Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 5

The whole army was crowded in a complete mud-hole. The spirit of the men is very low. Our wounded, left in Malvern Hill hospital, had to foot their way to Harrison Landing in the best manner they could. In spite of the mud, we all enjoyed the first good night's rest for some weeks past.

_Thursday, July 3._--Harrison Landing. The enemy brought artillery to bear upon our camps this morning; but their guns were taken by the Fourteenth Indiana, of General s.h.i.+elds' division. At one time, all of our troops were drawn up in line of battle. The gunboats fired some shots.

_Friday, July 4._--The army spread out in different camps this morning.

The Second corps moved at least a mile away from the landing. The day was duly celebrated by firing salutes and playing of bands. General McClellan reviewed the troops.

_Monday, July 7._--We changed our location this morning and established a new camp in the woods. The rebel gunboat "Teazer" was captured by the Monitor. President Lincoln visited the army. The troops pa.s.sed review before him. Kirby's battery fired a salute. Our battery cheered for General Sumner.

_Tuesday, July 8._--Intensely hot weather. The army is fortifying the outer lines, facing towards Malvern Hill.

_Sunday, July 13._--Camp near Harrison Landing. Sergeant Budlong was reduced to the ranks for insubordination and insulting language towards Lieutenant John G. Ha.s.sard.

_Monday, July 14._--Near Harrison Landing. Secretary Stanton visited the army.

_Tuesday, July 15._--Near Harrison Landing. Notice was given by the Sanitary Commission to-day to send a number of men to receive the delicacies destined for us, (Battery A,) which was done accordingly. But we never enjoyed the benefit of it, as everything disappeared in the officers' quarters. My comrades in Providence can testify to this statement. Heavy shower in the evening.

_Sunday, July 20._--Near Harrison Landing. Mounted inspection.

_Tuesday, July 22._--Near Harrison Landing. Great review of the Second corps by General McClellan. The troops presented a splendid appearance, considering the hards.h.i.+ps endured. Our battery fired a salute.

_Wednesday, July 23._--Harrison Landing. We changed camp again, inside of the woods.

_Thursday, July 24._--Harrison Landing. Very severe heat.

_Friday, July 25._--Our battery was taken to the James River, to clean the carriages.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 26._--Harrison Landing. Heavy shower.

_Sunday, July 27._--Harrison Landing. Mounted inspection.

_Monday, July 28._--Harrison Landing. Our two howitzers were exchanged for Parrott guns from Battery G, New York volunteers, Captain Frank.

_Tuesday, July 29._--Harrison Landing. Jimmy Nutts was disabled while dismounting from a limber-chest.

_Friday, August 1._--The rebels opened on us with a battery last night, from the south side of the James River, killing seven men, and damaging several transports. Our gunboats silenced them soon after.

_Monday, August 4._--Harrison Landing. Reconnoisance in force. Sedgwick's and Richardson's divisions, besides other bodies of troops, cavalry, and horse artillery, under command of General Joe Hooker, a.s.sembled by four o'clock P. M., and left our line of fortifications at sunset. We marched all night, in the direction of Charles City Court House. About one o'clock in the night the column halted.

_Tuesday, August 5._--About four o'clock A. M., our column advanced, throwing out skirmishers. By five o'clock the gunboats were heard firing in the direction of Malvern Hill. At this time we were marching in the neighborhood of the White Oak Swamp, on the Charles City road, the same one we retreated by after the seven days' battles. General Hooker's force, amounting to twenty thousand men, advanced rapidly on to Malvern Hill. A small engagement took place between our cavalry and horse artillery, and the enemy. But the plan of capturing the rebel force, consisting of but twelve hundred men, failed entirely. They escaped, leaving only two dead and fifty prisoners in our hands. Our loss was four killed and twelve wounded. Captain Benson, of the regular horse artillery, was killed. The Lieutenant Colonel of the Eighth Illinois cavalry, mortally wounded. The cause of the enemy's escape was attributed to Brigadier General Frank Patterson, son of General Patterson of Bull Run notoriety. General McClellan appeared in the afternoon, in high glee. We remained on the spot all day. In the evening our battery was brought in position, facing White Oak Swamp. Beautiful moon night. We slept once more on the great battle-field.

