Chapter 8

_Thursday, March 17._--St. Patrick's day. Monthly inspection by Captain Thompson.

_Friday, March 18._--One section of each battery in the corps had to turn out for target-shooting in the afternoon.

_Saturday, March 19._--All the artillery had to go in position on the hill, but returned soon to the camp again.

_Tuesday, March 22._--We were paid off for two months service. Snow-storm.

_Friday, March 25._--The Army of the Potomac is to be divided in three corps. The Second will be consolidated with the Third corps, and commanded by General Hancock; the Fifth corps commanded by General Warren; The First and Sixth corps by General Sedgwick.

_Saturday, March 26._--Lieutenant General Grant arrived at Brandy Station.

_Sunday, March 27._--Mounted inspection.

_Tuesday, March 29._--A heavy rain.

_Wednesday, March 30._--Rickett's Pennsylvania battery changed camp, going on top of the hill on the other side of Mountain Run.

_Friday, April 1._--Rain.

_Saturday, April 2._--Rain.

_Sunday, April 3._--We exchanged ammunition with Thompson's Pennsylvania battery.

_Monday, April 4._--Captain Thompson's battery left for Washington.

_Tuesday, April 5, and Saturday, April 9._--A heavy fall of rain on both days.

_Monday, April 11._--Mounted inspection by the new chief-of-artillery, Colonel Tidball, of the Fourth Heavy Artillery, New York.

_Tuesday, April 12._--Eugene Googins and Bill Taylor returned from Providence.

_Thursday, April 14._--Fred Frown, promoted to captain, arrived to-day, and was presented with a sabre, in presence of Colonel Tompkins and Lieutenant Colonel Munroe, by Battery B, his new command.

_Sunday, April 17._--Lieutenant Colewell left the battery to-day, being discharged on his application.

_Tuesday, April 19._--The artillery practised target-shooting in the morning.

_Wednesday, April 20._--Review of the artillery of the Second corps, by General Hancock. The corps has eight batteries now.

_Friday, April 22._--Review of the Second corps, numbering nearly forty thousand men, by General Grant.

_Sunday, April 24._--Mounted inspection.

_Monday, April 25._--This afternoon, a private of the Nineteenth Massachusetts regiment was hung for violating a woman eighty years old.

_Wednesday, April 27._--The battery broke up winter-quarters this morning, and went to camp between Stevensburg and Pony Mountain. Sergeant Greene returned from recruiting.

_Friday, April 29._--The battery changed camp again, moving close to the infantry.

_Saturday, April 30._--We were mustered in for two months service.

_Sunday, May 1._--Mounted inspection. Burnside's corps arrived at Warrenton Junction.

_Tuesday, May 3._--The Army of the Potomac commences the great campaign against Richmond. General Grant is with the army. Our battery left camp at eight o'clock in the evening, and marched all night.

_Wednesday, May 4._--Arriving at the Rapidan, we halted but a few minutes. Our cavalry was already across. About six o'clock A. M., we forded the river at Ely's Ford. The infantry crossed on a pontoon bridge. We marched directly towards the Wilderness, and arrived at Chancellorsville at noon. One division of the Second corps formed in line of battle, facing Fredericksburg, and remained there all day and night.

_Thursday, May 5._--Battle in the Wilderness. At seven o'clock in the morning, the army was in motion, on the road leading to Spottsylvania. The Sixth corps was in possession of Mine Run. Fighting commenced on our right about one o'clock P. M. The First division, Batteries A and B, Rhode Island, turned to the left at four o'clock P. M. Parts of our corps were hotly engaged near sunset. Our battery went in position near a farm house, and commenced to fortify immediately. So did the infantry on our left. The troops on our left were to be withdrawn, but suddenly ordered to halt as the rebel cavalry was reported to attack our left. In the night, our battery withdrew some distance to the rear, going in park. General Hayes was killed to-day.

