Chapter 9

_Saturday, June 4._--Battle on Gaines' Farm. At the appointed time, we went to take position on Gaines' Hill, but were disagreeably surprised to find no fortifications at all. The Fourth Regiment, New York Heavy Artillery, had just began to throw up a miserable frame of rotten rails. Besides that, these men were scared to death, and, as soon as the sharpshooters commenced to fire, could not be induced to work any longer. We were compelled to lay down, the breastworks being so poor that we did not dare to provoke the enemy's artillery fire, and standing by the guns would have been sure death. It was clear to every one's mind that some mean, malignant villain, not worthy of wearing shoulder-straps, had got the battery in this dreadful position purposely, for our term of service expired the next day, and we had long-range guns, while short range guns were fired a quarter of a mile in our rear, the shells exploding over our heads, instead of reaching the rebel works. Captain Arnold, sending word to the commanding general, informing him of our dangerous situation, engineers were set to work in our rear, throwing up strong works. After their completion, prolongs were attached to each gun, and these pulled by hand behind the works, without any loss at all. Shortly after that, Captain Dow's Maine battery fired a signal, and all our batteries opened on the long line of rebel works on Gaines' Hill, keeping up the bombardment for two hours. At eight o'clock in the evening, the enemy determined to open the fight again, provoked an artillery duel of three-quarters of an hour's duration, ending the day's contest. Patrick Murray was slightly wounded to-day.

_Sunday, June 5._--On Gaines' Hill. The enemy's sharpshooters kept up a deadly fire on our lines all day. Captain Arnold called on General Hancock to have our battery relieved, our time being out. Major Hassard appeared shortly afterwards, bringing orders that we were to be relieved by Captain Ames' New York battery. Just as we were getting ready to go to the rear, the enemy opened with artillery, and the _old battery_ replied once more, keeping up fire until nine o'clock in the night, fighting three hours beyond our time of service. On the appearance of Captain Ames' battery, we quietly withdrew our guns, and marched to the rear, being cheered by all the troops we passed, as the services of the battery were well known in the Second corps, General Hancock saying himself, he was sorry to lose the battery, as it was the best one in the whole corps. Arriving in the rear, we joined our battery-wagon, forge and caissons.

_Monday, June 6._--On Gaines' Farm. Captain Arnold is going home with the old members of the battery. Lieutenant Gamaliel L. Dwight took command of the remnants of Battery A. A number of non-commissioned officers went to the quarters of Colonel Tompkins to obtain their warrants before going home. We changed camp in the evening, but were still exposed to the enemy's artillery fire.

_Tuesday, June 7._--On Gaines' Farm. The old members returned all articles that go by the name of camp-equipage, to the battery; the non-commissioned officers, their sabres and pistols. Some old member made the following proposition: "Our time having expired, and yet being under the enemy's fire, we should go a mile further to the rear, to sleep in the woods, as it would be no honor to get killed or wounded now." The proposition was readily accepted, and carried into effect.

_Wednesday, June 8._--Before break-of-day the old members assembled at the camp of Battery A. Captain Arnold procured a mule team to carry our baggage, and off we went at seven o'clock A. M. Never marched men with a better will, the fifteen miles to White House Landing, where we arrived by two o'clock P. M. Fortune smiled on us once more. We were put on board the propeller New Jersey at four o'clock, steaming down the Pamunkey, and dropping anchor opposite West Point about nine o'clock P. M.

_Thursday, June 9._--On board the New Jersey. The journey resumed at four o'clock in the morning. Steamed down the York River, past Yorktown, Gloucester Point, up the Chesapeake Bay, dropping anchor twenty miles from Aquia Creek.

_Friday, June 10._--On board the New Jersey. Steamed up the Potomac early in the morning. Most of the men were below deck to clean up and put their new clothes on, reserved for this occasion by most of the old members, when we laid in winter-quarters near Brandy Station. Our captain, and the crew of the propeller, were quite astonished, seeing us come up in new uniforms. At three o'clock P. M., the propeller stopped at the Washington Navy Yard, landing eighty condemned horses. We left the vessel about four o'clock, at the foot of Sixth street, proceeding to the Soldier's Home, and remained at the barracks over night.

_Saturday, June 11._--Washington. We left at eleven o'clock A. M., in the express train. Came through Baltimore and Philadelphia, arriving in New York City by eleven o'clock in the night. We took up our quarters at the Park Barracks.

_Sunday, June 12._--New York City. We were at liberty to go wherever we pleased, until five o'clock P. M., leaving in the train for Rhode Island. Arrived at Stonington by twelve o'clock P. M. Owing to some accident, we had to stay there all night.

_Monday, June 13._--We left Stonington at daybreak, arriving in Providence at six o'clock in the morning. It is unnecessary to give a description of our reception in this book. I believe it is well remembered by the inhabitants of Providence, and the old members of Battery A.

