Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 10

_Sunday, July 12._--We advanced a short distance at eight o'clock A. M.

Our infantry is half a mile ahead. Skirmis.h.i.+ng was going on all the morning. Artillery is used once in a while. All the artillery of the Fifth corps pa.s.sed by between four and six o'clock P. M. A heavy shower this afternoon. In the evening, we changed our position, advancing a quarter of a mile nearer to the front.

_Monday, July 13._--Changed position in the morning, going a short distance behind breastworks. Three fortified lines are already formed by our army. A battle is expected. We remained in our new position all day.

It rained the whole evening and night.

_Tuesday, July 14._--Advance and reconnoissance of parts of the Second, Fifth and Twelfth corps, cavalry ahead. Our battery marched on the Williamsport turnpike. Cannonading and musketry fire could be heard at mid-day. The roads are very muddy. Rebel caissons, full of ammunition, are frequently found on the roadside. Lee's army is crossing the Potomac at Falling Waters. General Kilpatrick charged through Williamsport, capturing the rear guard, consisting of eight hundred men. On our approach, a short but desperate fight was going on at one of the redoubts, close to the river. A brigade, in command of General Pettigrew, defending the redoubt, hoisted the white flag. Forty men of the Eighth Michigan cavalry, charging, in good faith of their surrender, were all slaughtered after going in the trap. The redoubt was carried by the infantry shortly after; but General Pettigrew and most of his men escaped. We had a heavy shower this evening.

_Wednesday, July 15._--The greater part of the army is marching towards Sharpsburg. Our battery returned to its former position. We were told to rest until one o'clock P. M., as we had to do some marching yet. About three o'clock we started, pa.s.sed through Sharpsburg at five o'clock, and marched halfway to Maryland Heights, going to camp late at night. The Second and Twelfth corps occupy the place.

_Thursday, July 16._--The battery followed the ca.n.a.l road, pa.s.sed Harper's Ferry, Sandy Hook, and went to camp in Pleasant Valley. All these places are full of our troops. Marched two hundred and fifty-six miles since the fourteenth of June. The engineers are laying pontoons at Berlin and Harper's Ferry. Iron-clad cars, with a howitzer in each, are running between Was.h.i.+ngton and Harper's Ferry. News of the surrender of Port Hudson, and the occupation of Morris Island, near Charleston, by our troops.

_Friday, July 17._--Camp in Pleasant Valley. At rest for the day.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 18._--Left Pleasant Valley at six o'clock A. M. The Second and Third corps crossed the Potomac to Harper's Ferry on pontoons, and the Shenandoah river on the trestlework bridge. Marched eight miles into Loudon Valley, going in camp.

_Sunday, July 19._--Loudon Valley. New clothes were issued to the battery.

We started at six o'clock A. M., marching only four miles. The country abounds in delicious blackberries.

_Monday, July 20._--Marched ten miles on the Leesburg turnpike, and camped outside of Bloomfield.

_Tuesday, July 21._--Camp at Bloomfield. Captain McMahon is to be shot to-morrow for killing Captain McManners.

_Wednesday, July 22._--Bloomfield, Virginia. Started by one o'clock P. M.

Marched through Upperville by six, and Paris by seven o'clock in the evening, going to camp at the foot of Ashby Gap. Marched eight miles to-day. Captain McMahon's sentence to be shot, has been changed by President Lincoln to ten years in the State Prison. The Fifth Regular cavalry met the rebels at Mana.s.sas Gap.

_Thursday, July 23._--Left Ashby Gap early, marching on the mountain road, leading to Front Royal. Arrived at Markham's Station, on the Mana.s.sas Gap Railroad, by three o'clock P. M. Pa.s.sed Linden at five. The Stone Church there is full of our wounded from the engagement two days previous. The Third corps engaged the enemy during the day. We went to park at eight o'clock P. M., in Mana.s.sas Gap, near the village of Petersburg. The Fifth corps is ahead of the Second. We marched twelve miles to-day.

_Friday, July 24._--A desperate fight took place on Wapping Heights yesterday. Our infantry under General Spinola charged the enemy three times. Lee's army is marching towards Culpepper Court House. Their long line of trains are visible on the other side of the Shenandoah river. Our troops are in want of rations, and the horses need forage. The army left Mana.s.sas Gap at one o'clock P. M. Our corps went to camp outside of Markham's Station, for the night.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 25._--Started at six o'clock A. M. We had a very difficult march over the mountains, in intensely hot weather. Lost several horses during the day. Pa.s.sed through Rectortown. Our rear was once attacked by guerillas. Arrived at White Plains by three o'clock P. M. Our battery parked near the woods. Rations were given out. A heavy rain fell this evening.

_Sunday, July 26._--Left White Plains at five o'clock, A. M., taking the course of the Mana.s.sas Gap Railroad, turning off to New Baltimore, from there to Warrenton, arriving at noon. The battery rested until half-past one o'clock, and marched to Warrenton Junction. The weather was intensely hot. Dead and dying soldiers were lying along the roadside. Our battery lost six horses. We marched twenty-four miles to-day. The troops camped half a mile from the railroad. A shower fell in the night.

