Washington May 12th 1864
The news from the Army continues favorable. Genl Grant most pertinaciously sticks to Lee driving him from one position to another and making steady progress onward towards Richmond. We have no news from the forces near Richmond today, but it is thought that all the R Roads leading there have been out and communication betwen R. and Lees Army destroyed. Grants Army has been much depleted. He has lost heavily in wounded and in runaways “Skedadlers” as they are called. It is thought that nearly one half of those arriving here as “wounded” before today had no sufficient reason for leaving the Army. Many of them cannot show a scratch. Today patrols are going round and picking them up and they will be sent back. Many wounded have arrived today in Steam Boats from Aquia Creek. But surgeons are immediately sent on Board as soon as the Boat arrives who examine every man before he is allowed to go on shore. The runaways are mostly the raw recruits who have but recently joined the Army, the “high bounty men” as they are called. I met Dr Mark Hopkins of Wms College this evening at “Willards,” he has a son wounded who he intends taking home with him. He (the Son) is Capt of Cavalry, 1st Mass. The Hotels are much crowded, these battles have called many people here to see about their friends in the army. Rcd letter from my wife today and answered it. It has rained the most of the day and is thundering and raining now, 10 P.M.