_Wednesday, June 19, 1861._--Embarkation of the Second Battery on the
steamer Kill Von Kull, and of the Second Rhode Island Infantry, on the
State of Maine.
Early in the morning the tents were struck, everything packed up, order
was given to mount, and by nine o'clock we commenced our march through
Westminster street; from thence, through South Main street, to India
Point, where the steamers lay, and started by about four o'clock in the
afternoon. The docks were crowded immensely during the day; the fair sex,
especially, was strongly represented. Amid the pealing of cannon and the
farewell cheers of the multitude, we gradually distanced the shore. Those
present will well remember that memorable day. Gov. Sprague and the
patriotic Bishop Clark accompanied the Second Regiment, infantry, on the
State of Maine. On our approaching Fort Adams, we were saluted by the
artillery there. By nightfall, we were made acquainted with the first
government ration--pilot bread, the so-called salt-junk, and a cup of
coffee. The meat was of a rather poor quality, although it was served out
with good grace by our respected captain, W. H. Reynolds.
_Thursday, June 20._--We steamed past Fort Schuyler, Hurl Gate, New York
city, crossed the bay, and landed at Elizabethport, by ten o'clock A. M.
After a delay of several hours at the railroad depot, the train started
off. Much sympathy was displayed by the people of New Brunswick, Trenton,
Easton and other places we passed through. Loud cheering hailed us at
every station; strawberries, pies, &c., were freely handed in the cars.
_Friday, June 21._--Arrived at Harrisburg early in the morning. Coffee,
bread and pies were given to us by inhabitants of that place. After a
short halt, we resumed our journey, crossed the Susquehanna river, passed
Little York, and arrived at Baltimore by eight o'clock in the evening. Our
battery was immediately loaded on flats, drawn by horses to the top of the
hill, the horses unhitched then, and the cars rolled down the other side
to the Washington depot. Order was given not to accept of any refreshments
from the citizens. No demonstration was made, the throwing of a few bricks
on the cars, in the neighborhood of the depot, excepted. Started for
Washington by ten o'clock.
_Saturday, June 22._--Arrival at the National Capital. By daylight the
cupola of the Capitol greeted our eyes, a reviving sight after three
sleepless nights. Col. Ambrose E. Burnside and Capt. Chas. H. Tompkins had
a breakfast prepared for us, consisting of roast beef, soft bread and
coffee. After unloading battery, we marched towards Camp Sprague, and
established our quarters on the left of those of the First R. I. infantry
regiment and battery. Our camp was named "Camp Clark," in honor of the
celebrated Bishop Clark, of Rhode Island, the model of a Christian
minister and true patriot.
_Sunday, June 23._--The sanctity of the day was well observed throughout
the camp, and increased by an impressive sermon, preached by Bishop Clark.
In the afternoon, passes were given to the men to visit the city. The day
closed with a dress parade, President Lincoln and other functionaries
being present.
_Monday, June 24._--Grand review of the Rhode Island troops by President
Lincoln and Gen. Scott. Marched in front of the White House and through
the principal streets of Washington.
From this time up to the 4th of July, nothing of importance occurred;
everything went on quiet and pleasant; battery drills and manual of the
piece were the usual occupation. Sometimes the long roll would be beat
during the night, or guards would fire at some imaginary object of
suspicion. On such an occasion a cow was shot.
_Thursday, July 4._--The day was duly celebrated in camp. Rhode Island
furnished her troops with a good dinner. Prof. Sweet treated the multitude
with a tight rope performance. The day passed off smoothly, with the
exception of a strange display of authority by a few corporals, laboring
under the idea that their dignity was injured by the men not paying enough
respect to them. In those days gunners and caisson corporals played
gentlemen. They not only expected to be saluted by privates, but induced
the men of their respective detachments to hire negroes to black the boots
for all the men, while actually it was only to wait on the corporals; yet
they did not want to stand the expense alone. Let it be said in our honor,
we allowed this humbug to be of but short duration. I cannot help
mentioning the names of the men of the fourth detachment, not because the
men were any better than others, but because it furnished the most
commissioned and non-commissioned officers of any other in the battery.
Corporals, Charles H. Clark and Harry C. Cushing. Privates, Wm. Drape,
George Greenleaf, John H. Lawrence, Ben. S. Monroe, Richard Percival,
Theodore Reichardt, Robert Rowbottom, Robert Raynor, Charles V. Scott, and
Arnold A. Walker.
