Resolved, That a copy of these resolutions be furnished General Curtin, commanding post.
(Signed) W. W. H. THACKSTON, Mayor.
J. H. Mottley, Clerk.
The day following (April 19th) being the day appointed for the funeral obsequies of the lamented President at the national capital, in accordance with general orders from the commanding General, all unnecessary labor was suspended. It was a day of sadness in the camps, though the sun shone brightly and the songs of birds filled the air. In the afternoon a memorial service was held in the Presbyterian church, which was very largely attended by the citizens and soldiers, and a memorial discourse was delivered by Rev. Mr. Severance, of Farmville. As the congregation sat in reverent attitude, listening to the solemn music and the words of prayer and eulogy, it was hard to realize that the beloved President had indeed finished the work of life. We remembered him then as we had seen him on that triumphant morning, only sixteen days before, when, in response to our thundering cheers, the careworn face was lighted with joyful smiles as he rode into the city which the victorious army of the Potomac had won.
Now a whole nation was in tears. In one short week it had been plunged from the summit of happiness into the valley of mourning. Flags, lately mast-head high in every breeze, were trailing, and joyful hearts were in sorrow at the great calamity which had befallen the nation. Nowhere was Lincoln more beloved and honored than in the army, and nowhere that day were there deeper expressions of sincere and poignant grief.
On the 21st of April our stay at Farmville came to a sudden end, upon the receipt of orders to march to Petersburg and City Point. The brigade, with the exception of the Thirty-sixth, had marched the day before. At half-past seven A.M. the regiment left Farmville and marched, via Rice's Station, to Burkesville, where we arrived at four P.M. Here we received the gratifying intelligence that the remainder of the journey was to be made in cars, and not on foot. A train was soon in readiness, and at eight o'clock P.M. we left Burkesville, and, at a rate not exceeding five miles an hour, proceeded to City Point, which place was reached at four o'clock on the morning of the 22d. As the journey was made direct, passing through Petersburg in the night by rail, we had no opportunity of looking again upon the scenes of our battles and hardships for ten weary months. It would have been gratifying had we been permitted to survey the scene of the battles in June, the crater and the lines of earthworks, undisturbed and in security from the deadly bullet; but it was destined that our latest recollection of that war-scarred ground should be associated with the scenes of strife and carnage.
Upon reaching City Point the regiment went into camp not far from the landing, to await the arrival of the remainder of the brigade, which was marching by the highway. On the 24th, at noon, the brigade arrived, and went into camp near by, and on the 26th, at ten o'clock at night, we went on board the steamer "Vidette," and lay at the wharf until daylight, when we steamed down the James river, past historic scenes, reaching Fortress Monroe at two P.M. The journey was continued, and Alexandria was reached at noon of the 28th. The brigade marched through Alexandria in column of companies, and proceeded to the high ground beyond the city, in front of Fort Lyon, where we found, in a comfortable camp, that portion of the corps which had preceded us.
On the 30th, Private James Dolligan, of Company K, one of the men transferred from the Twenty-first, was instantly killed, while sitting in his tent, by the careless firing of some colored troops, who were discharging their pieces near by. This was the last casualty in the regiment.
Camp-life near Alexandria was comparatively easy and pleasant. Many of the restraints of the service were removed, although the discipline was fully maintained. The men were allowed more personal liberty; many were permitted to visit Washington, and many others availed themselves of the opportunity of visiting Mount Vernon, which, throughout the war, had been regarded as sacred ground, and had not been molested by either Confederate or Union troops.
Occasionally the camps were brilliantly illuminated at night. On the night of the 12th of May an unusual scene was witnessed in a torchlight parade. The men had carefully saved all the candles that could be obtained. These were placed in the muzzles of their guns, the muskets being used as torches. After forming in line of battle many evolutions were executed, and the various movements presented a novel and beautiful spectacle to all beholders.