I went to New Bern this morning with Lt. Kelly to get him a leave of absence. We went to Gen. Reno who told us that in the present state of affairs he had concluded to give no leaves of absence or furloughs that if affairs at Richmond turned out as they expected, in about two weeks they intended to give leaves of absence to one or perhaps two officers of each company. As I was going down town I met an officer of the 48th who said the his field and staff wished to make some affidavits before me: I said I would meet them at any time between that and four o’clock at the Gaston House. He fixed twelve. About that time he came in a buggy with an invitation to dine with the Col. I refused to go and he then said they would come up to our camp tomorrow. They've got to come to me after this. Just after this there leapt of a schooner Moses B Something, came to me to make an affidavit to his log. He had been sent by Capt. Biggs out to our camp. I told him that I was as only Com. for Pennsylvania - but as if was for the Government to pay on - & I’m the only civil personage in North Carolina I suppose it will answer. When I refused fees he appeared to be astonished, but I told him that so long as I was in the pay of the United States, I did not June 24. 1862 cont. consider it right to make money off [torn] ... Em French's whore-house has blown off [torn] ... There were a lot of officers there – she [torn] blackguarding them out of the windows [torn] calling them damned Yankee sons of bitches & came out onto the porch with a revolver – Fired three shots rapidly, shooting a handsome young officer who was standing quietly in the middle of the street, in the abdomen. The soldiers were gathering and about gutting the house and preparing to hang Em French on the tree, when Robert Marshall Col Kurtz arrived – arresting four whores – handsome girls – Marching them down the middle of the street to the jail, and toting the dozen officers off as witnesses. Fred Etweine said this: he is one of those fellows that is always about when anything was going on. John Kenedy & Jim. Gibson are such characters. To be shot by a whore – the officers that were inside – one standing on the porch with her – it's very disgraceful. Col. Kurtz in his wrath let out some forcible expressions about the way the house had been upheld. I met Sgt. Grassmine. He is a sort of detective in town. He told me he caught too small boatloads of salt going across the Neuse into the rebels lines. It rained this evening. I talked to the old d---- who said he was 104 years old. He looks very ancient. His hair is not grizzled much, but his toe nails & finger nails are scaly. I asked him whether he remembered the duel between Spaight and Stanley - he said he did well – the first fire Stanley was shot in the sleeve of his coat, and it came out his shoulder. The second Stanley shot straight through the breast. Spaight then wanted them to raise him up to fire a third time, but the second refused. He said the time was fixed and people went down from his county – 16 miles from New Bern to see the battle. He could not tell me where it took place. He said on this place his son [?] [?] & it was bought by Jim Niley who afterwards fell in a duel with some one I have forgotten who. He [torn] Jack Stanley fell dead in the court House of Raleigh as he was taking some oath. He always said he was going to swear to a lie. He was a short old bachelor Jack Stanley was - he never was nobody after that - he told him often that he was no man after that- he had often ferried Jack Stanley over the river to go to Trenton to court. He evidently meant that he was struck with paralysis - as he speaks of talking to him afterwards - as was the fact