_Tuesday, July 9._--A sad accident occurred to-day. At section drill,
through some unknown cause, a limber-chest of Lieut. Vaughan's section,
filled with cartridges, exploded, while the gunner Morse, and privates
Bourne and Freeman were mounted. They were thrown some twenty feet up in
the air. Morse and Bourne died within the space of an hour. Freeman, being
badly injured, recovered after a lingering sickness. Two drivers were
slightly wounded, and two horses injured. We escorted the bodies of Morse
and Bourne to the depot, to be sent to Rhode Island.
_Thursday, July 11._--Grand review before President Lincoln, Gens. Scott
and Fremont. Salutes were fired.
_Monday, July 15._--Great excitement in camp; order was received to get
ready for a forward movement; ammunition packed; haversacks and canteens
were issued.
_Tuesday, July 16._--The morning of that day found us marching across the
Long Bridge, directly through Fort Runyon, on the Virginia side; did not
march over seven miles; after which we formed in line of battle and
prepared to camp for the night, this being the first night in the open
air. All quiet during the night.
_Wednesday, July 17._--Resumed our march soon after break of day, and
entered Fairfax Court House, contrary to our expectations, towards one
o'clock, at mid-day, the rebels having evacuated the town shortly before
our entrance. Their rear guard could be plainly seen some distance off.
Our battery formed in park near the court house. Some of the boys were
very lucky in finding a good dinner served on a table in one of the
houses, besides some articles of value, undoubtedly belonging to some
confederate officers. Some picket firing during the night.
_Thursday, July 18._--Advance at daylight. A part of the Union army, Gen.
Tyler's troops, engaged. This conflict the rebels call battle of Bull Run.
While the contest was raging, our division halted two miles to the left of
Fairfax Court House, at a place called Germantown. We could plainly hear
the distant booming of artillery, and were impatiently waiting for the
order, "forward." Towards four o'clock P. M., we advanced again;
preparations were made to get in action; sponge buckets filled with water,
and equipments distributed among the cannoniers. But when we approached
Centreville, intelligence came that our troops got worsted and the contest
was given up. Our division went to camp within a mile and a half of
Centreville. Strong picket lines were drawn up.
_Friday, July 19._--Camp near Centreville. The troops remained quiet all
day. Fresh beef as rations.
_Saturday, July 20._--Quiet during the day. About six o'clock in the
evening the army got ready to advance; but after council of war was held
by the chief commanders, they concluded to wait till the next day.
_Sunday, July 21._--Battle of Manassas Plains. This battle will always
occupy a prominent place in the memory of every man of the battery. They
all expected to find a disorganized mob, that would disperse at our mere
appearance; while, to the general surprise, they not only were better
disciplined, but also better officered than our troops. We started by two
o'clock in the morning, but proceeded very slowly. Passed Centreville
before break-of-day. When the sun rose in all its glory, illuminating the
splendid scenery of the Blue Ridge mountains, though no sun of Austerlitz
to us, we crossed the bridge over the Cub Run. By this time, the report
of the 30-pounder Parrott gun belonging to Schenck's command, who had met
the enemy, was heard. Our division turned off to the right, and marched
some miles through dense woodland, to the Warrenton road. Towards ten
o'clock, nothing could be seen of the enemy yet, and the belief found
circulation that the enemy had fallen back. Experience proved that, had we
remained at Centreville, the rebel army would undoubtedly have attacked
us; but hearing of our advance they only had to lay in ambush, ready to
receive us. At the aforesaid time, the Second Rhode Island infantry
deployed as skirmishers. We advanced steadily, till arriving at the Bull
Run and Sudley's church, a halt was ordered to rest the men and the
horses. But it should not be; the brave Second R. I. Regiment, coming up
to the enemy, who was concealed in the woods, their situation was getting
critical. The report of cannon and musketry followed in rapid succession.
Our battery, after passing Sudley's church, commenced to trot in great
haste to the place of combat. At this moment Gen. McDowell rode up in
great excitement, shouting to Capt. Reynolds: "Forward with your light
battery." This was entirely needless, as we were going at high speed, for
all were anxious to come to the rescue of our Second regiment. In quick
time we arrived in the open space where the conflict was raging already in
its greatest fury. The guns were unlimbered, with or without command; no
matter, it was done, and never did better music sound to the ears of the
Second Regiment, than the quick reports of our guns, driving back the
advancing foe. For nearly forty minutes our battery and the Second
Regiment, defended that ground before any other troops were brought into
action. Then the First Rhode Island, Seventy-first New York, and Second
New Hampshire, with two Dahlgren howitzers, appeared, forming on the right
and left. The enemy was driven successfully in our immediate front. Our
battery opened on one of the enemy's light batteries to our right, which
left after a short but spirited engagement, in a rather demoralized state.
