Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 9

_Monday, May 25._--Corporals Greene and Rider returned from Rhode Island.

_Tuesday, May 26._--Bill Drape mistook this day for Thanksgiving, living in such grand style.

_Wednesday, May 27._--French's division marched to Kelly's Ford in great haste.

_Sat.u.r.day, May 30._--We were paid off for two months service.

_Sunday, May 31._--Great excitement prevailed this morning. We were roused at half-past three o'clock, and the battery hitched up. Battery A, Fourth Regulars, went in position instantly. The Thirty-fourth New York infantry formed as support for our battery. But nothing happened; everything quiet in the afternoon.

_Monday, June 1._--At four o'clock P. M. the battery had to be hitched up again.

_Tuesday, June 2._--New shelter tents were distributed. This afternoon we had division drill, under Generals Hanc.o.c.k and Gibbons.

_Thursday, June 4._--Order to be ready to march at a minute's notice.

_Friday, June 5._--Left our camp near the river, establis.h.i.+ng another near General Hanc.o.c.k's headquarters, two miles from the depot. Five o'clock P.

M.--a fight is going on near the Lacy gas works. Our battery opened on Fredericksburg. The Sixth corps crossed the river on pontoons, and took the first line of rifle-pits, making some prisoners. Fighting kept on till seven o'clock, P. M. From our camp the flash of the batteries could plainly be seen.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 6._--Expiration of our second year of service. Artillery firing going on at intervals between Sedgwick's corps and the rebels. A heavy shower in the evening.

_Sunday, Jane 7._--We got ready to march during the day.

_Tuesday, June 9._--Changed camp again, but moving a short distance only.

The Thirty-fourth New York regiment started for home, their time of service having expired. A heavy cavalry fight occurred at Beaver Ford, between Pleasanton, Gregg, and Dufour, and Stuart and Fitz Hugh Lee. The latter was taken prisoner.

_Thursday, June 11._--The rebel batteries opened on Sedgwick's corps.

_Friday, June 12._--The rebels fired at our balloon near Banks' Ford. The Twenty-fourth regiment, New Jersey nine months men, went home to-day, their time being out. We lost five men by it, who were on detached duty in the battery--honest John amongst them.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 13._--Our army begins to leave the Rappahannock. The supplies at the depot are carried to Aquia Creek with the most possible speed. The First, Third, Fifth, Eleventh and Twelfth corps started towards Warrenton. All the pontoon trains, but General Sedgwick's, have gone. The one hundred pounder Parrott gun was brought in position to-day, and fired once by Major Tompkins, after which the gun rolled off the platform. The Second and Sixth corps comprise all the troops that are left in front of Fredericksburg. At seven o'clock P. M. a heavy shower set in. Our battery was ordered to proceed to the Lacy House. Sedgwick's corps is recrossing the river. We left camp in a heavy rain, at ten o'clock in the night, arrived near the river at twelve, and got in position. The thirty-pounder Parrott gun battery, (Connecticut,) left at once. The one hundred pounder Parrott gun was taken to the railroad. The Sixth corps pa.s.sed by all night. The pontoon train and heavy artillery left at four o'clock A. M. on

_Sunday, June 14._--Opposite Fredericksburg, in position, behind redoubts.

Only the Second corps is remaining yet. The rebels were quite surprised to find our troops across the river. They walked around their rifle-pits in squads, and fired at us and our infantry pickets on the sh.o.r.e; but the general commanding threatened to open on them with artillery, if they did not stop it. During the afternoon the rebel troops lying around St. Mary's heights, marched and countermarched. Towards evening, we could see the cannoniers pull their guns by hand outside of the redoubts, and march off in the direction of Culpepper. We had orders to leave fifteen minutes after dark. A deserter swam across the river into our lines about seven o'clock. Nine o'clock P. M.--leaving the Rappahannock. The guns were limbered up quietly. We started on the telegraph road, crossed Stoneman's Switch, and marched all night.

_Monday, June 15._--Arrived at Stafford Court House about seven o'clock A.

