down within about three quarters of a mile of the James river,
formed line of battle and threw up rifle pits; remained here until
about 4 o'clock p. m. when we were relieved by General Burnside's
Division of colored troops. We then marched down to the river and
took transports for Point of Rocks; the Tenth Vermont was favored
by going on the dispatch boat; had plenty of room and a fine time.
The quiet moonlight night and cool river breeze were delightfully
enchanting after such war experiences as we had passed through. It
seemed heavenly! I withdrew to a lonely corner by myself and gave
myself up to reflection and feelings of thankfulness; has been hot
all day. It is reported that General W. F. Smith has taken the outer
works of Petersburg, Va., captured sixteen pieces of artillery and
twenty-five hundred prisoners. I hardly believe it. I know what such
fighting means too well. Such victories don't grow on bushes to be
plucked by every one passing.
FRIDAY, June 17, 1864.
We arrived at Point of Rocks at 1 o'clock a. m., marched about three
miles, got coffee and joined our brigade in General B. F. Butler's
breastworks at the front; have been idle all day. About dark our
skirmish line was driven in, and our regiment was sent out to
support the line until reestablished, but as they could not succeed
in this we withdrew and went back to camp. We expected to have to
assault the enemy's formidable fortifications, and were greatly
relieved when we were withdrawn. General H. G. Wright opposed
General Butler in an assault on the enemy's works here and won his
point, it is said.
SATURDAY, June 18, 1864.
The number of prisoners captured yesterday by General Smith was
only about five hundred, not twenty-five hundred as reported. The
works were carried by storm by colored troops, but they couldn't
have taken them if the forts had been fully garrisoned, by veterans
instead of citizens. We have remained behind our works all day;
brisk skirmishing in front, and cannonading towards Petersburg;
gunboats have thrown a few shells into the enemy's lines. I got
letters from home to-night; all well there.
SUNDAY, June 19, 1864.
It was warm and sultry in the middle of the day. We remained in our
works till about 5 o'clock p. m. when on being relieved by General
W. F. Smith's command, we at once started for Petersburg about
eight miles away to rejoin the Army of the Potomac, crossing the
Appomattox river on the pontoon bridge, and arriving at the outer
works about 8 o'clock p. m. where we bivouaced. Generals Grant
and Butler rode along the lines together at Bermuda Hundred this
afternoon. It was my first sight of Butler; queer-looking man; his
beauty won't kill him.
MONDAY, June 20, 1864.
Have just returned from the heights. The City of Petersburg looks
lovely at a distance, but our guns command it and can at any time
lay it in ruins. The enemy occupy the heights on the other side
of the Appomattox river. Siege guns are shelling back and forth,
but it's no such fighting as we have seen since we broke winter
quarters. We have remained in the woods all day, it's been so warm.
Orry Blanchard called to-night; am detailed for fatigue--probably to
work a detail on fortifications.
TUESDAY, June 21, 1864.
I worked a fatigue party on a fort all night arriving in camp about
5 o'clock a. m. tired and hungry; slept until about 6 o'clock p.
m. when we were ordered to march. We moved out on the Jerusalem
plank road to where our cavalry were skirmishing on the ground to
the left of our army which we were expected to occupy, and halted
about 9 o'clock p. m. Although it was dark we threw out a skirmish
line, forced the enemy back, captured several prisoners, camped and
commenced to throw up breastworks having joined our line with the
Second Corps on our right. The First, Second and Third Divisions,
Sixth Corps, in the order mentioned from the right now form the left
of our army. General Grant is simply extending his line to the left.
Colonel W. W. Henry took command of the regiment last night. I have
received a letter from Lieutenant G. E. Davis at Annapolis; is doing
well. The One Hundred and Sixth New York captured a Johnny to-night
under singular circumstances but I've not room to relate them.
WEDNESDAY, June 22, 1864.
It's very warm and dry and the dust is intolerable it's so sandy.
