Friday May 6th 1864
My Brother did not go by Steamer but by RR on the day he intended. I met them at the Landing (foot of 6th St) and Saw them on board of the Cars bound for NY the day before yesterday. It being a broken day with me I concluded to spend the rest of it out of the office. So I rode up to Georgetown on the street cars and walked from there about half a mile to the Col Ellet place now occupied by a Dr Miller and with whom Chas and family (consisting of wife, child, and black Servt) are living. It is a most delightful place there being some forty acres of land mostly lawn covered with trees and shrubbery, green and beautiful. The surrounding Scenery is delightful. The City with the Capitol in full view and everything to make it beautiful and charming to the eye. Genl Grants Army has “moved,” he has crossed the Rapidan without opposition and is supposed to be in full march for Richmond. We hear of no fighting so far. Yesterday it was said that Genl Gilmore was at West Point on the York River with a large force and that Genl W. F. Smith was going up the James River on the South side all bound for Richmond, 300,000 men. We hear nothing of the rebel army movements. It would be a fine trick if Genl Lee should come this way and attack Washington while Grants Army and nearly all our forces are Striving to get Richmond. It is understood that the rebel govt is removed from Rich[mon]d (or the different departments) and that the City is almost abandoned already. It is expected that Lee will fall back and defend it.