M. We found a part of the Sixth corps in line of battle. The Second corps went in line of battle instantly. The balloon went up for the last time, a good sign of better prospects, for the balloon never brought luck to our army. At eleven o'clock, marching was resumed. We crossed Aquia Creek at three o'clock P. M., going in position near by, and remained there for the rest of the day and night. The day was terribly hot,--110 in the shade. Eighteen men died from the effects of the heat. A man of the Twenty-eighth Ma.s.sachusetts regiment broke his neck, falling over a stump of a tree. We marched seventeen miles since leaving Falmouth. Reports of artillery firing can be heard all day.

_Tuesday, June 16._--The column got in motion at three o'clock in the morning. Heavy cannonade in the direction of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We arrived at Dumfries about ten o'clock A. M. Rations were issued there, and our march resumed at noon. The right section of our battery, under Lieutenant Peter Hunt, was acting rear-guard to-day. We pa.s.sed Wolf's run at seven o'clock, and went to camp for the night, after having marched twenty miles. The strong fortifications at Wolf Run Shoals, are counted to the defences of Was.h.i.+ngton.

_Wednesday, June 17._--This morning we marched to Fairfax Station, (six miles,) and formed in line of battle. Our corps numbers not more than eight thousand effective men. The roads leading to Mana.s.sas are full of the army trains, coming from Warrenton.

_Thursday, June 18._--Near Fairfax Station, in line of battle.

_Friday, June 19._--Near Fairfax Station. Marched at four o'clock P. M., and arrived at Centreville about six. Went in position in one of the redoubts. A heavy shower in the night.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 20._--Centreville. Great row between the Tammany regiment, New York, and some of the new troops under General Hayes. We left Centreville at one o'clock P. M., crossed the Cub Run, and marched over the old battle-field of Bull Run at five o'clock, which awoke all the bitter feelings of the troops, especially the sight of the skeletons of so many brave soldiers lying around. It is a shame to the country that the remains of those men, who fell in the two battles, are not better taken care of, as the ground lies within our lines. Arriving at Gainesville, the First and Third divisions, and our battery went to camp. The Second division marched to Thoroughfare Gap in the night.

_Sunday, June 21._--At Gainesville. A battle is going on between Pleasanton's and Stuart's cavalry near Ashby Gap. Our cavalry pickets near Gainesville, were driven in this afternoon. Three companies of infantry, and the right section, got ready for support. About seven o'clock P. M., General Stahl's division of cavalry, with three rifled guns and a four-pound howitzer, taken from Moseby, near Fairfax Court House, two weeks ago, pa.s.sed through, going to Warrenton. A dangerous experiment was made by John Tyng this evening. Pounding on a round sh.e.l.l, lying there since the second battle of Bull Run, the sh.e.l.l exploded amidst a crowd of the battery, without hurting any one.

_Monday, June 22._--Gainesville. It was read in line that General Pleasanton, supported by Barnard's division of infantry, Fifth corps, gained a victory over Stuart's cavalry at Upperville and Ashby Gap, taking two guns and a quant.i.ty of small arms.

_Tuesday, June 23._--Gainesville. Trains came up from Alexandria this morning, bringing supplies. Stahl's cavalry came back from Warrenton.

_Thursday, June 25._--Gainesville. Orders came to pack up. Two trains arrived from Alexandria, bringing supplies, and the news that the telegraph line had been broken and several cars burned, between this place and Fairfax Station, by guerillas. We left Gainesville at noon, crossed the Bull Run, marched on the Winchester and Leesburg turnpike, pa.s.sed Sudley's church, taking the same route we did under McDowell, going to and coming from the first Bull Run battle, until we turned off to Gum Spring, halting for the night. Marched eighteen miles in all. Battery B, lost a caisson and two men taken prisoners, coming from Thoroughfare Gap.

_Friday, June 26._--Gum Spring. Left at ten o'clock A. M., going to Edward's Ferry, where we arrived by eight o'clock P. M.--ten miles march.

Two pontoon bridges are drawn across the Potomac. Troops are going over all the time. We halted for the purpose of camping. Tents were pitched, but the order came at ten o'clock P. M., that all the troops had to cross before daylight. General Hayes' brigade of Heintzelman's corps, consisting of the Thirty-ninth, One Hundred and Eleventh, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, and One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York regiments, was attached to the Second corps.