Griffith's, Ayer's and Rickett's batteries coming up, prospects really
looked promising, and victory seemed certain. The rebel line gradually
giving way. Gen. McDowell, seeing the explosion of perhaps a magazine or a
caisson, raised his cap, shouting, "Soldiers, this is the great explosion
of Manassas," and seemed to be highly pleased with the work done by our
battery. Owing to different orders, the battery, towards afternoon, was
split into sections. Capt. Reynolds, with Lieuts. Tompkins and Weeden, off
to the right, while the two pieces of the left section, to the left;
Lieuts. Vaughan and Munroe remaining with the last mentioned. Firing was
kept up incessantly, until the arrival of confederate reinforcements,
coming down from Manassas Junction, unfurling the stars and stripes,
whereby our officers were deceived to such a degree as to give the order,
"Cease firing." This cessation of our artillery fire proved, no doubt,
disastrous. It was the turning point of the battle. Our lines began to
waver after receiving the volleys of the disguised columns. The setting
sun found the fragments of our army not only in full retreat but in a
complete rout, leaving most of the artillery in the hands of the enemy.
Our battery happened to be the only six gun volunteer battery, carrying
all the guns off the battle-field, two pieces in a disabled condition. A
battery-wagon and forge were lost on the field. Retreating the same road
we advanced on in the morning. All of a sudden the cry arose, "The Black
Horse Cavalry is coming." The alarm proved to be false; yet it had the
effect upon many soldiers to throw away their arms. But the fears of many
soldiers that the enemy would try to cut off our retreat, were partly
realized. Our column having reached Cub Run bridge, was at once furiously
attacked on our right by artillery and cavalry. Unfortunately, the bridge
being blocked up, the confusion increased. All discipline was gone. Here
our battery was lost, all but one gun, that of the second detachment,
which was carried through the creek. It is kept at the armory of the
Marine Artillery, in Providence. At the present time, guns, under such
circumstances, would not be left to the enemy without the most strenuous
efforts being made to save them. We assembled at the very same camp we
left in the morning. Credit is due to Capt. Reynolds, for doing everything
possible for the comfort of his men. At midnight the defeated army took
up its retreat towards Washington. Our battery consisting of one gun, and
the six-horse team, drove by Samuel Warden.
_Monday, July 22._--Arrived at, and effected our passage across the Long
Bridge, by ten o'clock, and found ourselves once more at Camp Clark, where
we had a day of rest after our _debut_ on the battle-field yesterday,
under the scorching sun of Virginia.
_Wednesday, July 24._--Lieut. Albert Munroe addressed the battery in
regard to the battle, and attributed our defeat to the want of discipline.
The men felt very indignant at his remarks. "We had to come down to
regulations, the same as in the regular army, and should consider
ourselves almost as State prison convicts." We have since seen that he
meant no insult towards the battery; but have found out to our
satisfaction that he spoke the truth, for we have seen the time that put
us almost on the same level with convicts.
_Thursday, July 25._--Received the first government pay in gold. The First
Regiment left Camp Sprague for home, marching by our camp. Capt. Reynolds
proposed cheers for every company, which was spontaneously replied to.
_Saturday, July 27._--Men of every detachment were selected to accompany
an expedition on board a steamer towards Aquia Creek, to try one of James'
rifled guns of heavy calibre upon the rebel battery there. They all
returned in the evening without any disaster having occurred.
_Sunday, July 28._--The Second Battery left Camp Clark by four o'clock P.
M., for Harper's Ferry, to receive the guns of the First Battery, whose
term of service had expired. Gov. Sprague made a short speech to the men.
The battery travelled by way of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, via
Annapolis Junction and the Relay House.
