Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 11

_Tuesday, September 29._--Our battery, without the caissons, turned out this afternoon under cover of the woods, to Robinson's Creek, to support the cavalry, they making a dash on the rebel picket lines towards evening, which was done in good style. We did not fire, and returned to camp at dark.

_Friday, October 2._--It rained all day. A deserter was shot in the First division.

_Sat.u.r.day, October 3._--Robinson's Creek. The Third brigade of the Third division, Second corps, under General Paddy Owen, came to camp this evening, close to our battery.

_Sunday, October 4._--Mounted inspection.

_Monday, October 5._--The Sixth corps arrived to-day to relieve ours, (the Second.)

_Tuesday, October 6._--The Second corps left Robinson's Creek, at seven o'clock, A. M., returning to Culpepper. The main body of the army camps around Culpepper. The town presents a lively aspect.

_Friday, October 9._--Lee's army reported to operate on our flank.

_Sat.u.r.day, October 10._--Culpepper Court House. The army is in line of battle around Culpepper. A battle expected. Our battery marched three miles to the right of Culpepper, going in position in the woods at night.

The engineers of the Second division were cutting trees all night. The position of our battery is very poor, as manoeuvring is absolutely impossible in these woods. Lee's whole army is in motion on our right flank.

_Sunday, October 11._--Our corps fell back to Culpepper at two o'clock in the morning, halting there until daybreak, when we marched back to Rappahannock Station, the Sixth corps in our rear. The whole army is falling back. Infantry are busy levelling the redoubts that cover the ford. The battery went to Bealton Station, going in park.

_Monday, October 12._--Bealton Station. Heavy fighting going; on between Kilpatrick's and Stuart's cavalry. At twelve o'clock the Second and Sixth corps received orders to recross the Rappahannock. Arriving there in quick time, we crossed immediately, and formed in line of battle. The two corps, drawn up in a straight line, half-way between Brandy Station and the Rappahannock, presented a splendid sight. The enemy fell back to Culpepper after sunset. General Gregg's cavalry was defeated at White Sulphur Springs to-day. Orders came suddenly, at twelve o'clock in the night, to fall back across the Rappahannock.

_Tuesday, October 18._--We arrived at Bealton Station before daybreak, and were immediately ordered to White Sulphur Springs, to support Gregg; but the order was countermanded when we were within a few miles from there. We marched at once in the direction of Warrenton Junction, and halted at dark, on account of the Third corps trains. Marched twenty-five miles since last night.

_Wednesday, October 14._--Action on Coffee Hill and at Bristow Station.

The Second corps was in motion at three o'clock in the morning. Large fires were burning all along the roadside. Near daybreak, one of our caissons and one of Battery B's, were upset in crossing a stream. Reports of carbines greeted our ears, astonis.h.i.+ng everybody, as no attack from the enemy was expected. Great excitement prevailed at first. Several men of the First division were killed and wounded, the rebels opening furiously on a hill where the infantry were busy cooking coffee. The rebel force consisted of cavalry and horse-artillery. Our battery took position on the hill, but changed front soon after, firing to the rear, facing a deep creek below the hill. Generals Warren and Caldwell were present. General Warren ordered General Hayes to march his division directly to Mana.s.sas Junction, and if opposed by the enemy, to charge with the bayonet at once.

A short time after a battery appeared in our front. Captain Arnold wished to open fire; but, incredible as it sounds, yet true, General Caldwell would not allow it, taking the rebels for our own troops. They unlimbered, and opened a well-directed fire on our battery, which had a very exposed position. Our fire did not seem to have much effect. General Caldwell did not remain after finding out his mistake. Our battery was compelled to withdraw. A section of regular artillery tried to get in position, but was unable to do so. The line of march was taken up immediately, cavalry and horse-artillery marching on both flanks. We were not disturbed any more until four o'clock P. M., our troops suddenly met the enemy on the railroad at Bristow Station. Only four guns of our battery were at hand, the right section acting as rear guard. We were opposed by a six gun battery, having mostly white horses. A desperate engagement followed, lasting one hour. We fired point blank most of the time. The rebel battery was nearly annihilated, and five of their guns carried away by our infantry; but our battery deserves due credit for the capture of the rebels. The right section arrived after the engagement was over, taking up its position instantly. At dark the enemy suddenly attacked us on our left flank, bringing a battery to bear on us from the other side of the railroad; but the dam being too high, they could not fire with accuracy.