_On Saturday, the 18th of June_, we were mustered out of the United States service, in Railroad Hall.

_On Monday, the 20th of June_, we attended the funeral of our lieutenant, Peter Hunt, who died from the effects of his wounds.

Roster of Battery A, JUNE 6, 1861.

Captain.

WILLIAM H. REYNOLDS.

First Lieutenants.

THOMAS F. VAUGHAN, J. ALBERT MUNROE.

Second Lieutenants.

JOHN A. TOMPKINS, WILLIAM B. WEEDEN.

Sergeants.

George E. Randolph, Sergeant Major. Albert E. Adams, Quartermaster Sergeant. John H. Hammond, First Sergeant. William H. Walcott, G. Holmes Wilcox, Charles D. Owen, Francis A. Smith, Henry Newton.

Corporals.

Charles M. Read, Charles H. Clark, Nathan T. Morse, Gamaliel L. Dwight, William A. Sabin, H. Vincent Butler, Albert Remington, James B. Buffum, Harry C. Cushing, George W. Field, T. Frederic Brown, Seabury S. Burroughs.

Artificers.

Michael Grady, Daniel W. Marshall, Alexander K. Page, Dexter D. Pearce, James T. Rhodes, George A. Stetson. Nelson H. Arnold, Bugler.

Privates.

Aldrich, Stephen W. Allen, George W. D. Adams, George A. Barker, William C. Byrne, George Byars, George Bennett, Henry H. Butler, Freeman Brown, Clavis G. Bup, Frederick Brown, Joshua Benedict, Frederick H. Bontems, Charles E. Brooks, Joseph Bourn, William E. Collins, Timothy Collins, James H. Cargill, Charles Child, Benjamin H. Cortell, Elmer D. Calder, Wesley R. Chaffee, George W. Chaffee, Charles E. Chester, George W. Curtis, Horace M. Carter, Frank Church, William Cooper, James Codding, Charles D. Crandall, Henry B. Church, John Drape, William Desmond, Michael Loughlin, Robert Lewis, James Lannegan, Patrick Luther, Hesekiel W. Luther, Levi Lawrence, John H. Lynott, John Lindsey, Benjamin F. McKay, John G. Messinger, Eli Messinger, George Munroe, Benjamin S. Moran, John Morrison, William McDonough, John Marcy, Albourne W. Mowry, Charles H. Martin, Benjamin F. McCannack, John O. Navin, John Olney, Amos M. C. Peck, William F. Percival, Richard Pearce, William B. Potter, Edward Phillips, Frederick A. Pratt, Henry L. Reichardt, Theodore Reichardt, Adolphus Rider, William H. Remington, Richard T. Rawbottom, Robert Raynor, Robert Day, Henry F. Donnegan, Patrick Franklin, George W. Freeman, Edward R. Fletcher, Calvin Flood, Thomas Googin, Eugene Gardner, James Greenleaf, George T. Griffin, John Griffin, John, 2d Gladding, Olney D. Goldsmith, James H. Griswold, George S. Greenhalgh, William T. Green, Stephen M. Graham, Henry T. Humphrey, Preston A. Harrison, Gilbert T. Haynes, William Hoit, Joseph S. Hicks, Henry F. Irons, Lewis W. Jenckes, Albert T. Jollie, Thomas Lake, Charles W. Shaw, Edward Sayles, Thomas W. Shepardson, George A. Slocum, George L. Scott, Charles V. Stanley, Milton Seddon, John Swain, Reuben C. Thornley, Richard Thompson, John B. Taylor, William H. Towle, Augustus S. Vose, Warren L. Wales, Joseph W. Weeks, Edwin E. Wild, John Weeden, Amos C. Warden, Wendell Warden, Samuel T. Walsh, John Walker, Stephen Walker, Arnold A. Watson, John T. Wellman, George A. Whalers, John Zimmerli, John

REMARKS.

Captain William H. Reynolds, promoted to lieutenant colonel at Darnestown, Maryland.

First Lieutenant Thomas F. Vaughan, promoted to captain at Point of Rocks, Maryland.

First Lieutenant J. Albert Munroe, promoted to captain at Darnestown, Maryland.

Second Lieutenant John Tompkins, promoted to captain at Darnestown, Maryland; promoted to major at Fredericksburg, Virginia.

Second Lieutenant Wm. B. Weeden, promoted to captain at Point of Rocks, Maryland.

Sergeant Major George E. Randolph, promoted to lieutenant at Point of Rocks, Maryland; promoted to captain at Darnestown, Maryland.

Quartermaster Sergeant Albert E. Adams, promoted to lieutenant at Falmouth, Virginia.