_Monday, July 27._--Camp near Warrenton Junction. We have marched three hundred and thirty-four miles since the fourteenth of June. A heavy fall of rain in the night.

_Tuesday, July 28._--Camp near Warrenton Junction. We remained quiet. A shower in the night.

_Wednesday, July 29._--Camp near Warrenton Junction. Remained quiet. A fall of rain in the evening.

_Thursday, July 30._--Camp near Warrenton Junction. At six o'clock in the evening, we were ordered to march, going only six miles further and went to camp at Elktown.

_Friday, July 31._--Went six miles further, towards Morrisville, going in camp. Clothes were issued this evening.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 1._--The third division of the Second corps, and our battery, marched back to Elktown. Our camp is very pleasantly situated near the woods.

_Sunday, August 2._--Camp at Elktown. The weather is very hot.

_Monday, August 3._--The battery was paid off for two months service.

_Tuesday, August 4._--Camp at Elktown. Cannonade in the direction of the Rappahannock.

_Friday, August 7._--Battery B drew horses to-day.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 8._--Elktown. Battery B separated from Battery A, (ours,) getting a new set of guns at Morrisville.

_Thursday, August 13._--A heavy fall of rain to-day.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 15._--Elktown. Troops are going to Alexandria.

_Thursday, August 20._--The rebels made a demonstration from the vicinity of Dumfries.

_Sat.u.r.day, August 22._--General Warren took command of the Second corps.

He inspected our battery to-day. Hot weather.

_Monday, August 31._--Elktown. Reconnoisance of the Second corps.

Intelligence was brought that Wade Hampton's cavalry had crossed over to the northside of the Rappahannock on a raid. Our cavalry is to follow them up, while infantry and artillery are guarding the different fords on the river. We marched by daybreak, going fifteen miles, and went in park one mile from United States Ford.

_Friday, September 4._--Return from the Rappahannock. The battery left at six o'clock P. M., followed by the First division. We did not go back to Elktown, but were ordered to report at Morrisville. Kilpatrick's cavalry returned, having destroyed the gunboat taken by the rebels.

_Wednesday, September 9._--Morrisville. Mounted drill.

_Thursday, September 10._--Mounted drill.

_Friday, September 11._--Cannonading heard in the direction of the Rappahannock.

_Sat.u.r.day, September 12._--Morrisville. The Second corps left camp at ten o'clock A. M., marched to Bealton Station, from there to Rappahannock Station, going in camp for the night. The First and Fifth corps are camping near the fords. Our cavalry has crossed the river, and is skirmis.h.i.+ng with the rebels; We marched ten miles to-day.

_Sunday, September 13._--At Rappahannock Ford. The whole cavalry corps is across the river. The Second corps crossed about eight o'clock A. M., on a pontoon bridge. The cavalry and horse artillery are already fighting between Brandy Station and Culpepper Court House. We halted for an hour at Brandy Station, on the road to Culpepper. Three rebel guns, and twenty artillerymen, who were Maryland rebels, and well dressed, captured by Kilpatrick's cavalry, were carried by. We arrived in Culpepper at six o'clock P. M. The view of the surrounding country is splendid. Our cavalry drove Stuart's cavalry clear to Cedar Mountain, occasionally firing a gun at them. We were in line of battle, the artillery on the hills, and a part of the infantry around Culpepper Court House. Rain fell during the night.

_Monday, September 14._--In line of battle at Culpepper Court House. The cavalry still fighting near the Rapidan.

_Tuesday, September 15._--Culpepper Court House. Cannonading going on since morning.

_Wednesday, September 16._--Culpepper Court House. At nine o'clock A. M., orders came for the Third division, our battery and Battery B, to advance.

We marched through the town to Cedar Mountain, General Pope's battle ground, and occupied the hill during the evening and night, in line of battle. We could see the rebel artillery fire on our cavalry at Racc.o.o.n Ford. Marched eight miles to-day. A very cold night.

_Thursday, September 17._--Cedar Mountain. Left at ten o'clock, A. M., marching only three miles. Heavy skirmis.h.i.+ng was going on during the afternoon at Robinson's Creek. The rebels are in strong force on the Rapidan. Our battery went to camp near the woods in the evening. A heavy fall of rain all night.

_Friday, September 18._--Near Robinson's Creek. Two deserters, of the Fourteenth Connecticut regiment, were shot to-day, in presence of the Third division, Batteries A and B, Rhode Island. At the same time a fight was going on near the Rapidan.

_Sat.u.r.day, September 19._--Near Robinson's Creek. We changed camp. The battery was. .h.i.tched up until four o'clock P. M. Quiet until

_Tuesday, September 22._--A cavalry fight took place on the other side of Robinson's Creek.

_Wednesday, September 23._--Robinson's Creek. Fighting going on all the afternoon. We can see the troops manoeuvring on the other side of the creek. Artillery was firing rapidly. Afterwards we found out that Kilpatrick's cavalry returned from a reconnoissance, the enemy disputing his pa.s.sage fiercely.

_Thursday, September 24._--Robinson's Creek. The battery was paid off for two months service. New clothes were issued in the afternoon.

_Sunday, September 27._--The Eleventh and Twelfth corps are leaving the Army of the Potomac, going to join the Western army.