Clark, Charles M.; The History of the Thirty-Ninth Regiment Illinois Volunteer Veteran Infantry, (Yates Phalanx)...; Chicago: 1889; pp. 275-277

Major-General John Gibbons commanded the Twenty-Fourth Army Corps and Brigadier-General Robert S. Foster the First Division, while Brigadier-General Thomas O. Osborn was in command of our Brigade.

Soon after reaching Richmond a grand review of the Corps was held, and was made the occasion for the presentation of a new flag to the Thirty-Ninth by General Gibbons. On the standard was perched a magnificent bronze eagle which had been especially ordered by him and suitably engraved, to commemorate the gallant conduct of the Thirty-Ninth of the assault on Fort Gregg, Va., April 2d, 1865.

One of the Ohio regiments of the brigade was likewise honored in the same manner.

This was the last general review before the disbanding of the old corps, and it passed off in the most satisfactory manner to all concerned, and especially so to the officers and men of the Thirty-Ninth, who were proud as well as grateful to be honored in such a complimentary way and in so public a manner.

The duties of the men at Richmond were not excessive or burdensome, only such as the exigencies of the situation required. It was principally camp and provost-guard duty in and around the city.

The corps hospital was located at Camp Lee, formerly a camp of conscription and instruction for the Confederate army. The buildings upon the ground had been erected before the war by the State Agricultural Society and were [page break] well adapted for hospital purposes. Soon after getting established, Miss Dix, chief of the Nurse Department of the army, made us a visit of inspection, and expressed herself as well pleased with our surrounding and the accommodations for sick and wounded.

Surgeon Simonds, U. S. A., was our Medical Director, and is gratefully remembered for the interest he manifested in the welfare of our sick and disabled men.

[At this point author goes on at length on matters unrelated to the regiment's stay in Richmond. This was not transcribed.]

The Richmond ladies, in course of time, having doubtless become convinced that the "Yankees" did not "wear horns," only drank them, began to show themselves more freely; and here it may be of interest to mention that Sam Greenbaum, of the band, was fortunate enough to secure a wife, who he says has been a blessing to him ever since. Sam was always on the lookout for chances.

Some of the Thirty-Ninth will remember Dr. Mayo and his brother, the mayor of Richmond, the former of whom gave the writer a lock of hair from the head of "Stonewall" Jackson, who died at Dr. Mayo's house....

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