Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 3

_Monday, March 24._--At Camp "Dunkins." Quiet.

_Tuesday, March 25._--The drivers arrived with the horses. In the afternoon, our James' rifle guns were returned to the Was.h.i.+ngton a.r.s.enal, and those of Battery I, First United States regulars, given to us. They consist of four Parrott guns and two bra.s.s howitzers.

_Wednesday, March 26._--Camp Dunkins. Nothing important.

_Thursday, March 27._--We are to join McClellan's army on the Peninsula.

Had battery drill in the afternoon, and directly after that marched to the foot of G street to load the battery. Recruits arrived from Rhode Island,--Joseph Brooks, who was taken prisoner at the Bull Run battle amongst them.

_Friday, March 28._--The guns were loaded on board the propeller Novelty; the horses on the barge Onrust. Those of the right section on the schooner Charmer. The vessels started by twelve o'clock M. Dropped anchor in front of Alexandria at six o'clock in the evening.

_Sunday, March 30._--On board the Onrust. Started again at daylight in tow of the steamer Golden Gate, having four companies of the First Minnesota aboard. Anch.o.r.ed near Port Tobacco in the evening.

_Monday March 31._--Steamed down the Chesapeake Bay, and dropped anchor opposite Fortress Monroe.

_Tuesday, April 1._--Two French men-of-war and the Monitor, close to the Onrust. Eighteen men from the centre section were sent to Hampton Roads in a small boat, in the afternoon, to unload the battery from the Novelty.

Some of the other sections arrived there before us. At dark the centre section was sent back to the schooner; but, unable to find it in the dark, had to go aboard of one of the schooners occupied by Battery B.

_Wednesday, April 2._--Returned to Hampton at daylight. The battery and horses were unloaded at once. General Sedgwick ordered the battery to go to camp outside of Hampton, which was done in the afternoon.

_Thursday, April 3._--Hampton Roads. Great concentration of McClellan's army. Our battery has to give up the tents.

_Friday, April 4._--The Second Corps on the move. Started by eight o'clock A. M.; by four o'clock we went into park at Big Bethel, to camp for the night.

_Sat.u.r.day, April 5._--Marched at daybreak. Cannonading going on in front of Yorktown. General McClellan pa.s.sed the line amidst great cheering of the troops. Strong intrenchments were found near Howard's Mills. At six o'clock P. M. we went to camp three miles from Yorktown.

_Sunday, April 6._--Great scarcity of food. Our battery went on a reconnoisance with General Burns' brigade. Only the pieces were taken along, with eight horses to each. We are in plain sight of Yorktown. See the rebel flag floating from the parapet. They fire very frequently at our troops. After running suddenly against some of the enemy's batteries, we returned to our former camp, "Winfield Scott."

_Monday, April 7._--Siege of Yorktown. The engineers at work. Heavy ordnance on the way from Fortress Monroe.

_Tuesday, April 8._--All the provisions and forage has to be brought on the backs of mules and horses from s.h.i.+pping Point and Cheeseman's Creek, the roads being impa.s.sable for wagons.

_Friday, April 11._--Our battery at rest since Tuesday. News of the battle of Pittsburg Landing.

_Sunday, April 13._--Governor Sprague, General Barry, and Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds in our camp to-day.

_Wednesday, April 16._--An engagement going on near Warwick Creek. Our division is ordered forward. We advanced to within two miles of the rebels' first line. The battery went to camp. Battery B was in action.

_Thursday, April 17._--Our two howitzers go to the front. Considerable fighting was going on during the night. Our four Parrott guns ready to march at a minute's notice.

_Friday, April 18._--At three o'clock P. M., orders came for our Parrott guns to advance to within a mile of the enemy; when, getting in sight of the rebels, we were saluted by a twelve-pound shot, the only fired at us this day. The sections divided, the guns were unlimbered. We kept up a desultory fire until sunset. The guns were sighted for the night. The order given to fire one gun every thirty minutes at the enemy's works, which was carried out.

_Sat.u.r.day, April 19._--A brisk cannonade, kept up since daylight from our side, without response from the enemy. By six o'clock P. M. the enemy fired three times at Carlile's battery. Heavy picket firing at ten o'clock in the night.

_Sunday, April 20._--The rebel infantry fired several heavy volleys into our lines, doing no damage however. Generals Sumner, Sedgwick and Gorman inspected the line. Our battery fired steadily all the morning. We were relieved at four o'clock by Battery B, and went back to camp.