We remained in our rifle pits until about 9 o'clock a. m. when we
advanced and finding the enemy gone occupied their works till about
3 o'clock p. m. when we threw up another line of pits, and were
then ordered to fall back to our line of last night, but finally
charged through the brush about two miles and captured another line
of works without resistance. There has been considerable confusion
to-day. While on the skirmish line the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania
of our brigade came near being captured from the fact that for some
unaccountable reason the picket line next on one of its flanks was
withdrawn unknown to Colonel Schall, when the enemy crept through
the opening and captured about a dozen men, but seeing what was the
matter, Colonel Schall, a splendid officer, took such action as was
necessary and saved his regiment. In another instance the First
Division of our Corps, which had moved more slowly than ours and
not as wished, found itself and its skirmish line partly a goodly
distance behind our division. It was amusing to say the least, at
any rate to us. We finally got things straightened out with the
Second Division on our left but considerably in rear with its left
refused to protect its flank. The first Division occupied a similar
position on our right but a goodly distance in our rear.
THURSDAY, June 23, 1864.
This has been the warmest day yet this summer, and no sign of
rain. We remained in line all day without intrenching when the
enemy began to make quite a demonstration on our left. We threw
up rifle pits but our division was so far in advance of the other
two of our Corps, the rebs had a cross fire on us. Our skirmishers
have been on the Weldon railroad most of the day until finally the
First Division of our Corps began to destroy the track. It had
only just begun when the force sent from the Vermont Brigade and
the Eighty-seventh Pennsylvania of our brigade to protect it, were
attacked, surrounded and about five hundred, including four officers
and seventy-nine enlisted men from the Eighty-seventh, were either
killed or taken prisoners. The Eighty-seventh had twenty-six killed
and wounded. After this we all retired to the line occupied by us on
the 21st of June.
FRIDAY, June 24, 1864.
Intensely warm and still; no prospect of rain; remained in our rear
line of works until about 9 o'clock a. m. when we received orders
to move out by the left flank into our first line of works. Our
skirmish line has been driven in once and probably five hundred were
taken prisoners by the enemy. This is rather discouraging but we
must expect to meet with some reverses. Rebel prisoners have been
sent in to-day; they speak hopefully of their cause, but I have _no_
doubt but what the _Union_ cause will triumph.
SATURDAY, June 25, 1864.
Still we are behind our works sweltering in the sun. The only way
we can possibly keep comfortable is to stick up brush which gives
us a little shade; enemy made no attack last night as expected on
our left. The Second Corps was attacked during the night, the enemy
gaining some advantage, but our troops rallied and regained what
they had lost. It's quite comfortable this evening; the bands
are all playing, and seem determined to help us pass the time as
pleasantly as possible in spite of our uncomfortable surroundings.
But if we are uncomfortable what condition must the enemy be in?
It's a poor soldier who never thinks of such things.
SUNDAY, June 26, 1864.
Another Sabbath morning has dawned, and finds us in the same
uncomfortable position as yesterday, yet I will not complain of
the intense heat as long as we can remain quiet. We get plenty of
lemons and ice from the Sanitary Commission which alleviates our
discomforts considerably. The enemy still permits us to remain
quiet, but are less lenient to those on our right, as fighting was
kept up all night. Burnside was attacked but held his own.
MONDAY, June 27, 1864.
There was considerable thunder during the night, but no rain here,
yet it has been cooler to-day than yesterday. We have a few lemons
left. Captain Edwin Dillingham's commission as Major came this
forenoon; regiment goes on picket to-night; slight shower with
thunder about 4 o'clock p. m. and it's cooler.
TUESDAY, June 28, 1864.
We relieved the Fourteenth New Jersey from picket; all quiet through
the night; made my headquarters with the reserve in an orchard
where we got plenty of green apples, etc.; was relieved by the One
Hundred and Sixth New York after dark. On returning from picket was
happily surprised to find that preparations had been made to go into
camp, and that the men of my Company had a tent all up for me. The
Company (D) generally looks after me very nicely. This Company, too,
is a splendid fighting one with me, anyway; but, as we have been in
tight places, I guess K Company has won my admiration as a valiant
one over all others, except Company B, which will follow me anywhere
I lead, as it did over the fence at Locust Grove, Va. in a plucky
charge for which we never got credit. It was only bandbox soldiers
who were seen that day and mentioned in orders.
WEDNESDAY, June 29, 1864.
Very warm and dry again this morning. General H. G. Wright, our
corps commander, had an inspection and review at 7 o'clock this
morning. It seemed so strange to be called out again for parade
I hardly knew how to act. But what seems strange is that they
should commence this thing when the men are all tired out. They
need a day's rest more than anything else. I do wish they would
consider the welfare of the men more. Well, here we are again! have
marched all afternoon and turned up at Reames Station on the Weldon
railroad; didn't know but what we were marching round to go into the
back door of Petersburg or Richmond. I'm half dead with fatigue.
