the left. We were ordered to hold the line until 11 o'clock then
withdraw quietly and overtake the balance of the army. Goodness! I
wonder if we are always to be rear guard? It's worrying, besides,
we have to march so rapidly, such duty should be passed round. We
crossed the North Anna about three miles below Noles Station. It has
been terrible marching the roads are so blocked with army supply
wagons or trains--however we have made a thirty-mile march and find
ourselves near the ford at Hanover Court House. The men stood the
march well for we are on the road to Richmond. Goodness! but I'm
tired.
SATURDAY, May 28, 1864.
I wrote hastily yesterday, as we were ordered to move about the time
I commenced; rested well last night; marched at 7 o'clock a. m.;
arrived at the Pawmunky river about noon and crossed at Nelson's
Ferry on a pontoon bridge without difficulty as our cavalry held the
place; did not advance far south of the river before we ran into
the enemy and captured two pieces of artillery; have been building
breastworks this evening; are camped on Dr. Pollard's plantation,
a lovely place, but much neglected owing to the war. Slight shower
just at dark.
SUNDAY, May 29, 1864.
Weather quite cool and comfortable; no fighting today; only twenty
miles from Richmond--Hurrah! The negroes were much frightened when
they saw the Yankee army approach, but have become very much tamed
in twenty-four hours; said the Johnnies told them we had horns,
would cut off their arms, etc. Poor things! they were actually
frightened, and showed it by their bulging eyes, looks and manner.
It was comical! General Russell has gone on a reconnoissance to
Hanover Court House. It's rumored that General R. E. Lee is dead,
but I believe it's a fake.
MONDAY, May 30, 1864.
Very sultry with intense heat; has not rained today as usual. We
were ordered to move from Dr. Pollard's in a westerly course to the
right about daylight; have been changing positions all day, and
yet we have been cautiously advancing on Richmond; are now within
twelve miles of the Confederate capital with the rebel army in our
immediate front. In order to get here we crossed Crump's Creek
towards Hanover Court House. When nearing Atler's Station about
noon we were ordered back to support the Second Corps which was
engaging the enemy near Totopotomy Creek. We marched in a sweltering
and almost exhausted condition to the Hanover turnpike which we
had left in the morning but soon again left it cutting cross-lots
through a swamp and heavy oak forest where a road was being cut
for artillery, and soon went into line of battle on the left of
General Birney's Division about mid-afternoon. We were ordered to
charge but the order was countermanded. The lines here ran about
north and south. The enemy's picket line kept up a sharp fusilade
all night, as a bluff to enable its force here to withdraw in order
to form another line called the Totopotomy, so as to cover several
roads leading to Richmond including the Shady Grove Church road
at Hantley's Corners, and the Walnut Grove Church road as well as
the Mechanicsville turnpike, etc. Our line was changed to meet the
enemy's, but we made no assault. The enemy was evidently greatly
worried as it kept up a heavy artillery fire and made one or two
fruitless assaults. Did they but know our strength they would know
better than to charge our works; but they are plucky fellows.
TUESDAY, May 31, 1864.
As beautiful a morning as I ever saw; men are feeling better since
they drew rations; had been without two days; heavy skirmishing in
front. Our artillery shelled the enemy out of its first line of
works about noon. We moved up and occupied them without difficulty;
enemy has made several useless attempts to shell us but have done no
harm. Our own batteries have been shelling the enemy over us, but
have wounded more of our men than the enemy. The Tenth Vermont is on
the skirmish line to-night. Today's experience when our batteries
threw shells over us at the enemy and hurt so many of our men was
the most exasperating of the campaign. Such stupidity ought to be
punished, as the artillerymen could plainly see that their shells
were exploding close over us and several hundred yards short of the
enemy.
WEDNESDAY, June 1, 1864.
