1862 August 31

Lay in the stream all day of the 25th. On the
26th the steam[a second ‘m’ lined through]er Herald, took us in tow
and started for Aquia Creek. Passed Fort
Monroe. On the 27th we entered the
Potomac, again arrived at Aquia Creek at
three P. M; from this place we were ordered to Alexandria,
where we dropped our anchor at six P. M. To day
the 1st N. J. brigade of our div. (who had arrived
here before the remainder of the div. and had been
pushed on to Manassas.) had an engagement with
a vastly superior force at the Junction, and
after an obstinate fight were badly whipped.
Gen Taylor lost a leg, and soon after died from
his wound. On the 28th the remainder of the div.
arrived and disembarked, and at [hour unclear, may be 2.] P. M we
were once more encamped out side of the city.
Gen Pope who has fallen back from the
Rapidan has made a stand at Manassas and
if all thing continue as they commenced, we will
doubtless annihilate the rebs this time. At. 9. A. M
the next morning we hitched up (the 29th) and
started to reinforce Gen Pope: arrived at
Annandale at noon where we went into position
and remained for the night. Harnessed up at
8. A. M on the next morning, and were soon
after on the move again. Passed through the
village of Fairfax Ct. House; at noon we
halted for a rest, at three P. M we again
started on, passed through Centreville and
kept on for the battle field, upon which we
arrived just in time to witness another
disgraceful retreat, fortunately in time to [‘prevent’ lined through]
prevent a perfect panic. Our forces had again,
owing to the mismanagement of Mc Dowell,
and Porter, been defeated on this fatal
field, when victory and the capture of the rebel
Army of Va. was in our grasp. The army
fell back to Centreville, and encamped
in a confused mob. Sunday the 31st the
army was got in order and into position,
and a new line of battle was formed. The
sick, wounded, and all the trains are being
sent to Washington and Alexandria. Our
battery took a position in a fort which
the rebs built when they occupied this place.
In the evening were relieved by battery A.
Md. Artillery. Cool and unpleasant.

1862 August 24

[additions to the entry for August 21]

Next morning (the 21st ) were turned
out at three A. M. and by day light were
again in motion. Arrived at Newport News at
noon; from this place we were ordered to
Hampton. where we are to ship for Aquia.
Creek, Arrived at Hampton or “rather the
place where it once stood, the rebs having
burned it after the battle of Great Bethel.
At four P. M we went into camp. This
march has been a very pleasant one but the
dust has been so very thick, that one might
catch it by hands full, as it flew in the air.
On the 23rd the batteries were shipped on the
old Chelsea Ferry boat, Winnissimmet.
Cloudy and rainy all day and night. On the
24th the Horses were shipped on the
schooners Annie Magie and Filander,
Haul^‘e’d out in the stream and anchored
for the night.

1861 August 21

Were turned out at three A. M on the 18th and by
five were in motion; at noon passed through
Williamsburg. It was at this place that Sumner
and Heinzelman after a very severe and
desperate battle, succeeded in driving the rebs
at every point from works almost impregnable.
This is next to Yorktown the most strongly
fortified place that we have seen; as far as
the eye can reach in either direction, are very
large and strong fortifications, all enfilading each
other; there are also two large and very strong lines
of rifle pits, protecting the approaches to these
works. At three. P. M we halted and encamp-
-ed for the night. Were up as early as usual the
next morning, but did not move until 8. A. M.
passed through Yorktown. and encamped just
outside the fortifications of the place. Johnny
Rebel must have been most decidedly crazy,
when he evacuated this place with out a
struggle for it. On the 20th turned out at five
A. M, hitched up, and by seven were again
on the tramp. To day we have passed a
large number of fortifications, which the rebels
built when they occupied this part of the country;
for miles in most any direction, some
kind of fortification can be seen. at
three P. M halted and encamped for the
night at. Lee’s mills. It was here that the
Vt. brigade was repulsed in the siege of
Yorktown.

1862 August 17

On the 11th we received marching orders. at 7
A M struck tents and packed up. and
awaited for orders to move. On the 14th we
received orders to be ready to move at day-
-light; were turned out at three A. M.
harnessed and packed up; all night
long a steady column of troops & trains were
passing our camp on their way to Fort
Monroe and Newport News. Remained in
harness all day and night, at three P. M
the entire army with the exception of our
corps ( the 6th) having evacuated their encamp-
-ments, the head of our corps column, took
up their line of march and followed the
remainder of the army to Fort Monroe.
At six P. M, halted and encamped for the
night. Early the next morning were turned
out and by day light were moving. crossed
the lower. Chickahominy by a pontoon
bridge. at five P.M went into camp.
As usual our corps is the rear guard of
this movement. The weather has been pleasant
but very warm and oppressive

1862 August 10

The past week has been to the battery a very
^ ‘busy’ one. Between 8. A. M of the 5th and 7 P. M of the
6th twenty three funerals passed our camp,
On the 5th Heintzelmans corps were sent out
to Malvern hill on a reconnoisance, where a
heavy skirmish ensued: the same day we
received our new cassions. we are to change
our Parrotts for the brass light 12 pdr guns.
Were in harness all night. On the 6th five
pieces of heavy Artillery. ( 30 pdr’s) arrived at
our camp, and went into position on our
right. Next day we were releived by battery
B. Md. Artillery. after which we moved
our camp about ½ mile to the rear. In the
afternoon were paid off. On the 8th we
received our new guns. turned in our old
ones and our old cassions on the 9th. In the
evening had a severe thunder shower. Sunday
had our usual inspection. The weather,
has been quiet pleasant but excessively
warm. the thermometer has not been lower
than 115 and as high as 122. [A small ‘0’ denoting degrees is used after these numbers.]

MSS 8493

1862 August 3 [Marlbourne, Hanover County, Va.]

Unlike the previous week this one has been
very quiet with but one or two exceptions.
Have had our usual drills every other
day. The Army has received orders to be
in readiness to move. we expect to evacuate
the peninsular and to reinforce Gen Pope
who is on the Rapidan. During the night
of the 31st we were suddenly awakened by
a rapid and heavy artillery fire on the
river. The rebs had run some field
batteries down to the banks of the river,
and had opened on our shipping which
lay in the river. They were soon silenced
however by our gun boats, but before
this could be done, they had killed and
wounded 17 men, and destroyed one of our
ordnance boats; On the 1st of Aug. Gen
Morrells div. was sent to occupy the south
bank of the river, to be prepared against
another night attack. three houses were
burned by order of Gen Porter. Our corps
is encamped on the plantation of the
celebrated Ruffin. the one who fired the
first gun at fort Sumter. On the 3rd had
our usual inspection. During the past week
there has been an average of two funerals
daily pass. One man belonging to the 2nd
Vt. regt. who had been unwell for nearly six
months, asked one morning to be excused from
fatigue duty,: his request was refused him, and
while at work he fell dead in his tracks, and
was buried with no ceremony or respect. The
weather has been much the same, as the last
fortnight.

MSS 8493