_Friday, May 6._--Battle in the Wilderness. The troops were awake at three o'clock in the morning. Our battery returned to its position at daybreak, and was strengthening the fortifications. Incessant musketry fire was going on from five o'clock until ten o'clock A. M. Most of the fighting took place in the woods. Very little artillery had been used so far. The right section of our battery went to the rear to guard a road against the rebel cavalry. The enemy opened on our left with artillery, but was vigorously replied to by the Tenth Massachusetts battery. Heavy cannonading was going on on the extreme right. One gun of Rickett's Pennsylvania battery bursted. A general attack from the rebels was expected in the evening; but all remained, quiet during the night. We stayed within our fortifications all night, laying alongside of our guns.

_Saturday, May 7._--Battle in the Wilderness. We were fortifying our position stronger yet. Little fighting was done in our front to-day. The woods are on fire, exposing the wounded to a horrible death. General Sheridan's cavalry has been fighting hard all day, near Todd's Tavern. Our battery went to the rear at eight o'clock in the evening; but was kept in readiness for marching all night.

_Sunday, May 8._--Battle in the Wilderness. Fredericksburg is in our possession. All of our wounded are sent there. The Second corps advanced as far as Todd's Tavern, forming in line of battle, the cavalry on the flanks. Fighting was kept on until night, mostly in the woods. Artillery not much used. General Grant and staff passed by. The infantry was fortifying all night.

_Monday, May 9._--Battle in the Wilderness. Line of battle at Todd's Tavern. Before break of day, our battery took position behind breastworks, built by the Thirty-ninth New York Regiment. But no engagement took place at this point. We left the position at noon, marching to the right. About three o'clock we got sight of the enemy's trains on the other side of the Po Creek. The right section, under Lieutenant Hunt, and one of Battery B, went in action, shelling the rebel trains. An hour afterwards, the rebels brought four pieces of horse artillery to bear on the two sections, but were silenced in twenty minutes. Walter Arnold, of our battery, was slightly wounded. Battery B had two men killed. The Second corps crossed the Po Creek at dark. Our battery went to park at ten o'clock P. M. General Sedgwick was killed by a sharpshooter. Picket firing all night.

_Tuesday, May 10._--Near Spottsylvania Court House. Fighting commenced all along the line. A report of the fall of Petersburg was read to all the troops. Our battery went a few rods to the rear, to be out of the way. The right section started off, and had an action of half an hour's duration, coming very near being flanked. At eleven o'clock, our whole battery went to the rear, which was threatened by the enemy. We went in action on the roadside, firing for half an hour. The rebels evidently drove our infantry. The battery changed position, having the open field in the front and the woods in the rear and no road left to retreat but one, which was already endangered by the enemy. General Barlow, commanded our troops at this point. It was decided now to withdraw the right and centre sections, leaving the left section to cover the retreat, without any support at all, to oppose the enemy, who was massing three formidable lines of infantry against us. Captain Arnold and Lieutenant Blake remained with the left section, giving orders to load and lay down until the enemy should be very near. This was done accordingly. At command of Captain Arnold, the pieces were fired with good effect, and two of the rebel guns soon silenced. The left section fired point blank during this action. Four lines of rebel infantry advanced on the left, throwing back our line of infantry across the only remaining road. Captain Arnold ordered our two guns to be brought to the rear by hand, limbering up from the rear, and try to make through the woods. The sixth piece escaped; but not the fifth, the wheels getting stuck between trees. The enemy being very close upon us, opened such a terrific musketry fire on the piece as to make the horses unmanageable. Besides that, the cannoniers being all new men, left. Nobody remained but Captain Arnold, Lieutenant Blake, Sergeant Calder, myself and the drivers. We found it impossible to remove the gun, and had to abandon it therefore, and crossed the Po Creek, the best way we could. The batteries on the other side of the creek, opened furiously on the victorious enemy. The remainder of our line of infantry fell back across the creek; but over one thousand men were taken prisoners. Two men of our left section were wounded--Reynolds and Willy of the fifth piece. The latter had to be left on the field. Arriving at the battery, our comrades rejoiced to see us come back safe. We were engaged all the afternoon, setting fire to several shanties which served as rendezvous for sharpshooters. In the evening, we blew up a caisson of a rebel battery, which rode up at full speed, trying to get in action, causing them to withdraw immediately. We were in position all night.