THURSDAY, June 30, 1864.
Quite warm, but a fairly cool breeze. The First and Second Divisions
of our Corps worked all night destroying the railroad and are at it
now, our forces having burnt the depot; have made thorough work of
it; think it must have been quite a business place here once, but it
is now a mass of ruins. Our division has been building breastworks;
had just got them nicely completed when we were ordered back late
in the day to our old position as we supposed, but 9 o'clock p. m.
finds us in camp for the night two miles from there.
FRIDAY, July 1, 1864.
Well, here it is the first day of July! Who would think it? We have
been fighting two months, and the time (July 4th), set by thousands
for the downfall of the Confederate capital is close at hand, yet
it cannot be taken by that time. Still I have no doubt there are
thousands at the North who are expecting to hear of its capture, and
perhaps many who are foolish enough to believe that it will surely
fall on July 4th. I have no doubt but what it will fall before
another summer, but it will take time and hard fighting, and many a
poor fellow on both sides will bite the dust first; wonder if all
think of this? Many never think of anything till it happens, they
are too selfish; remained all day in the position we took up last
night, but just at night we moved a quarter of a mile to the front
and formed line of battle.
SATURDAY, July 2, 1864.
This morning we started about 7 o'clock for camp and arrived about
10 o'clock a. m.; have had directions to fix up quarters as there
is a prospect of remaining in camp several days; are obeying orders
of course, but I suspect we shall move before three days; very warm
day--sweltering.
SUNDAY, July 3, 1864.
We have made arrangements so that we are quite comfortable in spite
of the intense heat; has been very quiet in camp all day. All are
anticipating a good time to-morrow if General Grant don't conclude
to have us fight, and I don't think he will, for I don't believe
he considers it of any use to attack the enemy, so long as he can
oblige it to come out and fight him. Lieutenant G. E. Davis came
to-day. Lieutenant H. W. Kingsley called to-night.
MONDAY, July 4, 1864.
Again another Fourth of July has come and, not as usual for the
past three years, all is quiet. Who could have anticipated it with
such conditions? It's very warm and dusty. Lieutenant Hill and I
have been down to the Division hospital to see Lieutenant H. W.
Kingsley. It has been the quietest time in camp to-day we have had
in two months; have enjoyed it greatly. Colonel Henry Powell--a
good soldier--formerly First Sergeant of Company F, Tenth Vermont,
but promoted Colonel of U. S. C. T.[6] called to-day. I don't think
he has a very exalted opinion of colored troops and he may be right;
he's a man of good sense and judgment.
[6] United States Colored Troops.
TUESDAY, July 5, 1864.
Quite comfortable all day. Lieut. G. E. Davis has completed the
Muster and Pay rolls, but I've not felt very well and have been abed
all day. Captain G. W. Burnell, formerly Second Lieutenant, Tenth
Vermont, has been with us to-day; he's about the same old chap,
but I don't think he has a very high opinion of colored troops,
either. It's reported the enemy is making a raid into Maryland with
General Jubal A. Early in command. I have been expecting this.
They will doubtless make us much trouble, but they can't checkmate
Grant in that way; he has too many men. He won't budge from
here--_never_--until he takes Petersburg which means Richmond, too.
Up to this time our First Brigade has lost in killed, wounded, etc.,
over eight hundred men since we broke winter camp.
WEDNESDAY, July 6, 1864.
Our Division was ordered to move to City Point at daylight to take
transports for Baltimore, Md., and thence by rail to Harper's Ferry,
Md., or vicinity. I said we'd move shortly when ordered to fix camp
on the second of July. We arrived at City Point about 3 o'clock p.
m. after a hot dusty march and much suffering, and sailed about 4
o'clock p. m. It's quick work to load a boat in an hour, but Grant
was there. The contrast from marching through sand ankle deep as dry
as an ash heap with the air so thick with dust one a few steps away
is invisible, and being on the cool river is a great transformation
we much appreciate--Hallelujah!
THURSDAY, July 7, 1864.
I was told last night that we should reach Fortress Monroe at
daylight, and I was up to see it, but we passed it about midnight.
We are evidently greatly needed to head off a raid in Maryland. I
saw the sun rise on the water this morning. It has been quite warm
all day although on the water with the boat making good time. We
arrived at Baltimore at 4 o'clock p. m. but have not been allowed to
leave the boat yet.
