Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 4

_Friday, May 23._--We marched across the railroad to Coal Harbor, to camp.

We seem to be held as a reserve corps, ready to reinforce both wings of the army.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 24._--Camp at Coal Harbor. Fighting is going on near the Chickahominy. The balloon is up.

_Sunday, May 25._--At Coal Harbor. All quiet.

_Monday, May 26._--Orders came to be ready to march. Everything was packed up; but we remained.

_Tuesday, May 27._--Coal Harbor. Fitz John Porter's corps, fighting near Hanover Court House. Great excitement amongst the troops.

_Wednesday, May 28._--The Second corps marched four miles this morning, to support Fitz John Porter's corps, near Mechanicsville. Went in line of battle near New Bridge, and remained there all day.

_Thursday, May 29._--Our corps returned to Coal Harbor by four o'clock P.

M. Seven hundred prisoners were brought in.

_Friday, May 30._--Near Coal Harbor. Heavy rain.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 31._--Commencement of the battles of the Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. At two o'clock P. M., the battle began on the south side of the Chickahominy. The enemy attacked Casey's division. The Second corps got ready immediately, the Second division, General Sedgwick, leading to the Chickahominy. We crossed at Grape Vine Bridge, built by the First Minnesota, Colonel Sully, Battery I, First United States Regulars, being the first artillery to cross, under great difficulties, the guns sinking in up to the axle. Our battery followed next. Great excitement seemed to prevail about getting artillery forward. But for the timely arrival of the Second and Thirty-fourth New York, Fifteenth Ma.s.sachusetts, and First Minnesota Regiments, the day would have been lost--especially, the two New York regiments, fought with great determination. Not until night set in, the battle ceased. Our battery stood in the middle of the road all night.

The order was to be in line of battle by two o'clock A. M.

_Sunday, June 1._--Battle of Fair Oaks. Long before daylight our battery was brought in line of battle in front of the house in which General Sumner afterwards established his headquarters. The First Minnesota supported us. The battle reopened at daylight, with great fury, the enemy having been reinforced all night. Artillery was not used a great deal in this battle, but the musketry fire exceeded any ever heard during the war.

In spite of the enemy's efforts, he was completely repulsed by ten o'clock A. M., retreating to Richmond. General McClellan appeared in front of the line of battle, encouraging the troops for the coming struggle.

_Monday, June 2._--Fair Oaks. In line of battle since two o'clock A. M.

The First Minnesota is fortifying our position. Cannonading going on near Mechanicsville, in the afternoon. The enemy is sh.e.l.ling our line on the railroad. Trains are arriving at the station with supplies. A heavy shower.

_Tuesday, June 3._--The army is fortifying its line.

_Wednesday, June 4._--Heavy rain storm. All the bridges over the Chickahominy destroyed.

_Thursday, June 5._--Brisk fighting near Mechanicsville all day.

_Friday, June 6._--Fair Oaks. Expiration of our first year in the service.

Very quiet on the line.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 7._--General Burns' brigade made a reconnoisance, in consequence of which a short fight took place.

_Sunday, June 8._--The enemy made a severe attack on our position this morning. Bad conduct of Baxter's Zouaves. Generals Sedgwick and Gorman forced them to return to the front. Visit of General McClellan, Duc de Chartres, the Count of Paris, Prince de Joinville, the Spanish Generals Prim and Milano del Bosch, Senor Justo San Miguel, Colonel Denteure, Colonel Cordazo, Senor de Sales, and Senor Perez Caloo, Spanish historian.

They remained fifteen minutes at the headquarters of General Sumner, and made quite a show.

_Monday, June 9._--Fair Oaks. The rebels open on General Gorman's picket line, without inflicting any damage.

_Tuesday, June 10._--Fair Oaks. Heavy rain. The enemy opened with artillery on General Smith's division, towards evening.

_Wednesday, June 11._--Fair Oaks. In line of battle since two o'clock A.

M. An attack expected every moment.

_Thursday, June 12._--Fair Oaks. Our whole line is fortifying stronger.

Baxter's Zouaves are building breastworks of solid timber. Splendid moon nights.

_Friday, June 13._--Fair Oaks. We are in line of battle since three o'clock A. M. At five o'clock the enemy opened on our line with two Parrott guns, two Napoleons, and a howitzer, killing a man of Company I, First Minnesota, and wounding one of the Thirty-fourth New York Regiment.

General McClellan inspected the whole line of Sumner's corps. Orders were given to strengthen the breastworks. Generals Sumner and Sedgwick change their headquarters, their former quarters being too much under fire.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 14._--Fair Oaks. The First Minnesota were intrenching all day. Very quiet along the line. Great raid of Stuart's cavalry at White House Landing.

_Sunday, June 15._--Fair Oaks. Heavy firing in the direction of Fort Darling.

_Monday, June 16._--Fair Oaks. General Sickles' brigade had a short engagement with the rebels. General McClellan pa.s.sed the line towards evening. Heavy firing on both wings of the army.

_Tuesday, June 17._--Heavy cannonading in the direction of Fort Darling.

_Wednesday, June 18._--Fair Oaks. General Porter's artillery had quite an engagement. In the afternoon the whole of the Second corps got ready for action. Our battery was harnessed up. The infantry of Richardson's division advanced under cover of two light batteries. The engagement was of short duration. Our loss, one hundred and seventy, killed and wounded, all of Richardson's division. General McClellan was present.

_Thursday, June 19._--Fair Oaks. The enemy lost nearly four hundred men in yesterday's engagement.

_Friday, June 20._--Fair Oaks. Heavy skirmis.h.i.+ng along the whole line.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 21._--Fair Oaks. The whiskey rations are countermanded to-day. During the night we were called under arms five times, the rebels making repeated attacks on the railroad.