It has been a terribly warm day. The enemy being too well posted
at Totopotomy to attack, Grant concluded to move to Cold Harbor
about fifteen miles away, last night. General Sheridan had taken it
yesterday afternoon but being hard pressed by the enemy's Infantry
he had started to leave when he was ordered by General Meade not
to do so. The Sixth Corps in accordance with this plan started
for that point at about 2 o'clock this morning over a narrow road
leading a part of the way through swamps which are the source of
the Totopotomy and Matadequin rivers, arriving at Cold Harbor which
was being held by General Custer's Cavalry, at about 2 o'clock this
afternoon. Characteristic of Custer when in a hot place, his band
was playing Hail Columbia while his men were fighting like Trojans
to hold their ground. He had had a goodly number killed and wounded
who lay on the field uncared for because all his men were absolutely
required for fighting in order to hold the place. Soon the dry grass
and underbrush took fire and the helpless wounded were roasted to
death, their charred remains being found afterwards. It was a sad
sight for any one, and especially a thoughtful person.
Our line of battle consists of the Sixth and Eighteenth Corps, Major
General W. F. Smith commanding the latter of about ten thousand
men just from Bermuda Hundred being on the right of the line. Our
Corps with its Third, First and Second Divisions in the order named
from right to left was on the left of the line. The Third Division,
Sixth Corps went into line about 3 o'clock p. m. just west of an
old tavern at Cold Harbor Cross Roads or Old Cold Harbor, from
which tavern the place probably took its name, owing to its custom
of entertaining especially at an early day when its grounds were
allowed for camping purposes to travelers and they cared mostly for
themselves.
Our part of the line was in an open field behind a narrow strip of
woods with the enemy's breastworks just beyond about a mile more
or less away in our front. We were formed by regiments four lines
deep. Our regiment was on the skirmish line all night on Totopotomy
Creek, but was relieved about daylight and after a hot dusty march
joined our Division in the foregoing position just in season for the
assault at about 6 o'clock p. m., our brigade being on the left of
our Division. We were all worn out from being on the skirmish line
all night followed by a rapid but all-day march, so near asleep at
times en route as to frequently actually unconsciously march into
scrub trees by the wayside or anything else in the line of march
before awaking. It was simply impossible to keep awake as overtaxed
nature had reached its limit.
We were ordered to guide left on the First Division of the Sixth
Corps in the assault, but owing to some misunderstanding at first
there was some delay, but our brigade soon got in motion and
advanced rapidly in unbroken lines soon all alone on its right,
until broken by the woods, leaving the troops on our right far in
the rear, which caused us to oblique to the right when, before we
were half-way through the woods and swamp which were wider in our
front than to our left, our brigade had deployed so we had only one
line of battle where I was with no support on my right whatever
which, owing to an enfilading fire from the enemy in that direction,
greatly handicapped the right of the line here. This caused quite
a sharp angle in the Union line of battle at this point, and when
we were afterwards drawn back a little to connect with our right it
brought our line of works here closer the enemy's than at any other
point. The fact is we had no support either in rear or to our right
and were in a precarious situation until drawn back in continuous
line of battle with the rest of the assaulting line.
It was a determined charge though, through the woods and swamp. It
was my first experience as Company Commander in an assault, and
it did seem queer to step in front of my men to lead them, one of
if not the youngest among them. But I was on my mettle and had I
known a solid shot would have cut me in part the next second, pride
would have kept me up to the rack, for the Company Commanders of
the Tenth Vermont did not follow but led their men in battle ever
after the first one at Locust Grove and some did there. The men of
Company K are splendid fighters, and I am proud of them. If there
was a man who shirked I didn't see him. They followed me splendidly,
have gained my respect and esteem, and I shall hate to give up the
Company when the time comes to do so.
A part of our Division together with General Emery Upton's Brigade
of our Corps, quite largely went over the enemy's works in the
assault to-night, but could not hold them because not supported on
either flank. It was a plucky fight. Our opponents were Generals
Hoke, Kershaw, Pickett and Field's Divisions. General Clingman's
Brigade was on the right of Hoke's Division, and was badly broken
up in the assault, as well as the Brigade on either side of his,
one of which belonged to Kershaw's Division. Our regiment captured
the Fifty-first North Carolina Infantry, the commanding officer of
which surrendered his sword to Captain E. B. Frost of Company A,
acting Major. Our Division and Upton's Brigade captured five hundred
prisoners, most of whom were probably taken by our regiment. Such
as were taken by it were sent to the rear, without guard, but were
again picked up en route so we got no credit for them. We could not
spare men to send them under guard for we had more than we could do
to hold the works after taking them.