_Monday, July 29._--Arrived at Sandy Hook by two o'clock P. M. Relieved
the First Battery, the pieces being turned over to us. They started for
home in the evening. Our camp is one mile from Weavertown. The right
section under Lieut. Vaughan, took position on Maryland Heights, which
command Loudon Heights and Harper's Ferry. Gen. Banks is in command of
this department. From this time, up to the thirteenth of August, nothing
exciting occurred. Battery drill in the morning and the manual of the
piece in the afternoon. Extremely hot weather during daytime. Capt.
Reynolds went home on a furlough.
_Tuesday, August 13._--News arrived towards evening that the rebels were
making a demonstration at Berlin and Point of Rocks. Lieut. Vaughan's
section left Maryland Heights, going directly towards Berlin by eight
o'clock. The other sections, commanded by Lieut. Munroe, left Sandy Hook
for Point of Rocks, marched all night, and arrived at said place the next
morning, by seven o'clock.
_Wednesday, August 14._--The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, commanded by Col.
Geary, occupied the town. We established our camp about five o'clock, P.
M., close to that of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
_Thursday, August 15._--Witnessed the drumming out of a soldier of the
Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania for stealing from his comrades.
_Friday, August 16._--Return of Capt. Reynolds, with the Third Battery,
afterwards Battery B, Rhode Island Light Artillery, and some recruits for
ours. The newly raised battery should have relieved us, and taken our
pieces, as we had the promise of entirely new ones. We all expected to
return to Washington; but Col. Geary, being in the immediate neighborhood
of rebel troops, remonstrated against our departure, saying he would not
rely on a new battery at such a critical moment. Owing to this, the Third
Battery returned to Washington the same evening, in command of Lieut.
Vaughan, he being promoted to Captain. Sergeant-Major Randolph was
promoted to Lieutenant. All quiet up to
_Wednesday, August 21._--The Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania received two guns
for their own use. Signs of a demonstration show themselves this evening.
All our baggage was sent off; the tents only left standing, ready to be
burnt in case we had to leave.
_Thursday, August 22._--The right section left Berlin and went towards
Frederick City.
_Friday, August 23._--Rebel cavalry plainly to be seen on the other side
of the Potomac.
_Saturday, August 24, and Sunday, August 25._--Quiet. Great slaughter
amongst turkeys and chickens!
_Monday, August 26._--Great excitement. Reports of artillery firing in the
direction of Edwards Ferry, created considerable stir. Capt. Reynolds,
with two pieces, started towards Edwards Ferry. We changed our camp out of
the enemy's sight. Nothing of interest from this time up to
_Sunday, September 1._--Col. Geary received three hundred additional men
for his regiment.
_Monday, August 2._--Orders arrived for our remaining section to unite
forthwith with the rest of the battery at Darnestown. The morning was
beautiful. The battery got ready to march. Col. Geary had his regiment
drawn up in line. The whole regiment presented arms as we passed by, they
being greatly attached to us, while we gave nine cheers and a Narragansett
for Col. Geary and his brave regiment. This day's march will always be a
pleasant recollection for the surviving. Our road was leading through the
most beautiful parts of Maryland. Late in the afternoon we arrived at
Darnestown, and united once more with the rest of the battery, after
having been parted for three weeks. Gen. Banks' headquarters are there,
and all the troops of his command, lying around the town. We had a very
pleasant camp, but should not enjoy it long.
_Wednesday, September 4._--After returning from a battery drill, orders
awaited our section, in command of Lieut. J. A. Tompkins. We left
Darnestown at five o'clock P. M., going at a fast rate towards Great
Falls, a distance of ten miles. At our arrival we found the Seventh
Pennsylvania Regiment, commanded by Col. Harvey. During the day the enemy
had some pieces of artillery in position, to bear on the water-works at
Great Falls, and on the Seventh Pennsylvania Volunteers, firing a hundred
rounds. Only one man was wounded. Col. Harvey guided our battery through
the woods at midnight. Our section took position on the edge of a knoll,
while the Seventh fortified our guns. It rained during the night.
_Thursday, September 5._--At dawn of day, contrary to our expectations,
the enemy did not open on us again. Having had no food since the day
before, some of us went to the town, and as fortune would have it, found
bread, molasses, and that renowned coffee kettle, the fourth detachment
will well remember. We enjoyed a good soldiers' breakfast. Lieut.
Tompkins, behaving towards the men like a gentleman, they would have done
most anything for him. In several cases he relieved our wants, out of his
own purse. Late in the afternoon we left Great Falls, marching towards
Seneca Mills, as the enemy made various demonstrations up and down the
Potomac. Rain falling incessantly, and passing through dense woods
marching became a matter of impossibility, and it was decided to halt by
the roadside until daylight. An unoccupied house being close by, we all
took possession of it, and found ourselves quite comfortable.