_Wednesday, May 11._--Battle near Spottsylvania. Our battery fortified before daybreak. Heavy skirmishing, and some firing of artillery, was kept up all day. A heavy shower fell in the evening. Our horses were unharnessed and sent to the rear of the woods. At ten o'clock in the night our corps received orders to leave. We marched all night.

_Thursday, May 12._--Battle of Spottsylvania Court House. Great assault of Hancock's corps, supported by the Sixth. Near daybreak we arrived on the extreme left of our army. The infantry, was already formed in line, ready for an impetuous onset. General Hancock and his division commanders rode up in front of the lines harranguing the troops. The long line advanced suddenly, soon disappearing in the fog that hung over the ground. After a short but desperate engagement, the works were carried, and two Generals, Stewart and Johnson, eighteen pieces of artillery, seven colors, and three thousand men, captured. Our battery changed position three times while in action. When in the second position, our horses were unhitched to carry the captured rebel artillery to the rear. Our third position was close to the line of works taken from the enemy. We were hotly engaged for two hours. The rebels concentrated all their forces towards this point. Our ammunition giving away, we were compelled to withdraw. The musketry fire was so severe that, had we remained a few minutes longer, we would undoubtedly have lost half of our men. Battery C, Fifth Regulars, occupied our position afterwards, but had to leave, and abandon two guns. The battle raged all day, and the loss of both armies was very heavy. Our army took eight thousand prisoners. During the day, our battery returned to the position held first, remaining there the rest of the day and night.

_Friday, May 13._--Near Spottsylvania Court House. Skirmishing continued. Our battery changed position twice in the afternoon, going in park at last, unhitched and unharnessed. According to an official announcement to the army we captured two generals, eight thousand men, eighteen guns, and twenty-seven colors from the rebels. Our loss since we entered the Wilderness is estimated at forty thousand men in all. The rebels held their position all day, making the line of works taken yesterday, very uncomfortable. Picket-firing was kept up all night. One of our battery, by the name of Hoyle, a recruit, was shot in the foot while going near to the outer line.

_Saturday, May 14._--The rebels are falling back. General Sheridan's cavalry has done great damage in their rear. Our fourth detachment received a rebel gun to-day, in place of the one lost on the tenth of May. Two more guns and caissons were taken from the enemy to-day. A mortar battery was playing on the enemy's lines all day. Rainy weather.

_Sunday, May 15._--Our battery left at half-past one o'clock in the morning, marching but a few miles. The Second corps was relieved by the Eighth, General Augur, being in reserve for a few days. We rested all day. A heavy shower fell in the evening.

_Monday, May 16._--Remained quiet all day. It was read in line that twenty-three thousand men, reinforcements, were on the way.

_Tuesday, May 17._--All the batteries were reduced to four guns. The guns of our left section were sent to Belle Plain, by way of Fredericksburg. We changed camp at four o'clock P. M., and again about six, and marched off about ten o'clock in the night, going to the right of the line.

_Wednesday, May 18._--At daybreak, heavy fighting commenced on the right. Our battery was in position, but as reserve. Generals Grant and Meade were in front of our battery, watching the progress of the contest, which was fought almost precisely where the great assault of the twelfth instant took place. Battery B, Rhode Island, was in action. Many of the new troops, the Corcoran Legion amongst them, took part in this fight. We returned to our camping-place in the afternoon.

_Thursday, May 19._--Near Spottsylvania Court House. We changed camp at eleven o'clock A. M., going in front of the army headquarters, and were pleasantly situated on the edge of the woods. A little after three o'clock P. M., great excitement prevailed on the line, the rebels being reported to have made an attack on the Fredericksburg road. Our battery was ordered out, going two miles. The fight was nearly over at our arrival, the enemy being driven back. We returned to the camp with orders to be ready to march at eleven o'clock P. M. The battery remained packed up all night, but did not leave.

_Friday, May 20._--Near Spottsylvania Court House. Quiet all day. Started at eleven o'clock in the night. The battery wagons were all uncovered. We marched all night.

