, but never wonderful. At Bull Run was to
be seen the strongest entrenchments on the line of march, which had
been built and held by the rebel army.