FRIDAY, July 8, 1864.
Two boat-loads of our Division landed last night at 11 o'clock.
We took the cars at once for Frederick, Md., and arrived there at
10 o'clock a. m. to-day, finding the city nearly deserted by its
inhabitants, and only a small force of hundred days' men, etc., to
defend it having skirmished yesterday with the enemy's advanced
guard and kept it from entering the town. The place is full of
rumors, but it's impossible to get any reliable information. We
were followed this afternoon by more of our Division, and all have
been kept busy by General Lew Wallace who is in command, marching
about the city, forming lines of battle to the north of it, etc.,
presumably to try and deceive the enemy as to our strength.
There were in Frederick on our arrival here together with such
troops as have arrived since, not including our Division,
twenty-five hundred green troops under Brigadier-General E. B.
Tyler, which have never been under fire to any extent, as follows:
Five companies of the First Regiment Maryland Home Brigade, Captain
Chas. J. Brown commanding; the Third Regiment Maryland Home Brigade,
Colonel Chas. Gilpin commanding; the Eleventh Regiment Maryland
Infantry, Colonel Wm. T. Landstreet commanding; three companies
of the One Hundred and Forty-fourth Regiment Ohio National Guard,
Colonel Allison L. Brown commanding; seven companies of the One
Hundred and Forty-ninth Regiment Ohio National Guard, Colonel
A. L. Brown commanding; and Captain F. W. Alexander's Baltimore
(Md.) Battery of six three-inch guns; Lieut. Colonel David R.
Clendenin's squadron of Mounted Infantry from the Eighth Illinois
National Guard; a detachment of mounted infantry--probably two
companies--from the One Hundred and Fifty-ninth Ohio National Guard,
Captains E. H. Lieb and H. S. Allen commanding, respectively; the
Loudoun (Va.) Rangers, and a detachment of mixed cavalry, Major
Charles A. Wells commanding. The Eleventh Maryland and all the Ohio
troops are hundred days' men.
The Third Division, Major General James B. Ricketts commanding, of
the Sixth Corps, consists of two brigades and now has here nine of
its twelve regiments or a force of three thousand three hundred and
fifty men as follows: The First Brigade is commanded by Colonel W.
S. Truex of the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Infantry, and is
composed of the One Hundred and Sixth Regiment New York Volunteer
Infantry, Captain E. M. Paine commanding; the Tenth Regiment
Vermont Volunteer Infantry, Colonel W. W. Henry commanding; the
One Hundred and Fifty-first Regiment New York Volunteer Infantry,
Colonel William Emerson commanding; the Eighty-seventh Regiment
Pennsylvania Volunteer Infantry, Lieutenant-Colonel J. A. Stahel
commanding, and the Fourteenth Regiment New Jersey Infantry,
Lieutenant-Colonel C. K. Hall commanding. The Second Brigade,
Colonel Matthews R. McClennan commanding is composed of the Ninth
Regiment New York Heavy Artillery, Colonel Wm. H. Seward, Jr.
commanding; the One Hundred and Twenty-sixth Regiment Ohio National
Guard, Lieutenant-Colonel Aaron W. Ebright commanding; the One
Hundred and Tenth Regiment Ohio National Guard, Lieutenant-Colonel
Otho H. Binkley commanding; the One Hundred and Thirty-eighth
Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry, Major Lewis A. May commanding; and
a detachment of the One Hundred and Twenty-second Ohio Infantry
commanded by Lieutenant C. J. Gibson. The Sixth Regiment Maryland
Infantry, Sixty-second Regiment Pennsylvania Infantry and most of
the One Hundred and Twenty-second Regiment of Ohio National Guard of
the Second Brigade have not yet arrived.
With the Georgetown or Washington and Baltimore turnpikes both
passing through Frederick, it is easy to see why this is an
important point as viewed from a military standpoint. The latter
runs in a westerly direction from Baltimore, crosses the Monocacy
river over a stone bridge about three miles from, and on through,
Frederick centrally, and thence on to Harper's Ferry, Frederick
being about thirty-five miles from Baltimore. The Georgetown
turnpike runs northwesterly crossing the Monocacy river on a
covered wooden bridge at Frederick Junction, about three miles from
Frederick, on through the city which is also about thirty-five miles
from Washington, and thence northwesterly to Sharpsburg, the two
pikes crossing each other centrally in Frederick at right angles.