_Monday, April 21._--Camp Scott. The Vermont brigade, under General Smith, was defeated at Warwick Creek. Temporary suspension of beating drums, sounding the bugle, and playing of musicians.

_Tuesday, April 22._--At nine o'clock A. M. we went to the front. The enemy fired twice at our arrival. We did not respond. In the evening we fell back to the woods, covered by the Fifteenth Ma.s.sachusetts regiment. A siege gun was fired during the night.

_Wednesday, April 23._--At the front. The enemy fired twice in the morning, and several times in the evening. Fire returned in both cases. At dark we fell back again, in reserve.

_Thursday, April 24._--At the front. We were relieved at nine o'clock A.

M., by Battery B. News arrived of McDowell's occupation of Fredericksburg.

Heavy cannonade in the night.

_Sat.u.r.day, April 26._--Fighting going on. Our battery was ordered to the front. At our arrival, fighting closed, and we went back to camp.

_Monday, April 28._--Going to the front. At ten o'clock P. M., General Sedgwick ordered Captain Tompkins to take his battery to the Redoubt No.

7, to cover the finis.h.i.+ng of Battery No. 8. The rebels commenced heavy sh.e.l.ling, to which we replied vigorously. Sections of Batteries B and G were also engaged in it. They returned to their camps at nightfall. We fell back in reserve, supported by the Fifteenth Regiment Ma.s.sachusetts volunteers.

_Tuesday, April 29._--At daylight we took position in Battery No. 8, supported by one company of telescope-rifle sharp-shooters. The rebels kept up a heavy fire all day. We went back in reserve at dark.

_Wednesday, April 30._--Battery No. 8. We were relieved in the morning by Battery B. Heavy cannonading in the night.

_Thursday, May 1._--News of the capture of New Orleans.

_Friday, May 2._--Camp "Winfield Scott." Steady cannonading all day.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 3._--The rebels are preparing to evacuate Yorktown. Heavy firing, day and night.

_Sunday, May 4._--Evacuation of Yorktown. Our lines advanced at daybreak, and found the fortifications deserted by the rebels, leaving most of the siege-guns behind. Stoneman's cavalry is following up the enemy's rear-guard. Our whole army ready to march.

_Monday, May 5._--A battle going on at Williamsburgh since morning. Our division marched into Yorktown towards afternoon, under a heavy rain.

Explosions of torpedoes very frequent. We commenced to camp inside the fortifications, but we were ordered to march towards Williamsburgh immediately. The column started; halted shortly after on the turnpike road, and remained during the night, under an incessant rain. This was one of the most horrid nights we ever saw in the service. At two o'clock in the morning orders came for us to retire to our camps to rest.

_Tuesday, May 6._--Our battery moved to the river, close to Yorktown, ready to be s.h.i.+pped. General Franklin's corps is embarking already. We loaded ammunition all day.

_Wednesday, May 7._--Our guns were put aboard the steamer Delaware. We started for West Point, at the mouths of the Pamunkey and Mattapony rivers. Arrived there at five o'clock P. M., and dropped anchor for the night. General Franklin's corps had a fight with the enemy's rear-guard.

_Thursday, May 8._--Captain Arnold, of the regular artillery, inspected the unloading of our battery. We camp close to the Pamunkey.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 10._--West Point. The horses were landed to-day. By five o'clock P. M., we marched two miles, and camped at Elkhorn, on the Pamunkey.

_Sunday, May 11._--General McClellan arrived here to-day. He brought the news of the destruction of the Merrimac.

_Monday, May 12._--At Elkhorn. Inspection of the division.

_Thursday, May 15._--Marched towards New Kent Court House, fifteen miles from Elkhorn. Our camp five miles from c.u.mberland Landing.

_Friday, May 16._--Camp Stumps, near New Kent Court House.

_Sunday, May 18._--Marched through the last mentioned place, and went to camp after having proceeded two miles. Remained there till

_Wednesday, May 21._--Marched at six o'clock A. M. Pa.s.sed the Savage House, at the Baltimore cross-roads, (headquarters of McClellan,) St.

Peter's Church, where Was.h.i.+ngton was married to Mrs. Custis, and went to camp a few miles from Bottoms' Bridge. General McClellan issued two rations of whiskey to the soldiers.

_Thursday, May 22._--Remained in camp near Bottoms' Bridge, on the York River Railroad. During the afternoon, a heavy hailstorm occurred. Pieces of ice, two inches in diameter, were found.