_Wednesday, August 6._--On Malvern Hill. Stayed all day, and expected to stay all night. Tents were pitched, with a view to remain longer; but about nine o'clock P. M., picket firing commenced, and at midnight, very suddenly, orders were given to get ready to march back to Harrison Landing. The report circulated that the enemy was advancing with superior numbers. About half ways, we were met by the greater part of the Army of the Potomac, covering our retreat.

_Thursday, August 7._--Arrived at Harrison Landing at three and a half o'clock A. M., and went back to our old camp.

_Friday, August 8._--Harrison Landing. The rebels occupy Malvern Hill again. Intensely hot weather--113 in the shade.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 9._--Our battery was cleaned to-day. Splendid moon night.

_Monday, August 11._--Harrison Landing. Preparations to evacuate the place. All the baggage to be sent away by transports, and rations for six days to be kept on hand.

_Tuesday, August 12._--Harrison Landing. Fitz John Porter's corps started to-day.

_Wednesday, August 13._--Harrison Landing. News of General Pope's battle at Cedar Mountain.

_Friday, August 15._--Harrison Landing. Everything is packed, and the battery hitched up. Troops were marching by all night. Sumner's corps to be the rear-guard.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 16._--Left Harrison Landing at three o'clock A. M.

Marched on the river road and halted at dark, in line of battle.

_Sunday, August 17._--March through Charles City Court House. To-day's march was one of the most disagreeable ever made, being very hot, and so dusty as to make all the trees look white. Plenty of dead horses and mules on the road. Arrived at the Chickahominy river at midnight. All the artillery crossed over the large pontoon bridge, of ninety-seven boats, during the night.

_Monday, August 18._--The infantry crossed since daybreak, followed by the cavalry and horse artillery. One gunboat is close to the bridge. The rebels showed themselves, without molesting our rear-guard. One of our batteries opened on them. By ten o'clock we resumed our march. Our corps went to camp in the afternoon.

_Tuesday, August 19._--March through Williamsburg. Some dismounted guns, from the battle in May, were still standing in the streets. We pa.s.sed Fort Magruder, and went to camp two miles from the latter.

_Wednesday, August 20._--Marched at six o'clock A. M., and went to camp a mile from Yorktown.

_Thursday, August 21._--Tedious march through Yorktown, Howard's Mills, over s.h.i.+pping Point to Hampton Roads, where we arrived by five o'clock P.

M., having marched twenty-two miles to-day. The infantry has gone to Newport News.

_Friday, August 22._--Hampton Roads. Heavy rain.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 23._--Hampton Roads. Troops are continuously s.h.i.+pped.

_Sunday, August 24._--Hampton Roads. Heavy rain. Kirby's and our battery marched to the landing. Both batteries were loaded on board the ferry-boat Jefferson. Men and horses remained ash.o.r.e for the night.

_Tuesday, August 26._--Hampton Roads. Men and horses were s.h.i.+pped on board the schooners Buena Vista and Clara Belle. The schooners were taken by tug-boat to Fortress Monroe, waiting for further orders. At six o'clock P.

M., the steamer "Forrest City," having the Second United States cavalry on board, attached our schooner in tow, and started for Alexandria. In consideration of having the troops rested from their tedious marching across the Peninsula, contrabands were engaged by the government to load the vessels. An overseer of such a working party reported to our battery.

But Lieutenant J. Ha.s.sard suggested that he would rather have the men of the battery do the work, as they had not done anything lately. I owe it to the members of Battery A, to mention those facts.

_Wednesday, August 27._--In sight of Aquia Creek. Received orders to proceed to Alexandria the next morning.

_Thursday, August 28._--Left Aquia Creek at four o'clock A. M. Pa.s.sed Mount Vernon by seven, Fort Was.h.i.+ngton by eight, and arrived at Alexandria by ten o'clock. Both batteries, horses and all, were unloaded by five o'clock P. M. Marched through Alexandria at once, and went to camp outside the city.