_Friday, September 6._--A bright morning greeted our eyes. The clear sky
promised a pleasant day. We discovered an orchard near by, which furnished
us with a variety of the most beautiful peaches. After taking a good
supply of them, marching was resumed. Arrived by nine o'clock A. M. at
Camp Jackson, occupied by the Thirty-fourth Regiment New York Volunteers,
Col. LaDue. We were well received. Towards evening, the Colonel and Lieut.
Tompkins took the fifth piece along, in the direction of the Potomac,
getting the gun in position close to the canal, after masking it. All
quiet during the night.
_Sunday, September 8._--A few shots were fired into the Old Dominion,
without any response by the enemy.
_Monday, September 9._--Major Charles H. Tompkins, in company with Col.
Wheaton, of the Second Rhode Island Regiment, tried a few shots, without
reply.
_Tuesday, September 10._--Gov. Sprague, Col. Wheaton, Major Tompkins, and
Capt. Reynolds, visited the section on picket. Quiet up to
_Monday, September 16._--In the evening, some of the Thirty-fourth New
York Regiment crossed the river, had a skirmish with the rebels, and
returned with the loss of four men. Capt. Reynolds being promoted to
Major, left the battery. So did Lieut. Albert Munroe, promoted to
Captain. Lieut. Tompkins, also promoted, took command of our battery.
_Tuesday, September 17._--Our piece kept on firing at an imaginary enemy
for a whole hour; the Major of the Thirty-fourth being present. Nothing
remarkable up to
_Sunday, September 22._--Squads of cavalry and infantry visible on the
Virginia shore. Great changes took place during this period. Orderly J. H.
Newton being promoted to Lieutenant, took command of the left section.
Sergeants Owen and Randolph, after having been promoted to Lieutenants,
left the battery, and were transferred to other Rhode Island batteries.
The State having organized a regiment of light artillery, on the
thirteenth of August, we were no longer called the Second Battery, but
Battery A.
_Monday, September 23._--Orders came to leave the picket line at dark, and
return to Camp Jackson.
_Tuesday, September 24._--We were paid off in gold for two months service.
Quiet in Camp Jackson up to
_Monday, September 30._--The section returned to Darnestown, and the
battery was once more together.
_Tuesday, October 1._--One o'clock A. M. Orders arrived to return
immediately to Seneca Mills. The left section marched at once, arriving
towards daybreak. At sunrise, the fifth gun went on picket duty once
more. Lieut. Newton, Sergeants Hammond and Read, were with the left
section. Commenced to throw up intrenchments during the night.
_Thursday, October 3._--Left the picket line again, returned to Camp
Jackson, started for Darnestown by six o'clock, and arrived there by eight
o'clock P. M. Thus ended our stay at Seneca Mills, the most pleasant
period of our three years service. Vegetables and fruit, chickens and
pigs, were plenty, for we owned the whole plantation of that old rebel
Peters, who was sent to Fort Lafayette for treason. The Thirty-fourth New
York, having the picket line on the river, always proved good companions.
The view of the surrounding country is really imposing, including Sugar
Loaf Mountain, the natural observatory of the signal corps. Some
remarkable items must not be forgotten--for instance, novel songs of "The
Nice Legs;" "Jimmy Nutt's Measuring the Guard Time by the Moon;"
"Griffin's Apple Sauce," and "Doughnuts for Horses."
_Sunday, October 6._--Camp at Darnestown. The battery received three new
guns in the afternoon. Lieut. J. G. Hassard, having joined our battery, at
Darnestown, commanded the right section as First Lieutenant. Company
cooking was introduced by him. Before that, every detachment done its own
cooking. The enterprise itself, of cooking for the whole company, and the
selling of a part of the rations, for raising a company fund, would have
been well enough, but the management was extremely poor. Some days we
fared well; on other days there would be no dinner, but a detestable bacon
soup, hardly fit for hogs. We were told that the government rations would
not admit of a dinner every day. But what good did it do then to sell
rations, under the pretext of raising a company fund? This is a question
which never could nor never will be satisfactorily explained by those who
started it.
_Monday, October 7._--Capt. Tompkins very suddenly marched off to Harper's
Ferry, with the right section. Thunder storm in the evening.