The loss in the Sixth Corps was twelve hundred, of which over eight
hundred were from our Division. The splendid work of the Third
Division here put it in full fellowship with the rest of the Sixth
Corps. We had proved our mettle grandly even if a shorter time in
service than the Second and Third Divisions. The loss from our
Brigade was twenty-one officers, seven of whom were killed, ten
wounded and four were taken prisoners; one hundred enlisted men
were also killed and two hundred and seventy-five wounded. Our
regiment lost nineteen killed and sixty-two wounded, and Company K,
one killed and four wounded. Lieutenant Colonel Townsend of the One
Hundred and Sixth New York, Lieutenants Ezra Stetson of Company B,
and C. G. Newton of Company G, Tenth Vermont, were killed; Colonel
W. W. Henry and Lieutenant William White of the Tenth Vermont,
Colonel W. S. Truex of the Fourteenth New Jersey, commanding First
Brigade, Colonel Schall of the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania were
wounded, and Major McDonald of the One Hundred and Sixth New York
and Lieutenant J. S. Thompson of Company A, Tenth Vermont were taken
prisoners and two other officers.
THURSDAY, June 2, 1864.
Oh, dear, another shocking battle on hand! But we can lick them! I
dread it, though! We laid on our arms in line of battle last night;
heavy skirmishing continued in our front all night; built rifle pits
this morning; men very tired; ordered to assault this evening at 4
o'clock, but it rained and the order was countermanded until morning
thus prolonging the agony; drew rations for the Company to-night;
am getting very tired of this campaign and shall be glad when it's
over, but I suppose it will last a month longer. The enemy is doing
its utmost to gain a victory, but God grant that we may be the
victors if it is His will.
FRIDAY, June 3, 1864.
It still continues to rain a little, but for all this the Second,
Sixth and Eighteenth Corps in the order mentioned from right to
left, were ordered to charge at 4 o'clock a. m. and not to fire a
shot until we got on to the enemy's works, but the charge was not
a success. We never even reached the enemy's works. The attack
commenced on the right and ran along the line until it reached the
left. We advanced under a murderous fire in our front from the
enemy's artillery, sharpshooters and when in range of its main line
of battle and were simply slaughtered. We have lost to-day over
4,000 in killed and wounded. The total casualties June first and
third have been 12,000, of which about 10,000 have been killed and
wounded. The number killed in the Tenth Vermont since Tuesday is
twenty-two and one hundred and twenty-nine wounded; and in Company
K to-day one killed and five wounded. Two killed and nine wounded
in two days greatly weakens my command. Captains Lucius T. Hunt and
Pearl D. Blodgett were wounded, and Captain E. B. Frost was shot
through the head and killed after the assault, by a sharpshooter.
The Tenth Vermont lost sixty-two to-day in killed and wounded. We
are now intrenching and ordered to act on the defensive. The men of
Company K are cool, splendid fighters.
As I sat on the ground this morning with my back against a sapling
in the woods, a sharpshooter planked a bullet in the ground about
an inch from the calf of my right leg which covered me with flying
dirt. He could see my blue pants through the green foliage. I moved.
Colonel Schall who was wounded in the arm in the assault on June
first and carried it in a sling in the fight to-day, was again
wounded in the same arm. He is not a man to take advantage of a
wound not totally disabling him to get out of a fight, evidently.
SATURDAY, June 4, 1864.
The enemy made two unsuccessful assaults last night. Reinforcements
are arriving rapidly. The rain yesterday and this afternoon has
greatly cooled the air. There has been considerable cannonading on
both sides and heavy skirmishing all day. The lines of battle in
our immediate front are only about eight hundred yards apart and
the skirmish lines are very near each other. The One Hundred and
Sixth New York Volunteer Infantry, our favorite fighting companion
as a regiment, are digging another line of rifle pits in our front
for the pickets. I got a letter from Captain H. R. Steele this
afternoon. General Grant issued an order to-day for the army to act
on the defensive. Good!
SUNDAY, June 5, 1864.
