The following site is about James Pettit with many letters that reflect the times.
The Letters of Captain James M. Pettit

THURSDAY, MAY 1,1862

James was up and dressed today. Wrote a short letter to his father. I have been a little worse today.

FRIDAY 2

He sat up all day. wrote two letters.

SATURDAY 3
       Lieut. Pettit is gaining very fast, today he walked alone, guess he will go to Washington Monday.

SUNDAY 4

James E. Haney died at Hospital near Camp Scott. Today he feels still

better. Dr. Picot (?) makes his last visit into this Hospital today. He is going home. I received a present of a pair of boots and one lb. of tobacco of (from) D. R. Barker.

MONDAY 5

Packed up our things, engaged a carraige to take the Lieut to the Dock. left the H. at 10 A. M. We arrived at Miss Thompsons at 2 P. M. Mr. Pettit stood the jaunt well.

TUESDAY 6

Got up & showed (showered?) the Lieut. & Chance. Ate breakfast at 8 A. M. Went down to the Post Office & .f!ot the Lieut ('s) trunk. Dined at 3 P.M. Went down & got the payese (? )ILieut 720. Mr. Manley came to see James.

WEDNESDAY 7

Went down to the Post Office & brought up the Lieut's Mefs (mess?) chest.

Then ran around the city all day. But don't like the meal hours.

THURSDAY8

After breakfast went after a Barber for the Lieut. At eleven got a hack & we drove up to Mr. John Douglass. was gone two hours. Bill three dollars.

FRIDAY 9

A. M. we rode up to George Lawn Hights & back. Then lounged around untill night. The weather is very hot.

SATURDAY 10

After breakfast got a hack & we rode up to the Capitol, down toward the Navy Yard & back. Then I went downtown & got the papers. Weather Hot.

SUNDAY 11

The weather was very warm. It was to dusty to ride out. I heard the church bells. It sounded like home.

MONDAY 12

After breakfast got a hack & we went up to Mr. Douglass. Made a short call, & back. P. M. I visited the Pat. Office.

TUESDAY 13

We got in the Bup (bus) & went down to the Market. There we found Mr. Douglap & his daughter with a fine lot of fowers (flowers?). James walked all of the way back.

WEDNESDAY 14

Mr E. M. Pettit came before we was up. a how glad we were to see him. I had a good visit with him. But it rained so that we could not go around the city.

THURSDAY 15

It is still raining. After noon I went up to Mr. Doug-- & got a fine lot of flowers for James to take home with him. Got back at Dinner 4 P. M. I feel rather stiff.

FRIDAY 16

Weather Pleasant. With the help of Mr. Manley & Mr. Pettit I got my pay. $26.00 & Lieut P. got his 209.50. But could not get his papers through in time to go. In the evening Mr. P & I went down to Mr. Manleys.

SATURDAY 17

Lieut Pettit got his papers & he left with his father at 5 P. M. & I, poor cuss of a private, came down from the sublime to the ridiculous, Souldiers fare.

SUNDAY 18

Took a walk around the Capitol grounds. After dinner heard a good sermon preached & two songs sung by Miss Rumsy.

MONDAY 19

Was no boat so I did not report for duty. After dinner went up to the

                      Smith ____ Insti . (Smithsonian) From there to Washingtons

Monument. Then home.

TUESDAY 20

Went to the Provo Martial & reported for duty. he sent to the quarter Master of the Souldiers retreat, expect to go tomorrow.

WEDNESDA Y 21

Arose at six A. M. drew three days rations & marched down to the S. boat Arieal (?) at 8. we lay untill 4 P. M., went to d. (?) & took over 100 carpenters. had a distant view of Mount Vernon. Anchored all night.

THURSDAY 22

At light we weighed anchor & started. had fair weather untill we left York T. (Yorktown?) a how hot it was there. From Y. T. went up Y. R. to White House landing. got there at 5 P. M.

FRIDAY 23

Earley A. M. we left the Boat. A Regular & I made a little coffee & started for our Regts. Marched 8 miles & found the rear of my D. Made more coffee & on we went. At night found my Regt. Camp near Richmond.

SATURDAY 24

It looks like rain. Our R. has moved about J6 mile & pitched tents again.

It rained all day. I wrote two letters. The boys look black as H--l & blackguard me for being white & clean. Inspection every night.

SUNDAY 25

The weather looks fair. Inspection of Arms at 9 A. M. At 10 divine servis.

We did not march.

MONDAY 26

It was pleasant all day. We ate our rations & slept. But was prepared to march at a moments warning. Washed my shirts & e.O. drilled in the fournoon.

TUESDAY 27

In the morning it rained. A t noon we was furnished with 20 extra rounds & expected to go into action at any moment. heard firing all day in Banks Division. In the night was called up but did not march.

WEDNESDAY 28

It has been hot as I-I all day. We are expecting to leave here all day. In the afternoon it rained. But no marching orders.

THURSDAY 29

We got in line at 4 A. M. 3 co? of the 64th & the 5th N. H. went down to the Chickahomany & built a bridge 1156 feet long. We was in the water waist deep all day. The weather was hot.

FRIDAY 30

Inspection at 2 P. M. Saw two hundred Reb prisoners taken at Hanover C. House. At 4 P. M. it began to ram. It was the hardest thunder storm that I ever saw.

SATURDAY 31

P. M. our Division started for fair Oack (Oaks) to reinforce Gen. Sedgwick.

Got there at 10 oclock at night. Lay on our Arms all night. Bumlicued (?) But was Bumlicued.