_Friday, October 11._--A new lieutenant for our battery arrived to-day.
Jeffrey Hassard, our First Lieutenant's brother.
_Sunday, October 13._--Gov. Sprague visited the camp. Private Benedict
deserted.
_Tuesday, October 15._--Parade drill of the battery, in presence of Gov.
Sprague, and Col. Tompkins, the drill proving very satisfactory. Capt.
Vaughan visited us the same evening, and addressed us as follows: "Boys, I
deserve to be kicked for ever leaving this battery, because, by right, it
is my battery, and I should be with you." (Vociferous cheering, and cries,
"Give us our old officers, and we will show you that we can drill.") Capt.
Vaughan, mounting his horse, appeared very much affected. Turning round
once more, he said, "I am hanging around; it is hard for me to leave
you." Answer of the men: "We know it. You are a man every inch of you."
Nine cheers for Capt. Vaughan, our old First Lieutenant, vibrated through
the air.
_Wednesday, October 16._--Battery drill, and speech by our First
Lieutenant. Gen. Banks visited our camp this evening. Nothing important up
to
_Saturday, October 19._--Gen. Banks and staff honored our battery drill
with their presence. Col. Geary of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, and
Capt. Tompkins, with the right section, had a fight with the rebels at
Harper's Ferry and Bolivar Heights. Our right section, occupying Maryland
Heights, fired into Bolivar and on a rebel battery on Loudon Heights. Even
the drivers served an old iron gun. Col. Geary's troops, crossing the
river in scows, carried the fight to Bolivar Heights. No loss of men in
the right section.
_Monday, October 21._--Battle of Ball's Bluff. Gen. Stone crossed the
Potomac near Conrad's Ferry, across Harrison's Island, with Col. Baker's
brigade, this morning. (Forty-second New York, Fifteenth and Twentieth
Massachusetts Regiments, and a piece of artillery, of Capt. Vaughan's
battery. The rest of the battery stayed on Harrison Island.) By seven
o'clock in the evening, the whole division of Gen. Banks left Darnestown,
going to Edwards Ferry. Our battery started about nine o'clock. Arriving
at Poolesville, we heard of the disastrous result. Our troops had
withdrawn from Ball's Bluff. Col. Baker's corpse was brought into town.
_Tuesday, October 22._--Arrived at Edwards Ferry by six o'clock A. M. Two
thousand men were already landed on the Virginia shore, opposite the
ferry, others were continually crossing on canal boats. Since daylight,
rain fell incessantly. On the Virginia side, skirmishing was going on all
day. At five o'clock both lines of battle advanced. A brisk fight
commenced. Two brass howitzers of Rickett's battery, First United States
Artillery, did good execution, being in position on the Virginia shore.
While the fight continued, the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania, Col. Geary, the
Twenty-ninth, Col. Mury, and Van Allen's cavalry, were sent as
reinforcements across the Potomac. Fighting ceased an hour afterwards.
Capt. Vaughan went to the enemy's lines, under a flag of truce, to see
about some of his wounded men in the hands of the rebels. Gen. McClellan
arrived at night.
_Wednesday, October 23._--A clear day. The enemy in great force around
Leesburg. We can see the church steeples of that place. Skirmishing kept
up all day. In the evening our battery received orders to embark and cross
the river,--Capt. Tompkins, having come back from Harper's Ferry, with the
right section, the evening before,--three guns were already loaded on a
canal boat, together with Company C, First Maryland Regiment, and started;
but the current of the stream being too strong, and losing half of the
oars, they had to return again. Orders awaited us already to disembark
immediately, and return to camp. All the troops withdrew from the Virginia
shore before daylight,--eight thousand men in all.
_Thursday, October 24._--After all the troops had been withdrawn, the
rebel pickets held the line close to the river, and fired a shot once in a
while. Rickett's, ours, and Captain Bess' batteries, were drawn up in one
line. Our battery is detached to General Williams' brigade.
_Friday, October 25._--Remained the same, at Edwards Ferry.
_Saturday, October 26._--General Williams' brigade and our battery marched
off to Muddy Branch in the morning. Arrived there, in camp of the
Twenty-eighth New York, in the afternoon.
_Sunday, October 27._--Established our camp.