Sergeant John H. Hammond, left the battery at Harrison Landing. Transferred to Portsmouth Grove, Rhode Island, and made lieutenant in Hospital Guard.

Sergeant William H. Walcott, promoted to lieutenant in the regular army, at Point of Rocks, Maryland.

Sergeant G. Holmes Wilcox, left the battery at Harrison Landing, sick.

Sergeant Charles D. Owen, promoted to lieutenant at Point of Rocks, Maryland; promoted to captain at Darnestown, Maryland.

Sergeant Francis A. Smith, promoted to lieutenant at Darnestown, Maryland.

Sergeant Henry Newton, promoted to lieutenant at Darnestown, Maryland. Left the battery at Falmouth, Virginia, sick.

Corporal Charles M. Read, promoted to sergeant; killed at Antietam, Maryland.

Corporal Charles H. Clark, promoted to sergeant; promoted to lieutenant at Darnestown, Maryland.

Corporal Nathan T. Morse, killed in Washington, D. C.

Corporal Gamaliel L. Dwight, promoted to sergeant; promoted to lieutenant at Poolesville; promoted to captain at Coal Harbor, Virginia.

Corporal William A. Sabin, promoted to sergeant; promoted to lieutenant at Poolesville, Maryland.

Corporal H. Vincent Butler, left the battery at Falmouth, Virginia, having received a commission in the navy.

Corporal James B. Buffum, promoted to sergeant; left the battery at Falmouth, Virginia, sick.

Corporal Harry L. Cushing, promoted to sergeant; promoted to lieutenant in regular army.

Corporal George W. Field, promoted to first sergeant; to lieutenant at Muddy Branch, Maryland.

Corporal T. Frederic Brown, promoted to sergeant; to lieutenant at Harrison Landing; to captain at Brandy Station, Virginia.

Corporal Seabury S. Burroughs, disabled at Poolesville, Maryland. Left the battery.

Michael Grady, returned home with battery, having served three years.

Daniel W. Marshall, left the battery at Falmouth, Virginia.

Alexander K. Page, returned home with battery, having served three years.

Dexter D. Pearce, returned home with battery, having served three years.

James P. Rhodes, promoted to lieutenant at Warrenton, Virginia. Left the battery one year after, near the same place.

George A. Stetson, captured at first Bull Run.

Bugler Nelson A. Arnold, left the battery at Washington, D. C.

Private Stephen W. Aldrich, promoted to corporal; returned with battery, having served three years.

Thomas M. Aldrich, returned with battery, having served three years.

George W. D. Allen, injured at first Bull Run. Left the battery at Washington D. C.

George A. Adams, left the battery at Darnestown, Maryland.

William C. Barker, returned with battery, having served three years.

George Byrne, returned with battery, having served three years.

Joseph Byars, left at Poolesville, Maryland.

Henry H. Bennett, promoted corporal; returned with battery

Freeman Butler, left the battery at Washington, D. C.

Clavis G. Brown, left the battery at Washington, D. C.

Frederic Bup, killed at first Bull Run.

Joshua Brown, wounded and taken prisoner at first Bull Run.

Frederick H. Benedict, deserted at Darnestown, Maryland.

Charles E. Bontems, returned with battery.

Joseph E. Brooks, wounded and taken prisoner at first Bull Run. Returned to battery at Washington, before going to Peninsula. Returned with battery.

William E. Bourn, killed in Washington, D. C.

Timothy Collins, returned with battery.

James H. Collins, left the battery at Washington, D. C.

Charles Cargill, wounded at Gettysburg, Pennsylvania.

Benjamin H. Child, promoted to corporal and sergeant; to lieutenant at Brandy Station, Virginia.

Elmer L. Cortell, promoted to corporal; sergeant; lieutenant. Left the battery at Point of Rocks, Maryland.

Wesley B. Calder, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

George W. Chaffee, promoted to corporal. Left the battery at Harrison Landing. Afterwards died.

Charles E. Chaffee, promoted to corporal; sergeant; left the battery at Warrenton, Virginia.

George N. Chester, returned with battery.

Horace M. Curtis, wounded, and left the battery at Gettysburg.

Frank Carter, returned with battery.

William C. M. Church, left the battery at Washington, D. C.

James Cooper, wounded, and left the battery at Malvern Hill.

Charles D. Codding, returned with battery.

Henry B. Crandall, returned with battery.

John Church, wounded at Antietam and left the battery.

William Drape, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

Michael Desmond, wounded at Bristow's Station, and left the battery.

Henry F. Day, left in Washington.

Patrick Donnegan, left the battery in Falmouth.

George W. Franklin, left the battery at Poolesville.

Edward R. Freeman, wounded at Washington, and left the battery.

Eugene Googins, returned with battery.

