Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 8

_Wednesday, February 4._--The battery commences to build chimneys and fire-places.

_Thursday, February 5._--Received the first soft bread since we left Harper's Ferry.

_Sunday, February 22._--Heavy snow-storm. Was.h.i.+ngton's birth-day. Our battery fired thirty-four guns. Ours and the rebel batteries fired in honor of the day.

_Sat.u.r.day, February 28._--Robert Raynor, wounded at the battle of Antietam, returned from the Baltimore hospital.

_Thursday, March 5._--General Joe Hooker is reviewing the Army of the Potomac.

_Friday, March 6._--The first battery drill this year.

_Tuesday, March 10._--Snow to-day.

_Thursday, March 12._--A part of the army was kept under arms all night, the enemy being reported about to make a demonstration in our rear.

_Friday, March 13._--The cavalry is reconnoitering to-day.

_Tuesday, March 17._--St. Patrick's day. Great horse-race at the headquarters of Generals Meagher and Sickles. During the afternoon, cannonading was heard in the direction of Stafford Court House. The long-roll sounded in all the camps, but the troops were not to be surprised. The demonstration did not amount to much.

_Wednesday, March 18._--The enemy attacked our lines at Rappahannock Station yesterday.

_Friday, March 20._--Snow-storm.

_Sat.u.r.day, March 21._--Snow-storm.

_Monday, March 23._--The death of General Sumner was read to the troops to-day.

_Wednesday, March 25._--The cavalry has crossed the Rappahannock.

_Monday, March 30._--Inspection of our baggage. Three spare wheels were taken from the battery by general order.

_Tuesday, March 31._--Snow-storm.

_Wednesday, April 1._--At two o'clock in the morning we were aroused by Colonel Morgan, chief-of-artillery. Order was given to hitch up, and be ready to move, on account of the rebel cavalry crossing United States ford. After sunrise the horses were unhitched again and everything was quiet.

_Friday, April 3._--Review of the Second division by General Gibbons, near Falmouth.

_Sunday, April 5._--Snow-storm.

_Wednesday, April 8._--President Lincoln and family at Joe Hooker's headquarters.

_Friday, April 10._--Muster, in the Army of the Potomac.

_Sat.u.r.day, April 11._--Battery drill in the morning.

_Tuesday, April 14._--The army under marching orders. Eight days' rations to be kept on hand.

_Sat.u.r.day, April 18._--Grain is already kept on caissons and limbers, and one bag on top of the gun.

_Monday, April 20._--Secretary Stanton at the headquarters.

_Wednesday, April 22._--Our battery was paid off for four months service by Major King.

_Thursday, April 23._--A heavy rain.

_Monday, April 27._--Received orders at eight o'clock P. M., to march in the morning.

_Tuesday, April 28._--Reveille at two o'clock in the morning. Left camp at six o'clock A. M. We were attached to the Third division under General French. The Second remained behind. We marched six miles towards the Rappahannock; halted at mid-day, and camped in the woods. The pontoon train pa.s.sed by in the evening.

_Wednesday, April 29._--Marched again at two o'clock P. M., and went to camp at dark three miles from the river. Rainy weather.

_Thursday, April 30._--Our cavalry has crossed the Rappahannock without opposition. The pontoons were laid. Before crossing an address of General Hooker was read in line, to the effect that the Twelfth and Fifth corps had turned the enemy's left flank, by crossing the Rapidan at Germania Ford, compelling the enemy to fight us on our own ground. Our battery crossed at five o'clock P. M. After marching four miles further towards Chancellorsville, one hundred and sixty prisoners pa.s.sed by. The troops were highly elated at crossing the Rappahannock so easy, as the sh.o.r.e was strongly fortified, and by nature well-adapted for defence. While marching to Chancellorsville in the moonlight, Joe Hooker and staff pa.s.sed by, and the rumor circulated, all at once, that Fredericksburg was taken, and the rebel army in full retreat towards Gordonsville.

_Friday, May 1._--The battle opened about ten o'clock A. M., near the Chancellorsville and Fredericksburg Plank-road. The First and Second divisions of the Second corps, commanded by General Couch, formed at two o'clock P. M. Our battery advanced about a mile. Going down a hill we were suddenly received by one of the enemy's batteries, whereupon we countermarched to the top of the hill, going in position immediately.

General Sykes' division of regulars fought bravely in front of us, till they had to fall back on our battery, we kept up firing for some time, until General Hanc.o.c.k arrived, informing General Couch that his position was completely outflanked, and that he had better withdraw. The very minute our pieces were reversed, the command, "fix bayonets," could plainly be heard from the rebel line of infantry in the woods. We left at double quick. Our whole line fell back to the tavern. At that moment, the Third corps, under command of General Daniel Sickles, advanced in line of battle, doing good service. Our battery retired to our former place of rendezvous. The fight continued until seven o'clock P. M. Splendid moonlight night.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 2._--Battle of Chancellorsville. At four o'clock P. M., the battle reopened with great fury. General Stonewall Jackson, ma.s.sing his forces against our right, completely surprised the Eleventh corps, driving them in great confusion. The roaring of artillery, and the musketry fire, were really terrific. After sunset, the fire slackened a little; but at moonrise, raged again in all its fury, till late in the night. Our artillery suffered heavily during to-day's battle. Some of it was captured by the rebels. A new line of battle was formed at eleven o'clock in the night. The situation of our battery was anything but pleasant. Having long range guns, and our position being close to the woods, nothing could be used, with any effect, but canister. Our line of battle is getting shorter.