_Monday, October 28._--Commenced to build a stable for horses, three
hundred feet long. Captain Bess, our chief of artillery. Our battery
remained at Muddy Branch up to the twenty-seventh of November. Little is
to be said of this period. Drill as usual. Received the news of the taking
of Beaufort, South Carolina, and the capture of Slidell and Mason. Captain
Reynolds visited the battery for the last time, having been promoted to
Lieutenant Colonel of the Rhode Island artillery, and transferred to
another department.
_Wednesday, November 27._--The battery left Muddy Branch, with the
understanding to go into winter-quarters near Poolesville. We were told
that we should have many drills together with Battery B, no longer Captain
Vaughan's battery, who, having had disagreements, left the service. We
marched by nine o'clock in the morning. The weather was very unpleasant,
raining and freezing all day. Passed through Poolesville at four o'clock,
and commenced to pitch tents by five o'clock. Our camp is next to Battery
B's, commanded by Lieutenant Perry. We had a good reception by the men,
who treated all of us to coffee.
_Thursday, November 28._--Thanksgiving day. Governor Sprague furnished
twenty turkeys for us.
_Friday, 29th, and Saturday, November 30._--A stable for the horses
commenced on.
_Sunday, December 1, to Tuesday the 10th._--Nothing of any consequence
happened. Camp wore a wintry aspect. The time was mostly occupied in
building stables for the horses. Colonel Tompkins, now on General Stone's
staff, arrived at Poolesville; we did no longer belong to General Banks'
division, but to General Stone's.
_Tuesday, December 10._--Our division had quite an interesting sham-fight
at Poolesville, four regiments of infantry, three batteries, and Van
Allen's cavalry partaking in it. We fired blank cartridges. Van Allen's
cavalry had several men injured in charging.
_Wednesday, December 11._--While going to a drill, through Poolesville, on
trot, Corporal Burrows was thrown off the limber-chest, and his leg
broken by a wheel passing over him.
_Thursday, December 12._--Great artillery manoeuvre.
_Friday, December 13._--Batteries A and B were ordered to report near
Conrad's Ferry, where we arrived before sunrise, it being only five miles
from our camp. While going through the woods, orders were given not to
talk loud, the distance between us and the enemy being not more than three
miles at the time. The enemy's position, which was a fortified one,
consisting of two forts, called Beauregard and Johnson, had already been
reconnoitred from a balloon, the day before. At our arrival, we found
General Stone and Colonel Tompkins, with two companies of Van Allen's
cavalry, two companies of the Thirty-fourth New York, and two of the First
Minnesota, already there. We opened on the two forts, without much effect.
Lieutenant Perry was more successful, with his Parrott guns. The enemy
could be seen standing in squads by his artillery, yet no reply was made.
By four o'clock we all withdrew, except the Parrott guns of Battery B,
doing picket duty. The old members will remember, when returning to camp,
Lieutenant Perry rode that nigger down. Quiet up to
_Wednesday, December 18._--The right section went to Conrad's Ferry, but
returned in the evening.
_Wednesday, December 25._--Christmas. Our officers presented the company
with a barrel of beer.
_Thursday, December 26._--The project was started to build huts for
winter-quarters. Details were made every day, to cut heavy timber, which
was done for a week. But luckily, it failed completely, as it would have
taken at least four months to get ready, by the plan worked on. Officers
quarters had to be built first, then non-commissioned officers, and last,
the poor privates. In fact, a great nuisance in the army, is the illegal
using of soldiers for manual service for the benefit of commissioned
officers, which is altogether contrary to army regulations. It is
revolting to the mind, to see men, who perhaps never have been anything at
home, make slaves of their equals, just because they happen to be in
command of them, and this, they give the wrong name of discipline.
_Friday, December 27._--Arrival of Battery B, Pennsylvania artillery,
coming from McCall's division, after having participated in the battle of
Drainesville.
_Monday, December 30._--The centre section, commanded by Lieutenant
Jeffrey Hassard, relieved the section of Battery B, on picket at Conrad's
Ferry. Our detachment accidentally changed its position in the battery--we
were transferred to the centre section, being the fourth piece, sixth
detachment. We arrived at the ferry by one o'clock P. M., and took up our
quarters in a deserted nigger-shanty. Splendid view of the Potomac and
Blue Ridge Mountains. At night, the camp-fires of the rebels were
visible.
_Tuesday, December 31._--On picket, at Conrad's Ferry. The rebel camp
plainly to be seen. Infantry and cavalry drilling outside the forts.