James Gardner, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

George J. Greenleaf, promoted to corporal; sergeant; quartermaster sergeant. Returned with battery.

John Griffin, returned with battery.

Olney D. Gladding, wounded at Bull Run, and died in Georgetown, D. C.

George L. Griswold, left at Washington.

Stephen M. Greene, promoted to corporal; sergeant. Returned with battery.

Henry T. Graham, left the battery at Sandy Hook.

Preston A. Humphrey, returned with battery.

Gilbert F. Harrison, wounded, and left at Gettysburg.

William Haines, left at Washington.

Joseph S. Hoyt, left at Washington.

Henry F. Hicks, wounded at Fredericksburg, and left the battery.

Lewis W. Irons, returned with battery.

Albert J. Jenckes, left the battery at Berlin, Maryland.

Thomas Jollie, left the battery at Harrison Landing.

Charles W. Lake, wounded at Coal Harbor. Returned with battery.

Robert Laughlin, left the battery at Antietam.

James Lewis, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

Patrick Lannegan, killed at Antietam.

Hesekiel W. Luther, promoted to corporal. Left at Harrison Landing.

Levi Luther, left at Harrison Landing.

John H. Lawrence, killed at Antietam.

John Lynott, returned with battery.

Benjamin F. Lindsey, left the battery at Poolesville, Maryland.

John G. McKay, returned with battery.

Eli Messinger, detailed to hospital steward. Left the battery at Poolesville, Maryland.

George Messinger, left the battery at Poolesville.

Benjamin S. Munroe, left the battery at Yorktown.

John Moran, wounded at Bristow Station, and died in hospital at Alexandria.

William Morrison, returned with battery.

John McDonnough, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

Albourne W. Marcy, left the battery at Harrison Landing. Died on his way home.

Charles H. Mowry, deserted at Warrenton, and turned guerilla.

Benjamin F. Martin, left the battery at Thom's Farm.

John O. McCannack, left the battery at Washington.

John Navin, promoted to corporal; sergeant. Returned with battery.

Amos M. C. Olney, promoted to corporal; sergeant. Re-enlisted.

Richard Percival, left at Harrison Landing.

Willard B. Pierce, promoted to corporal; first sergeant; promoted to lieutenant at Elktown, Virginia.

Edward Potter, left the battery at Washington.

Frederick A. Phillips, wounded, and left at Antietam.

Henry A. Pratt, left at Washington.

Theodore Reichardt, promoted to corporal. Returned with the battery.

Adolphus Reichardt, wounded and left at Bull Run.

William H. Rider, promoted to corporal, and wounded and left at Gettysburg.

Richard Remington, left at Poolesville.

Robert Rawbottom, promoted to corporal; sergeant. Returned with battery.

Robert Raynor, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

Edward Shaw, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

Thomas W. Sayles, left the battery at Yorktown.

George A. Shepardson, left the battery at Warrenton.

George L. Slocum, returned with battery.

Charles V. Scott, promoted to corporal; sergeant; to lieutenant at Brandy Station, Virginia.

Milton Stanley, left the battery at Point of Rocks.

John Seddon, wounded at Flint Hill, and left the battery.

Reuben Swaine, left at Antietam.

Richard Thornley, promoted to corporal. Returned with battery.

John B. Thompson, promoted to corporal; sergeant; first sergeant. Returned with battery.

William H. Taylor, re-enlisted.

Augustus S. Towle, promoted to corporal; sergeant. Returned with battery.

Warren L. Vose, wounded, taken prisoner and died at Bull Run.

Joseph Wales, returned with battery.

Edwin Weeks, wounded at Bull Run and left at Washington.

John Wild, returned with battery.

Amos A. Weeden, left at Point of Rocks.

Wendell Warden, left at Harper's Ferry.

Samuel P. Warden, left at Fortress Monroe.

John Walsh, returned with battery.

Stephen Walker, left at Harrison Landing.

Arnold A. Walker, promoted to corporal. Left at Falmouth. Died on his way home.

George A. Wellman, deserted at Falmouth.

John Zimmerli, killed at Gettysburg.

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Transcriber's note:

The following typographical errors have been corrected: "gunnner" corrected to "gunner" (page 9) "we" corrected to "were" (page 11) "comissioned" corrected to "commissioned" (page 29) "dificulties" corrected to "difficulties" (page 44) "Augast" corrected to "August" (page 56) "Petit's" corrected to "Pettit's" (page 67) "Sedwick's" corrected to "Sedgwick's" (page 86) "regiiment" corrected to "regiment" (page 89) "cannnonade" corrected to "cannonade" (page 96) "reat" corrected to "great" (page 118) "o!cock" corrected to "o'clock" (page 134)

Other than the corrections listed above, inconsistencies in spelling and hyphenation have been retained.