_Sunday, May 3._--Battle of Chancellorsville. Our battery was ordered to fall back to the Rappahannock at daylight. Marching back, the First corps, commanded by General Reynolds, pa.s.sed us, going to the front. Arriving at the brick house, near the river, we found some batteries posted there already,--Kirby's amongst them. Our line of battle fell back to the rifle-pits we occupied last night. The enemy holds the plank-road and tavern. The battle is raging again since six o'clock A. M. About ten o'clock A. M., Lieutenant Kirby ordered his and our battery to the front again, on his own responsibility. We marched back, but very unwillingly.

On the way, a division of the Third corps met us, marching back to the river, with a rebel colonel and half of his regiment, as prisoners, and carrying four rebel battle-flags as trophies. Arriving at the front, to our pleasant surprise, we found out that our battery was not wanted at all. Colonel Morgan appeared to be very angry, as there was no use of any rifled batteries. Kirby's battery went in action. Lieutenant Kirby was mortally wounded shortly after arriving in the line of battle. We returned to the brick house, near the river, sending back our horses and limbers to carry the guns of the Fifth Maine Battery off the battle-field. This battery sustained a heavy loss. Their guns were saved by Meagher's Irish brigade. We heard to-day that General Sedgwick, commanding the Sixth corps, and the Second division of the Second, carried St. Mary's Heights by storm, but had to give them up again the next day. Sedgwick is fighting hard near Banks' Ford, being pressed towards the Rappahannock. Some of our cavalry and horse artillery have gone to form a junction with him.

Fighting was kept up most of the night. Our battery enjoyed a good night's rest. The horses were unharnessed.

_Monday, May 4._--General Sedgwick's corps is fighting ever since daybreak. Little fighting was done near Chancellorsville. The battle is evidently over. We all know that our army, though superior in numbers, has been defeated by the rebels. We remained all day and night at the brick-house, close to the river.

_Tuesday, May 5._--Firing is heard on our left since daybreak. Orders came for ours, Pett.i.t's, and Thomas' New York batteries, to recross the Rappahannock forthwith. We crossed at United States Ford, going in position on the surrounding heights, which enfilade the other side. A heavy shower in the evening.

_Wednesday, May 6._--Our whole force has retreated across the river during the night. The rear guard crossed at eight o'clock this morning. Eight batteries are in position to cover the retreat. The engineers commenced to break off the pontoons. Some of the rebel skirmishers appeared, but retreated as soon as our batteries opened on them. Captain Thomas' battery had quite an action with a rebel battery, losing two men killed and several wounded. The action was kept up until a rebel caisson was blown up, whereon firing ceased. The pontoon train got in motion at three o'clock P. M., and the artillery at four o'clock. The roads were in a horrible condition. It rained at intervals during the day. In the evening a heavy rain set in, making it disagreeable beyond description. Our battery was stuck in the woods several times, till at last we were compelled to stop for the night. Quite a number of our battery's men travelled on their own hook, that night. Discipline was getting very loose. This night will never be forgotten by any man in the battery.

_Thursday, May 7._--The weather cleared off in the morning. We resumed our march at eight o'clock, arriving in camp at ten.

_Friday, May 8._--Camp near Falmouth. General Sedgwick's corps came in from Banks' Ford. This corps suffered a heavy loss. At five o'clock P. M.

our battery was ordered to report near the Lacy House. We arrived there at dark, going in camp close to the Thirty-fourth New York regiment.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 9._--Opposite Fredericksburg. This morning we placed our guns in position behind breastworks, occupied by a German battery from New York, before we came. We are close to the railroad bridge. The Second division is camping around us again. Stonewall Jackson, having accidentally been wounded by some of his own men, died to-day. The Thirty-fourth New York regiment changed camp this afternoon.

_Sunday, May 10._--The weather is pleasant. The ringing of bells, and the singing in the churches of Fredericksburg, can be heard plainly on this side of the river. People are walking in the streets just as usual. We are exchanging words with the rebel videttes across the river.

_Monday, May 11._--Opposite Fredericksburg. Bands are playing in the rebel camps. Some of their regiments are in parade line,--having muster by all appearances.

_Thursday, May 14._--Corporals Stephen M. Greene and William Rider left on ten days furlough. A one hundred pounder Parrott gun arrived from Was.h.i.+ngton, by way of Aquia Creek. A heavy thunder-shower.

_Friday, May 15._--The battery received a number of recruits from Battery G, Rhode Island, and from some of the infantry regiments.

_Monday, May 18._--Opposite Fredericksburg. We commenced to build summer shades.

_Wednesday, May 20._--We had to furnish one corporal and three privates as headquarters guard for the artillery brigade, to-day.

_Sunday, May 24._--The news of General Grant's victory on the Big Black river in Mississippi, were read in line.