_Saturday, May 21._--Forced march of the Second corps. Crossed the Mat river at seven o'clock in the morning, struck the Fredericksburg and Gordonsville Railroad, and entered Bowling Green at noon. A fair-looking town. Nine thousand of our cavalry and horse artillery passed through early in the morning, scattering the militia of the place. Marching further, we arrived at Milford Station at five o'clock P. M. This is an important railroad junction, with a good depot, and many dwelling houses. Our cavalry and horse artillery occupied the surrounding farms. At six o'clock P. M., we crossed the Mattapony river, over a stationary bridge, going in park for the night. About seven o'clock the rebels ran out two guns, firing on our camps for a short time. We marched twenty-five miles to-day.

_Sunday, May 22._--On the Mattapony river. We advanced but one mile, at seven o'clock A. M., taking our position in the line of battle, and fortified at once; but, after finishing the works, we had to give them up to another battery, and dug a new line of intrenchments about one hundred yards off. This created great dissatisfaction among the men. Heavy firing was going on to our right, some ten miles off. An attack from the enemy on our corps was expected, but we were not disturbed.

_Monday, May 23._--The Second corps was in motion again at daybreak. After marching ten miles, we crossed the Pole Cat Creek. About noon we arrived in the vicinity of the North Anna River, the Fifth corps being there already. After an hour's rest, our right section was ordered to advance, taking position behind a narrow strip of woods, in front of the river. The rest of the battery, and all the other batteries of the corps, came soon after, and went in position. At three o'clock P. M., a desultory fire was opened on the enemy's works, ceasing by five o'clock. The right section was ordered to go in advance of the line of battle, in front of a strong redoubt of the enemy, and to open furiously, and be a signal to all the batteries of the corps. The enemy offered great resistance for some time. If it had not been for a few very large trees in front of our position, we would have lost a number of men. A heavy cannonade was kept up until dark, when our assaulting columns carried the works at the point of the bayonet. The right section having expended all ammunition, filled up at once and crossed the Creek; being the first artillery on the other side of the North Anna River. We went in position, fortifying during the night.

_Tuesday, May 24._--Battle on the North Anna River. There was more or less fighting since daybreak. The enemy's artillery fired continuously on the stationary bridge leading across the North Anna. Our sharpshooters and infantry carried the bridge at ten o'clock A. M. Our battery was attached to General Birney's division to-day, and ordered to the right of the bridge to engage the enemy's battery shelling it. We engaged the battery for an hour without any result at all, as they were strongly fortified. Tom Steere was shot in the leg by a sharpshooter. We were relieved by Battery K, Fourth Regulars, and returned to our first position. At four o'clock P. M. we crossed the bridge over the North Anna river, under the enemy's artillery fire. The cannoniers were told to scatter and go ahead of the battery, as horses were likely to draw the enemy's fire. We sustained no loss in this movement. Most of the infantry of the corps were in line of battle on the south side of the river. Our battery took position behind breastworks thrown up by our troops, and sheltered by a Virginia mansion, instantly. A short engagement took place before dark; but a heavy shower setting in, put an end to it.

_Wednesday, May 25._--Southside of the North Anna River. The battery was ordered to advance at eight o'clock A. M. The cannoniers were sent ahead with shovels and pick-axes, to fortify our position. Not much of any consequence was done in our front during the day, some sharpshooting excepted. The corps had three fortified lines of battle. Our battery was in the first--skirmishers in front of us. The mortar-battery was playing all the afternoon. Shower in evening.

_Thursday, May 26._--Southside of the North Anna river. The Ninth corps was considerably engaged. We held our line all day. Shower in evening. Our forces evacuated the southside of the North Anna River at ten o'clock in the night, going back to where the first line of battle was formed during the fight on the North Anna River, and rested until the next morning.

_Friday, May 27._--Flank march to the Pamunkey River. Sheridan's cavalry, the Fifth and Sixth corps ahead; the Second and Ninth corps in the rear. Started about noon, and halted at eight o'clock, P. M., having marched fifteen miles. About eleven o'clock in the night we went three miles further and rested in a ploughed field.

