Diary of Horatio Nelson Taft.

Washington May 11^th 1864.

We get but little reliable news today from the army, but all the accounts agree in one particular. There has been the most terrible fighting almost every day since it began on Thursday last the 5^th Ins^t. We have lost three good Maj Gen^ls killed. Hayes, Wadsworth & Sedgwick. Hays & Sedgwick^s bodies were brought here last evening, embalmed, and were sent North this evening. The 9^th Heavy Artillery have been ordered to the field and went across the River yesterday. Maj E. P. Tafts wife and children came up this morning on their way to Lyons. I met them at the Metripolitan Hotel and saw them on board the Cars this evening 7.30 train. Mis Candee of Jersey City who has been visiting Mis T. at the Fort for the past three or four week[s] was with her, returning. Three thousand wounded soldiers came up the River and were at the wharf this morning. The Streets have been full of Ambulances much of the time today taking them to the Hospitals. Wounded officers were being brought into the Hotels or limping in themselves, some with their heads bound up and some with their arms in a Sling. Those that were disposed to talk soon had a crowd round them. But little information can be obtained from an officer tho he was in the battle. He can tell what he saw and relate incidents which came under his own observation, but he can know but little of the gen^l movement of the troop when the line extends for miles and the battle rages perhaps miles distant from him as well as just around him.