Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-10-09

Headquarters Army Of the James. on
the peninsula before Richmond. Sunday
January Ii, 1s65.-This book pocket diary
was handed me as New Year gift by
my friend, ]. C. Rhodes. who distributes
newspapers to the army.
At 9 am. Harvey Nichols. my chief as
sistant. handed me a note signed by all the
military telegraphers Of the Army OF the
James eighteen operators and the con-
struction corps, under Mackintosh). &C
companying very beautiful album as a
New Year gift. their photographs to be
included when they can get them. 1 was
very much touched by this proof Of affec-
ton from the brave boys.
At IL am. went out with Nichols to
witness the blowing up of Dutch Gap to
complete the excavation of the canal. which
Gen. Butler hopes is to change the channel
of the James river and circumvent the
the enemy.
Operation delayed. Gen. Butler, his staff
Mr.. N. and I returned, and went out again
at l pm. Waited in the cold until 3:45,
when the mine exploded, blowing out the
earth to the waters edge. but failing most
miserably to meet our expectation. 1t will
require some time and much labor yet to
enable our vessels to pass through. The
confederates shelled the gap and us.
Monday, January 2.-Mr. King came into
our mess. Smith received three lanterns
for our men to use in patrolling the wires
at night.
I sent monthly report to A. B. Chandler.
ID. l." (War DEPARTMENT. Received a
short letter from brother John at Fort
Monroe: he wants to come to the front. !
secured standing order from Lieut.. Merrill
quartermaster. to have our horses shod at
all times. John Tinney was over from
Grants Office at City Point; also Painter.
They seem to think there is not much to
choose in point Of danger between some
of our exposed telegraph stations on these
lines in front of Richmond and CALDWELL
on Grants lines, on the other side, in front
of Petersburg.
News of Old Comrades.
Received a letter from Billy .Tinney. vir-
ginia City, Nevada territory. He Is get
ting hundred dollars month in gold
and his board. Billy and his brother, Jack,
were. like John and myself. with Mcclellan
on this peninsula in 80. The campaign
damaged Billys constitution. so that he
resigned and went west to seek health.
Wonder how John and will come out of
this? Billy mentions my old telegraph
railroad. Vandenburg: He is building lines
out there. At ''P. O." presidents office.
p. r. R., Philadelphia). where we worked
together. Van, who was fond of the foils
stand me in corner. was patient. SO he
liked me. II he still cares for swordsman-
ship he might enjoy the real thing down
here. Van walked the whole PennsyI-
vanta line, then a state road. and was the
first to realize the importance of glass in
sulation. Tinney also mentions that W,
an Old railroad operator, is out there In
prison for tampering with the wires, by
which he hoped to make 10000. He was
always wild boy. Perhaps little mill
tary service. say under fire at Point Of
Rocks. the Crows Nest, or at Dutch Gap,
might tame him.
Tuesday, January 3-Maj Gen. Terry
ordered an expedition: with his corps en-
barked at Deep Bottom. Peter Zeroni re-
ported for duty. Dick Whelan got another
lantern for night repairss OF. wires.a Col
KenseI with some Swedish officers. here.
Gen. Butler very aRectionate to Col Dodge