It rained nearly all the forenoon, but the skirmishers didn't seem
to mind it, but kept on fighting. It was cloudy and sultry all this
afternoon, but there was no rain. The enemy tried to assault about
dark last night, but gave it up as our artillery had an enfilading
fire on them. There was a very heavy rolling musketry fire on our
distant right about midnight, but I don't know the reason of it. The
enemy tried to carry our left flank about dark by storm, but failed.
The roll of artillery and musketry fire was appalling for about a
half hour, and the slaughter must have been great. Golly! this is
stubborn fighting again! I'm proud of both armies. I wonder what
the Johnnies think of us as fighters now? I'm sure they fight hard
enough for me.
MONDAY, June 6, 1864.
To-day has been sweltering hot. We lay in our works until about
dark when a part of our regiment was ordered for picket. I am not
detailed this time. Lieutenants Merritt Barber and George E. Davis,
Tenth Vermont, reported for duty this afternoon. Lieutenant-Colonel
W. W. Henry's commission as Colonel Tenth Vermont came, also Major
C. G. Chandler's as Lieutenant-Colonel. Captain Samuel Darrah was
shot through the head this afternoon by a sharpshooter while sitting
by his Company, and died at 2 o'clock p. m. His remains will be sent
to Vermont. He was my captain and I am very sorry for his untimely
end. He was a brave little fellow, jolly, clever and kind, always
full of life and will be greatly missed. A flag of truce was sent
out in front of our division to-day; don't know what it was for; has
been quiet all day; men all burrowed under bomb-proof covers. We
sunk big square holes in the ground about two feet deep large enough
to hold about eight or more men, and roofed them with logs, brush
and dirt, but it's very warm to have to live so. It's fine, though,
when bombs are bursting which they often do.
TUESDAY, June 7, 1864.
It has been very quiet along the lines all day; both sides seem
to be tired of sharpshooting. Another flag of truce was sent out
to-day, I think to get permission to bury our dead between the
lines of which there are _many_ plainly to be seen and they are
commencing to smell bad; am told Major Crandall of the Sixth
Vermont, just to the right of us, was shot to-day by a sharpshooter.
He was a popular student once at Barre Academy, Vermont. Captain
Edwin Dillingham reported for duty to-day; has been prisoner of war
at Richmond since the battle of Locust Grove, Va. last fall; never
saw him looking better; is a handsome man, anyway, and a gentleman.
Our army seems to be lying idle now, except the heavy artillery
which is building forts in our rear; occasionally hear the report of
siege guns to our left--or we suppose them to be siege guns.
WEDNESDAY, June 8, 1864.
Still we remain in the same position. Both armies seem to be
preparing for defense operations. I have no doubt but what Grant
intends to hold this line, but I think it far from his intentions to
attack the rebs here again. Probably he will soon move round Lee's
left flank and then perhaps build another chain of forts; really
hope he will manage in some way to get round so much assaulting;
enemy threw a few shells just at dark which all went over us; no
change to-night.
THURSDAY, June 9, 1864.
Very warm all day; sharpshooters keep pecking away at us but don't
accomplish much. Occasionally a shell has been thrown by each side
all day; enemy seems to throw shells oftener at night; shall be
glad when we are out of range of the enemy's sharpshooters for one.
It's not comfortable to be shot at every time one shows himself in
daylight; have been writing letters to-day, one to Pert and another
to Susan Wheeler; enemy shelling quite lively to-night, but shells
all go over us and explode far in our rear among the camp-followers
and hospitals where it is said to be more dangerous than here at the
front, they suffer greatly from shells there.
FRIDAY, June 10, 1864.
Oh, dear! Another day finds us in the same old position. I wonder
if this awful war will ever find an end? It looks worse to me than
ever. Here we are within ten miles of Richmond, and I can't see
any prospect of our ever getting nearer to it without sacrificing
half our noble army, and this in my opinion won't pay. But I fear I
am getting faint-hearted! I must have more faith in our Generals.
Indeed, I think I have faith in them, but they can't do what they
want without they have the men to do it with.
SATURDAY, June 11, 1864.
