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

After falling back to Harrisons Landing, Hoods Brigade, pursued them and for two days [pictured?] in close proximity to the Yankees. After which we returned to Richmond and established our camp in 3 miles of Richmond at our formerly very disagreable camp. "Thunder and Lightning" where our time was spent quite pleasantly. Gambling stands were established all over the camp, [?] the "blockade" into Richmond and chatting over our late victories writing to those we loved and telling yarns, afforded them for amusement. While camped around R - July 62 - Lt Col Botts of the 5th resigned, which event

gave general satisfaction. Maj Upton became Lt Col. and Capt Whaley of Co "C" 5th Txs. from Leon Co became Maj. By the death of Col Marshals and Lt Col Warwick 4th Txs Maj Keys became Col. Capt Carter of Co "B" 4th Texas from Austin, became Lt Col. and Capt [Barns] of "G" 4th Txs, from Seguin, became Major. Lt. [J?] [blu?] of my comp (A") was killed in the charge at Gaines Mill and we elected our OS Will McGowan. Lt. [C?] was a Yankee by birth but as chivalrous and generous a young man as ever dies. "Requiscat in Pace." "Death loves a shining [?]"

Had I the space and the control of suitable language, it would indeed be a pleasure to record the many acts of kidness of the Virginia Ladies to our wounded Texans, but will have to take the will for the deed" Early in the morning and often through the rain, they were seen gathering round the hospitals, each one [ladened?] with just such things as woman knows how to prepare, and none so well as a soldier with ghastly wounds and exhausted [frames?], hundreds of miles away from home and friends knows how to appreciate. And through all the day long they were seen hovering ing around these scenes of suffering like convoys of ministering angels

on errands of love. They would see that his sheets and clothes were chang -ed, and, with their own hands make up his bed, smooth his pillow, and often comb his hair and bateh his feverish hands & face and revive his drooping spirits with their cordials, and talk with him in words of sweetness of his mother and home. well can I attest this, since I have experienced the sympathy. The generos -ity and love of those ladies -while suffering upon my straw matrass in old Virgina from sever and painful wounds- fair but strang er hands have smoothed my for -head and bathed my feverish brow and spoke of my Texas home. God bless them is my prayer

immediately after the battles around Richmond, "Whitings Div" was detached from Jacksons army and old "Stonewall" with his invincible phalanx moved up the "Shenandoah" Valley, the scene of his brilliant actions a few weeks previous - where Banks, Fremont and Shields had trembled at his thunder and sought safty beyond the "Potomac." The Yankee Army left Harrison's Landing and established Hd Qurts beyond Manassas for reorganizaiton. McClellan was removed and Maj Genl John Pope was placed in command he who noted his orders "from" Hd Qurts in the saddle" and always look