From Roper’s Church we moved by short marches in rear of the other divisions of the army, until, on the 21st, we were near the Chickahominy, and still in reserve.  Here I received a note from the Doctor, who informed me that his camp was just in our rear.  I went at once.

“Well,” said he, “how do you like doing nothing?”

“I haven’t quite tired of it yet,” I said.

“Your regiment has had a good rest.”

“I wonder how much longer we shall be held in reserve.”

“A good while yet, to judge from what I can hear,” he said.  “I am authorized to move to the right, and of course that means that I shall be in greater demand there.”

“I wish I could go with you,” said I.

“Why should you hesitate to do so?” he asked; “what are your orders?”

“There has been no change.  I have no orders at all except to keep the adjutant of the Eleventh informed as to my whereabouts.”

“How frequently must you report in person?”

“There was nothing said about that.  I suppose a note will do,” said I.

“Your division was so severely handled at Williamsburg that I cannot think it will be brought into action soon unless there should be a general engagement.  If you can report in writing every two or three days, you need not limit your work or your presence to any particular part of the line.”

“But the right must be many miles from our division.”

“No,” said the Doctor; “from Hooker’s division to your present right is not more than five miles; the distance will be greater, though, in a few days.”

“What is going on, Doctor?”

“McDowell is at Fredericksburg, with a large Confederate force in his front, and—­but let me get a map and show you the situation.”

He went to a small chest and brought out a map, which he spread on a camp-bed.

“Here you see Fredericksburg; McDowell is just south of it.  Here, about this point, called Guiney’s, is a Confederate division under General Anderson.  McClellan has urged Washington to reenforce his right by ordering McDowell to march, thus,” describing almost a semicircle which began by going south, then southeast, then southwest; “that would place McDowell on McClellan’s right flank, here.  Now, if McDowell reenforces McClellan, this entire army cannot cross the Chickahominy, and if McDowell does not reenforce McClellan, this entire army cannot cross the Chickahominy.”

“Then in neither event can this army take Richmond,” said I.

“Don’t go too fast; I am speaking of movements for the next ten days; afterward, new combinations may be made.  In case McDowell comes, it will take ten days for his movement to be completed, and your right wing would move to meet him if need be, rather than move forward and leave him.  To move forward would expose McDowell’s flank to the Confederates near Guiney’s, and it is feared that Jackson is not far from them.  Am I clear?”