Goodness! We traveled all night and haven't got out of sight of our
old position. Did ever anyone see such stupidity? I'm getting more
fault-finding than an old maid, but loss of sleep and shattered
nerves from being overtaxed in every way will account for it. Nature
will collapse when continually over-taxed. I'm all out of patience,
but it will do no good to mutter, so I'll stop. We relieved a
portion of the Second Corps to-day; don't know where they are going;
probably some strategic movement afoot; was sent out on picket about
noon. It's not a very agreeable job to relieve the skirmish line in
daylight when the enemy is so near, yet we did it; heavy cannonading
to-night.
SUNDAY, June 12, 1864.
Relieved the skirmish line yesterday without great difficulty; all
quiet through the night; not a gun fired to-day thus far in front
of us; can hear the rebs talk and sing quite plain in our immediate
front; was informed this afternoon the army would move to-night at
7 o'clock; dread leaving the skirmish line, but I suppose we can do
it; very quiet this evening; bands playing and big guns booming;
wonder if it isn't a bluff? The moon is shining brightly.
MONDAY, June 13, 1864.
The effective force of our regiment now is twelve officers and three
hundred and fifty-two enlisted men. We left Vermont with a thousand
enlisted men or more. I wrote hastily last evening, being crowded
for time. I left the skirmish line in the dark without difficulty,
but it was very nerve-trying. My post was in second growth hard
timber, and the enemy could be plainly heard creeping up close--very
close, within a few feet, to see if we had gone after dark. When
one's alone in the dark under such circumstances and he don't
know but what all his comrades are miles away on the march except
his part of the skirmish line, such conditions are disconcerting,
for pickets are sometimes sacrificed when an army moves. The enemy
mistrusting our designs followed us up closely--so close we had to
run with hair on end to get away without drawing their fire for
if we did it meant perhaps that we would be abandoned to our fate
by the assembled picket a goodly distance off awaiting us. But O,
what a relief it was when we joined the reserve! We were on the
extreme left and the last to leave the enemy's front as our position
protected our army in its flank movement. It was the most trying
similar position I have ever been in up to this time during the war.
We traveled like racehorses all night and to-day, and I, at least,
was frequently so near asleep while marching in the heat of the day,
as to unconsciously walk right up against any object in my path
which would of course arouse me; marched about twenty miles, but I
should think it was forty--indeed, forty is what we called it at the
time--via Charles City Court House and bivouaced at Jones bridge
on the Chickahominy. I don't think I was ever so tired in my life
as to-night; don't think I _could_ march much further; got a daily
paper to-day for the first time since we left our winter quarters.
We were the rear of the army last night, and it was a trial to wait
after leaving the skirmish line till all the men of the Division
assembled before taking up our line of march. I got testy several
times in the night walking into scrub trees by the wayside half
asleep. We laughed at each other for doing it, though, for we have
our fun even under the most trying circumstances.
TUESDAY, June 14, 1864.
Very cool and comfortable for this season; marched about six miles
this morning and went into camp; have remained here all day and
possibly shall tonight; hope to at any rate for I am very tired
and need rest; was ordered back to take command of Company D this
morning; am not much sorry for the change for it's my Company.
We are only a short distance from the James river; can hear the
steamboats whistle plainly. It does seem _so_ good not to hear
musketry and picket firing, but from force of habit I hear both in
my sleep nights. Our army excepting the First and Third Divisions
of our Corps crossed the river here to-day on a pontoon bridge. It
took one hundred pontoons to construct the bridge which is held
in place by large vessels at anchor above and below the bridge,
especially during the ebb and flow of the tide which is about four
feet. For the last ten miles before reaching here we passed through
a fine country and community with fine old plantations and houses
surrounded with lovely flowers and beautifully embowered.
WEDNESDAY, June 15, 1864.
Weather quite warm all day; about 9 o'clock a. m. changed positions
to the left; remained till night, and then moved still further to
the left and finally camped for the night. A part of the regiment
has gone on picket. I am not going; no news to-day. I have been
thinking quite seriously that I will go home this winter and fit
myself for a profession--not that I am getting tired of military
life but think it for my interests in the long run; am undecided
what I will do. I don't believe I shall be a quitter, though, for I
am not weak that way. No patriot resigns in the face of the enemy
when his country needs his services.
THURSDAY, June 16, 1864.