The Georgetown wooden and railroad steel bridges across the Monocacy
at Frederick Junction are about one-fourth of a mile apart, and the
distance between the Georgetown pike wooden bridge and Baltimore
turnpike stone bridge is about three miles with Crum's Ford about
midway between. There are also several fords within two miles or
so below the Georgetown pike wooden bridge where it crosses the
Monocacy at Frederick Junction.
SATURDAY, July 9, 1864.
We left Frederick under the cover of darkness last night, and after
marching a round-about way which took nearly all night, brought
up at Frederick Junction, about three miles away on the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad, where on a ridge of hills skirting the Monocacy
river probably on an average eighty feet high more or less across
and on the east side of the river opposite the junction the railroad
steel and Georgetown turnpike covered wooden bridges, the latter of
which we burnt early in the day to keep the enemy from crossing--we
formed line of battle in a naturally strong position about 7 o'clock
a. m. probably about three miles long. The river was virtually
crescent-shaped opposite the Third Division with the concave side
towards Frederick, but a little way above the railroad bridge ran
northwesterly for fully six miles or more, it being about three
miles distant from the Baltimore pike stone bridge northeasterly
from Frederick, and the same distance southeasterly to the
Georgetown pike wooden bridge. A skirmish line of two hundred and
seventy-five enlisted men and three officers was established as soon
as practicable under the command of Maj. C. G. Chandler. It was also
crescent-shaped with the convex side also towards Frederick with its
flanks resting practically on the river. Captain C. J. Brown and
two hundred enlisted men were from General E. B. Tyler's command,
and Major C. G. Chandler, First Lieut. G. E. Davis and seventy-five
enlisted men were from General J. B. Rickett's Third Division of
the Sixth Corps, the latter officers,--Davis and Chandler,--being
from the Tenth Vermont. Here we waited for the enemy to approach.
We didn't have long to wait for soon the whole country across the
Monocacy was alive with Johnnies who attacked us with overwhelming
numbers about 8 o'clock a. m. and kept it up till about 5 o'clock p.
m.
It was a brilliant little fight on our part, although when we formed
line we were much depressed for we knew we were greatly outnumbered.
General E. B. Tyler guarded the Baltimore pike stone bridge with a
goodly portion of his command, and Crum's Ford with three companies
of Colonel Gilpin's regiment of the Potomac Home Brigade. At first
three pieces of Captain Alexander's Battery were given General
Ricketts who protected the railroad bridge and Georgetown pike, and
three pieces were given General Tyler but later only one piece. The
left of our main line was refused or bent back just north of the
Thomas house, Colonel Clendenin's squadron of cavalry being far to
our left. Our infantry left ran along the Georgetown turnpike which
led to the wooden bridge burnt early in the morning to keep the
enemy from crossing. The pike runs as a whole from the river about
southeast forming an obtuse angle with it, and it was along it which
runs through a slight cut here, which formed an excellent natural
breastwork, Company D of Burlington, Vt., and two other companies
of the Tenth Vermont were stretched out fully a quarter of a mile
or more under Major E. Dillingham of our regiment his right being
near the junction of the Georgetown pike and the Urbana road. It was
little more than an attenuated skirmish line but nevertheless the
main line of battle. The command of Company D fell to me as Lieut.
G. E. Davis was on the skirmish line. It was an anxious time for
having little faith in our cavalry I feared a cavalry charge from
the enemy down the pike to my left, as a sharp cavalry skirmish had
occurred here when this part of the field had been first occupied
by our forces in the morning before my arrival. The skirmishers in
my front were very busy, too, exchanging shots with the enemy's
skirmishers till the first assault by the enemy in the afternoon
about 2 o'clock on the east side of the river which was a brilliant
one. The enemy in strong force had forded the river a goodly
distance south of us, left its horses out of sight and appeared from
the edge of the woods on top of a high hill bordering the river
about three-quarters of a mile away to the south in solid lines
which moved in double time down the long green sloping open field in
perfect order all the while shouting their ominous defiant battle
cry. It was General McCausland's Brigade of dismounted cavalry in
two lines; and let me say right here that if this was an average
sized brigade in Early's army then half the truth as to its numbers
has not been told. I could see this assaulting column being nearest
to it probably, better than any other officer on the field, and
_know_ whereof I write.