_Sunday, June 22._--Quiet along the line.

_Monday, June 23._--Fair Oaks. Short engagement on the railroad. Thunder shower at night.

_Tuesday, June 24._--Fair Oaks. The enemy attacked at two o'clock A. M.

_Wednesday, June 25._--Heavy engagement near Old Church, lasting all day.

Heintzleman's corps engaged. Our loss, one thousand men.

_Thursday, June 26._--Fair Oaks. Battle of Gaines' Farm. General Fitz John Porter was attacked on the north side of the Chickahominy this morning.

The battle was going on till nine o'clock P. M., with great fury, when General Porter drove the enemy, as could be seen from our position. The peal of artillery was terrible, and the sky at night in a constant blaze.

Great cheering along our line at ten o'clock in the night. All the bands playing national airs.

_Friday, June 27._--Fair Oaks. Battle of Gaines' Mills. Stonewall Jackson opened the battle this morning with overpowering numbers against General Porter. We could see from our position how the rebels drove Porter's troops from one position to the other. They are already fighting near Coal Harbor. General McClellan ordered General Sumner to hold his position at all hazards. By twelve o'clock A. M. we were attacked by the rebels with great determination. Four batteries opened on our centre and Smith's division, but were finally repulsed. General Porter is utterly defeated.

Meagher's Irish brigade went to cover his retreat. Troops are marching and counter-marching all night. Great cheering within the rebel lines.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 28._--Fair Oaks. Our centre was attacked again this morning at ten o'clock. The enemy was handsomely repulsed, leaving one hundred and fifty, killed and wounded, inside our lines,--Colonel Lamar, of Georgia, among the latter. Our situation is very critical, our right flank being turned. General Porter lost nine thousand men and twenty-four guns, and is crossing Bottoms' Bridge. The rebels occupy White House Landing. Towards evening, all the baggage teams were sent away, and all surplus ammunition, arms and commissary stores destroyed. The army is preparing to retreat. A part of the Second corps had already left, when orders arrived that our position must be held. A deep gloom is prevailing over the whole army.

_Sunday, June 29._--Evacuation of Fair Oaks. At three o'clock A. M. orders came for us to leave as quick as possible. Smith's division had already fallen back two miles, which movement completely exposed our right flank.

The rebels followed at our very heels. After marching a mile, General Sumner hastily formed a line of battle, crossing the railroad. We were not held long in inactivity. The rebels, in command of Magruder, soon attacked with three brigades of infantry and three batteries. This fight bears the name of battle of Peach Orchard. Our battery was in close action, supported by General French's brigade. Pett.i.t's New York eight gun battery, was sent to our a.s.sistance towards three o'clock P. M. By General Sumner's skilful manoeuvring we were enabled to fall back to Savage Station, leaving the dead and wounded behind. At the latter place, half of the Potomac army was drawn up in line of battle. The quant.i.ty of ammunition and stores at that place was immense. (Who would not remember the great explosion of the railroad train at Bottoms' Bridge.) About five o'clock P. M., the battle of Savage Station commenced, and kept on until late at night with great desperation. Our battery was within dangerous range of the enemy's fire, but not engaged. About nine o'clock, we fell back to the White Oak Swamp, arriving there at midnight.

_Monday, June 30._--Battle of Glendale Farm. This battle is known by five different names: White Oak Swamp, Glendale Farm, Golding's Farm, Turkey Bend, and of Charles City Road. At daybreak we formed in line of battle.

The enemy appeared shortly after. The battle opened at different points.

(Every one recollects the delay of our retreat on that day, in covering our extensive trains, which occupied seventeen miles length of road.) At three o'clock P. M. the rear of the trains pa.s.sed by, just in time, as we were attacked immediately after. The battle lasted until night. Sergeant Hammond, Seidlinger, and Sloc.u.m were wounded. Battery B, Pennsylvania Artillery, was taken by the rebels, right in our front. The gunboats partic.i.p.ated in the battle. We fell back at midnight, leaving our dead and wounded on the field. Our battery carried their wounded off, but left one caisson behind, a lynch-pin giving way. No other could be found during the excitement.

_Tuesday, July 1._--Battle of Malvern Hill. We arrived at that place by two o'clock A. M. The Potomac army occupied a splendid position. Prepared for the expected enemy. The rear-guard came up at daylight, amidst cheering and the playing of the bands. Our battery filled ammunition, but during the whole day had the good fortune to be kept constantly in reserve. Still, we were under fire constantly. Captain Coleman, of Rhode Island, collected letters and moneys from those who wanted to send them to their friends at home, before the battle commenced. Private Cooper was shot in the leg, by one of our own men; also a horse of Captain Tompkins.

About ten o'clock the great battle commenced, artillery being used mostly.

Never was such heavy cannonading heard on this continent before that. The gunboats threw sh.e.l.ls at four miles distance. Weeden's Rhode Island battery lost seven men by one of the gunboat sh.e.l.ls. The battle raged until late in the night, ending with the repulse of the rebel army. Every one expected an advance on the enemy the coming morning; but in vain.

_Wednesday, July 2._--Malvern Hill. After a few hours rest, orders were given at two o'clock A. M. to get ready,--to our astonishment,--to fall back to Harrison Landing. The rain fell in torrents. The troops were completely demoralized; every man was going on his own hook. A great many threw away their arms without any reason. Order was given to abandon at once any piece of artillery that should get stuck. Soldiers fired their guns off in all directions. Not less than forty men were killed by such careless practice. Harrison Landing is only six miles from Malvern Hill.