_Saturday, May 28._--Resumed marching at seven o'clock in the morning. Crossed the Pamunkey River about four o'clock P. M., on a pontoon bridge. General Meade's headquarters were on the southside of the river. Going a mile further, our battery went to camp, unhitched and unharnessed. The smoke of our gunboats on the Pamunkey River, was visible.

_Sunday, May 29._--Southside of the Pamunkey River. The battery was hitched up at two o'clock in the morning. We remained until evening. Marched off by seven o'clock, but returned soon after. We left camp again at eleven o'clock in the night, marched on the Mechanicsville road, going in park by one o'clock A. M., on

_Monday, May 30._--Within twenty miles of Richmond. The infantry was fortifying all of last night. Before daybreak, our battery was ordered to the extreme front, only one thousand yards from the enemy's works. We were set to work digging; but ordered back to the rear, until the engineers had thrown up breastworks. It was lucky for us that we could not be seen by the enemy, on account of the fog, or else but few would have escaped. At noon the battery returned, taking position behind the works. Shortly after the enemy opened, concentrating a heavy artillery fire on our battery, which was vigorously replied to by our four guns. Lieutenant Peter Hunt was the only man hurt, a piece of a shell fracturing his right heel. During the afternoon a twenty-four pounder mortar battery was posted between our guns, keeping up a regular bombardment. Fighting lasted until eight o'clock in the evening. At that time, five of our batteries were playing on the enemy's works, which were considerably damaged. Our horses were sent a half mile to the rear.

_Tuesday, May 31._--The rebels evacuated their line of intrenchments during last night. We could hear the noise created by the removal of the artillery, mistaking it for the arrival of reinforcements. General Barlow's division occupied the works at ten o'clock A. M. A brass battery was put in position, keeping up a steady fire on the retiring enemy. Considerable fighting was going on along the whole line to-day. The rebel sharpshooters were very troublesome, firing from high trees. Norris L. Church was shot in the head at eleven o'clock A. M., and died ten minutes afterwards. We changed position about eight o'clock in the evening, going a-half mile to the right.

_Wednesday, June 1._--Heavy fighting was going on at Coal Harbor. The Sixth corps, and the Eighteenth, General Baldy Smith, being engaged with the rebels. Our battery was supported by two companies of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts regiment, but not engaged to-day. The Second corps commenced moving at dark, and marched all night.

_Thursday, June 2._--Battle of Coal Harbor. We arrived at Coal Harbor about ten o'clock in the morning. Fighting was still going on. The rebels had attacked the Sixth and Eighteenth corps about two o'clock in the morning, but were repulsed losing five hundred and twenty prisoners, who passed by our battery. We were not in action to-day, but yet exposed to the enemy's artillery fire. Our horses were unhitched and unharnessed for the night.

_Friday, June 3._--Battle on Gaines' Farm. The battle began at four o'clock in the morning. Our battery took position about eight o'clock A. M., but changed it two hours after, going nearer to the front, and engaging one of the enemy's batteries at once. The breastworks in our front were of a very weak construction. During the afternoon the enemy fired with solid shot. As soon as they struck our breastworks, they stopped. It was only to ascertain the exact range. The use of strengthening the breastworks was demonstrated to the men of the first piece, but they did not feel disposed to work. At eight o'clock in the evening, the enemy's batteries commenced a heavy cannonade on our lines. Having gained the precise range of our battery, they fired very correct, two shots passing clear through the breastworks, wounding five men of the first piece: W. Sweet, in the face; Gileo, slightly, in the face; Swett, in the back, badly; Coleman, in the groin; and Whitford, right arm shot off. The engagement lasted a-half an hour. We were told afterwards, that the firing of our battery caused great havoc amongst the rebels. Charles Lake was badly wounded by a shell, during the day. In the night, Major John G. Hassard brought orders for our battery to take an advanced position in front of Gaines' Hill, before daybreak the next morning, saying he would see to the erection of strong breastworks by the engineers.