We changed front at once, opening fire, and silencing the battery shortly after, ending the engagement thereby. Hill's corps and Stewart's cavalry were the opposing forces. The Second corps captured five guns and nearly a thousand prisoners. We all crossed Kettle Run, late in the night, marched to Centreville via Mana.s.sas Junction, arriving there in a tired-out condition. Our loss at Bristow Station was: Killed--Philip Crayton.

Wounded--John Moran, died afterwards; M. Desmond, James Gardner, Patrick Healey, and Theodore Reichardt.

_Thursday, October 15._--Centreville. The battery is refilling ammunition.

_Friday, October 16._--A heavy rain. The battery advanced in front of Cub Run.

_Sat.u.r.day, October 17._--Cub Run. Cannonading is going on near Bull Run.

The left section received new guns. During the afternoon the engineers laid a pontoon bridge across Cub Run, without meeting any opposition. The battery turned out to support, while a brigade of cavalry and some horse artillery, crossed the Run to reconnoitre.

_Sunday, October 18._--Cub Run. The cavalry is fighting on the way from Mana.s.sas Junction to Bristow Station.

_Monday, October 19._--A heavy fall of rain at four o'clock in the morning. The Second and Third corps crossed Cub Run by daybreak, marched over Bull Run and Mana.s.sas Junction, and went to camp two miles from Bristow Station. The infantry carries rations for ten days. We marched eight miles to-day. The rebels have broken up the Orange and Alexandria railroad.

_Tuesday, October 20._--Marched over the battle-field at Bristow Station and through Greenwich, going in position on Coffee Hill at dark. Marched eighteen miles to-day.

_Wednesday, October 21._--Remained on Coffee Hill all day. The remains of the soldiers who fell here on the fourteenth were buried by our troops.

The Third corps advanced further.

_Thursday, October 22._--Coffee Hill. Changed camp this afternoon.

_Friday, October 23._--Marched to within two miles of Warrenton Junction, going in camp.

_Sat.u.r.day, October 24._--Camp near Warrenton Junction.

_Monday, October 26._--Cannonading going on, some distance off. All the artillery of our corps was packed up until half-past six o'clock.

_Wednesday, October 28._--Skirmis.h.i.+ng going on at Bealton Station.

_Sat.u.r.day, October 31._--Camp near Warrenton. The battery was mustered in for two months service, by Captain Ha.s.sard, of Battery B. Mounted inspection at eleven o'clock A. M., by Lieutenant Colonel Munroe, Chief-of-Artillery of the Second corps, our former lieutenant.

_Friday, November 6._--Review of the artillery of the Second corps, by Lieutenant Colonel Munroe.

_Sat.u.r.day, November 7._--The army in motion. All the corps are marching towards the Rappahannock. Forced march to Bealton Station. Our corps took the road towards Kelly's Ford. The Sixth corps surprised the rebels completely at Rappahannock Ford, charged on their works, and captured four guns, four colors, and eight hundred prisoners--four colonels and three lieutenant colonels amongst them. The Third corps took four hundred prisoners. After arriving at Kelly's Ford, our corps went to camp for the night.

_Sunday, November 8._--At Kelly's Ford. The Second and Third corps crossed the river at half-past six o'clock A. M., on pontoons, forming in line of battle. No opposition was met with when we advanced. Ewell's corps seemed to have occupied the ford, winter quarters having been built already. The different corps advanced two miles further from the river. Our corps camped on Colonel Thomas' plantation in the evening.

_Monday, November 9._--Camp on Colonel Thomas' plantation. The first snow fell. All remains quiet.

_Wednesday, November 11._--The battery changed camp. All the artillery of the Second corps is forming one camp. The enemy is on the other side of the Rapidan.

_Thursday, November 12._--We were paid off for two months service.

_Sat.u.r.day, November 14._--A heavy shower fell about nine o'clock in the evening.

_Sunday, November 15._--Our battery was packed up, ready to march, all the morning. Heavy cannonading going on at the Rapidan. The order to march was countermanded in the afternoon. It rained all day.

_Monday, November 16._--Mounted inspection by Lieutenant Colonel Munroe in the afternoon. The first train of cars crossed the bridge over Rappahannock Ford.

_Wednesday, November 18._--Review, in honor of some English officers. Our battery was harnessed up, but did not turn out.

_Sat.u.r.day, November 21._--It rained all day.