_Friday, August 29._--Alexandria. Our battery, accompanied by the Seventh Michigan Regiment, and Fifty-ninth New York, left this morning, going towards the Chain Bridge, on which an attack was antic.i.p.ated. We pa.s.sed through Fort Runyon, on the road leading to Mana.s.sas, turning off to Fort Ethan Allen, covering the Chain Bridge. The fort was occupied by the One Hundred and Twenty-third Pennsylvania, Seventy-first New York, and Eleventh New Jersey regiments. We took position one mile in front of it.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 30._--Near Fort Ethan Allen. Heavy cannonading in the direction of Mana.s.sas Junction. Two regiments of cavalry are making a reconnoissance towards Leesburg. At five o'clock P. M. we went to Fort Ethan Allen, crossed the Potomac over Chain Bridge, and marched until eight o'clock. Coming up to General Dana's brigade, we halted for the night.

_Sunday, August 31._--At three o'clock in the morning, all the troops of our corps marched through Georgetown, crossed the Potomac, over the Aqueduct Bridge, and proceeded on the road to Fairfax Court House. After sunrise it commenced to rain. Paroled prisoners, captured from Stonewall Jackson, pa.s.sing us on the road, gave us no bright picture of the second battle of Bull Run. We halted at one o'clock, about four miles from the Court House. About seven o'clock P. M., order arrived from General Sedgwick, to take up our march. After various marching and counter-marching, we arrived at the Court House by one o'clock in the night.

_Monday, September 1._--Fairfax Court House. At seven o'clock A. M. we proceeded to Germantown, going in position, facing Chantilly. Troops were coming in from Centreville all day. General McDowell's corps, who lost nearly all their artillery, amongst them. An engagement, lasting from five o'clock P. M. till dark, was going on at Chantilly amidst a heavy thunder shower. Generals Kearney and Stevens were killed. About six o'clock P. M.

we fell back to Fairfax Court House, camping on the same spot we occupied a year ago, while under Captain Reynolds, previous to the first battle of Bull Run.

_Tuesday, September 2._--Fairfax Court House. During the whole night, troops were marching to the defences of Was.h.i.+ngton. Pope's and McClellan's armies are rapidly falling back, Sumner's corps covering the retreat, as usual. We left the Court House at eight o'clock A. M., forming a line of battle on Flint Hill. Heavy clouds of dust, from the rebel columns, marching towards the Potomac, could be seen in the distance. Not being attacked, our line of march was resumed; but shortly afterwards, a rebel battery opened on our rear, directly from the town. General Sumner ordered one section of our battery, and the First Minnesota infantry, to take position, planting the two guns of the right section, one on each side of the road. Shortly after dark the enemy appeared. We could hear the unlimbering of the artillery. At that moment we opened lively with sh.e.l.l and canister, while Colonel Sully threw his regiment across the road, and kept up a brisk musketry fire on the advancing cavalry of the enemy. Being unable to use their artillery, the rebels retreated instantly. Seven men of the First Minnesota were killed and wounded. One of our limber-chests was upset, the pole being broken by the horses, injuring John Setton, driver, and one horse. Colonel Sully, anxious to fall back, advised Captain Tompkins not to lose any time, and if needs be, to abandon the gun. Captain Tompkins replied, he would carry the gun along or share the fate of it. We all went to work, tying the two guns and limbers together with ropes and straps. In the vicinity of Vienna, a body of cavalry made a charge on our column, firing at us with pistols and carbines. The First Maryland Cavalry, and Company I, First Minnesota, left us without offering any resistance to them. The greatest excitement prevailed for some time.

General Sumner gave credit to our battery for not having left the guns.

Some said the charge was made by a party of our own cavalry by mistake; but the dead and wounded, found in rebel uniform, contradicted that. After a weary march, we arrived near Fort Ethan Allen, at three o'clock A. M.

_Wednesday, September 3._--Sumner's corps marched across the Chain Bridge to Tenallytown, and went to camp.