Sketch of Hoods Texas Brigade of the Virginia Army (Handwritten Civil War Diary)

We camped early that evening some six miles from the city & at an early hour next morning (May 11) we moved to within two miles of Richmond and estab -lished a permanent camp, which is known as "Pine Island" This was the retreat from the Pen -insular, a retreat that was pregnant with dangers, suffering, and hard -ships, which none but a skillful Genl could alleviate, but not over -come. "Render unto Saser That which is Sasers due", and give to Genl Johnston, who by divine aid, performed a most skillful military maneuver. Thereby sav -ing Richmond, and giving a name and much prestige to an

army that for four years would bare the brunt of the war to bear. Having established a perma -nent camp at "Pine Island," we buried ourselves for a few days, in cleaning up, in other words, working and lousing our clothes, which occupation is carried on in a scientific way, and any man who doesn't learn how to skirmish and out flank, a "War bug" is drummed out of service as unworthy of southern chivalry. Often have I seen a com -rade approach another, with his four finger and thumb closed and sing out "Ten dollars on it, louse or no louse," and upon your answer depended who would win.

We remained at Camp "Pine Island" until the evening of May 29th, when The "long [?]" bid us once more lay aside the pleasures and lux -uries of camp life and prepare for the stiring scenes of battle, it bid us to cease for awhile, to dreaming of far off Texas and our prai rie homes, where the days of infan -cy and child hood had been spent, and to buckle on our armour & indicate our countrys cause, whose liberty & rights, we considered, para -mount to life and treasure, hence we were prepared, to meet the foe, and with willing hands & determined hearts, we took one long farewell, look at our old & pleasant camp, in whose

groves we were destined never more to meet again. On the evening of May 29th, we took up line of march for "Hanover CH," we marched untill about 4 am, when we were halt -ed and lay down to rest, having made, five miles in a whole nights steady march, we slept until about 9 am (29th) when we retraced our steps, and camped on the "Virginia and Central RR" some three miles from Richmond, where we spent the night, and one of the most dis -agreable nights I ever experienced a heavy storm, & hail stones, came up during the evening, blowing down tents, blowing smoke and fire all over camp, and about dark a very strong rain came up. Being

on guard I had full satisfaction of both storm & rain, and at night with my companions, being fatigued & wet to the skin, I lay down at the foot of a tree, with my blanket wraped around me, and I do not exagerate when I say. I found myself at day light next morning, lying as comfortable and as contented in a pond of water, as I would have been in a feather bed. I only mention this to show that a sol -diers life is not entirely devoid of pleasures. About 8 am 30th May, we were ordered on the march again, and the firing of can -nins round about. The hurried consul -tations of General officers, prognasti -cated a little excitement in the shape of a [?] with old Abe & his boys, it [rushing?] against the Yanks in