_Sunday, November 22._--New clothes were issued to the battery.

_Thursday, November 26._--Thanksgiving day. The army is advancing again.

The Second and Fifth corps marched by daybreak. Before marching, it was announced to the troops, that the western army, at Chattanooga, achieved a great victory over Bragg's forces. Arriving at Germania Ford, most of the artillery, our battery amongst it, was brought in position, while the cavalry charged across the Rapidan. Approaching the enemy's works, they were found deserted. A pontoon bridge was immediately laid for the infantry. The artillery had to ford the river. We marched on the plank-road, leading to the Wilderness, until seven o'clock P. M., going in position by eight. All the troops are in line of battle. A severely cold night.

_Friday, November 27._--Resumed our march on the plank-road, turning off to the Orange Court House road by nine o'clock A. M. Our skirmishers met the enemy at the Red Tavern. Brisk skirmis.h.i.+ng commenced, and some of the short range artillery went in action. We remained on the roadside until five o'clock P. M., going in park then. A large quant.i.ty of rails were secured by the battery boys to keep large fires burning all night.

_Sat.u.r.day, November 28._--The order was to be awake by three o'clock in the morning. At daybreak our lines advanced, but the enemy fell back some distance. Our line of battle followed rapidly until ten o'clock A. M., when suddenly our advance was checked in front of Mine Run. Finding the rebel army in battle array, presenting a formidable line, our battery was brought in position at once; but, shortly afterwards, ordered to advance and open fire on them. Our unexpected firing broke the front line of infantry very soon; but two batteries taking the position, opened a terrible fire on our battery. Owing to our exposed position, we had to withdraw our guns by hand to the rear, where the ground formed a sort of ravine. At this time, Rickett's Pennsylvania battery, and Ames' New York battery, opened from our left. Our battery fired sixty rounds. We had one man wounded, Burrill,--a detached infantry man,--a cannon ball breaking his arm. Shortly after we retired to our former position. All hands went to digging until eleven o'clock in the night. About midnight we were ordered to fall back on Red Tavern. The roads are in a horrid condition.

Rain set in early in the morning.

_Sunday, November 29._--Red Tavern. March of the Second corps and a division of the Sixth to the left flank, at seven o'clock A. M. All the rear boxes of the caissons were left behind, so as not to impede the march on the muddy roads. We turned off to the Gordonsville plank-road. Our cavalry was skirmis.h.i.+ng all the time. Pa.s.sing through the woods, the enemy's batteries opened a heavy fire, but were responded to by our horse artillery. A line of battle was formed at once. Our battery went in position on a knoll, close to the woods. The enemy ceased firing at dark, and the glare of both armies camp-fires was soon visible. The night was very cold. We are only three miles from Orange Court House.

_Monday, November 30._--Most of the infantry of the Second corps, and the division of the Sixth, advanced before daylight, with the intention to take the enemy's works by a.s.sault. It was understood that we should open fire at an elevation of nine degrees, by the first bugle sound. The second signal of a bugle should be for the infantry to storm the works.

But we waited in vain for any signal, General Warren stating the works could not be taken without immense loss of life; the main works being built of solid logs, two feet thick, the breastworks eleven feet high and six feet thick, mounted with eighteen guns. Our battery opened several times on the enemy, who was endeavoring to carry artillery by our front.

Sergeant Olney made a splendid shot during the morning. Heavy cannonading was kept up on the right the whole forenoon; but neither army seemed to be very anxious to open the battle. Horse artillery fired on our position several times, without doing any damage. During the afternoon the right section took position ahead of us, a little to our right, firing some. Our whole line was fortified during the day. At dark, our battery was ordered to fall back to the rear, which was gladly responded to. Going about two miles, we went in park close to the Fredericksburg plank-road.

_Tuesday, December 1._--All the trains are going towards the Rapidan.

Troops were marching back all the afternoon. The right section of our battery, under Lieutenant Hunt, was sent back to the front to guard the Orange road, but returned again in the evening. At eleven o'clock in the night, the Second corps commenced marching to the rear, on the Fredericksburg plank-road. Our battery was the last of the corps. The night was cold but clear. The moon shone. We travelled very fast. A division of cavalry and some horse artillery concluded the rear-guard. We marched all night. Large fires were burning on both sides of the road.

Sometimes the woods were all on fire. On this march we were undergoing great sufferings, many of us having no overcoats.