_Sat.u.r.day, June 27._--Crossed the Potomac at two o'clock in the morning.

Went to rest a mile from the river. Remained until two o'clock P. M.

Resumed marching. Pa.s.sed through Poolesville at four, Barnesville at nine, and went to camp at the foot of Sugar Loaf Mountain at ten o'clock P. M.

_Sunday, June 28._--Resumed our march at six o'clock A. M., pa.s.sed through Urbana by one, and came in sight of Frederick at three o'clock P. M. We went in position on a hill, five miles from the city, having marched nine miles. Joe Hooker has been superseded by General Meade in the command of the Army of the Potomac. The rebels occupied Carlisle, in Pennsylvania.

_Monday, June 29._--Marched at eight o'clock. Crossed the Monocacy river.

After pa.s.sing through Frederick, we turned off to the Baltimore road, crossing the Stone Bridge. We went through Mount Pleasant, Liberty, Union Bridge and Uniontown. Cherries are plenty on the road. The people in general are very patriotic, doing anything for the soldiers. This day's march, thirty-five miles, is the longest ever made by the battery, excepting that after the first Bull Run battle. We went to camp at ten o'clock in the night.

_Tuesday, June 30._--Uniontown. Our corps is resting to-day. Whiskey is very abundant round here. We have marched one hundred and thirty-nine miles since the fourteenth of June.

_Wednesday, July 1._--Left Uniontown in the morning, pa.s.sed through Taneytown, and were two miles from Gettysburg at dark, having marched fifteen miles. The First and Eleventh corps fought a battle to-day, losing the town of Gettysburg. General Reynolds, of the First corps, was killed.

_Thursday, July 2._--Second day's battle of Gettysburg. In line of battle since six o'clock in the morning. The First, Second, Third and Eleventh corps in array. Skirmishers firing briskly. Artillery commenced to play.

Nothing of importance was done, until about half-past four, our left wing advanced and opened the battle. The centre and left were soon hotly engaged. Our battery was in action all the afternoon. The Third corps lost ground towards evening, until General Hanc.o.c.k advanced with the First and Second corps and decided the day. The enemy made another demonstration on the right, without success. The battle raged until nine o'clock in the night. One time it seemed as if we were all surrounded. Battery A, Fourth regulars, reversed their pieces ready to fire to the rear. This battery and ours fired canister in the evening. Our fourth piece was disabled early in the action, and sent to the rear in charge of Corporal W. Drape.

One of the rear wheels of the fourth caisson, was shot away. When night settled down upon the battle-field, each army rested for the final blow.

_Friday, July 3._--Third day's battle of Gettysburg. The enemy's batteries on his right opened on us before daylight. Three limbers of Battery A, Fourth regulars, were blown up early in the morning. Our caissons were sent after ammunition several times. At eleven o'clock firing ceased, rations were given out, and the men commenced cooking. At one o'clock, all of a sudden, two signal guns were fired by the enemy, followed by the most terrific cannonade of more than a hundred pieces of artillery, playing on our centre. Our reply did not seem to make any impression at all. That dreadful artillery fire seemed to paralyze our whole line for a spell.

Suddenly as it commenced it ceased, and three immense lines of infantry advanced to take our almost annihilated batteries. Battery B, Rhode Island, A, Fourth regulars, I, First regulars, and Pett.i.t's New York Battery, were taken, but not held by the rebels. Our battery withdrew their guns with honor, leaving the dead, some of the wounded, and two caissons behind. At the time of our leaving, the battle was at its turning point. The most desperate fighting was done on Cemetery Hill and the Emmettsburg road. The field presented a ghastly appearance. Our officers behaved very well, especially Lieutenant Jacob Lamb, who, being wounded in the hand, refused to leave the field, carried ammunition and encouraged the men. Our loss was: Killed--Patrick Lannegan, first piece, shot in the groin; John Zimmerli, fourth piece, head taken off by a cannon ball; Simon Creamer, sixth piece, skull severed by a sh.e.l.l. Wounded--Lieutenant J.

Lamb, hand; Sergeant Benjamin Childs, shoulder; Corporal W. Rider, arm; Corporal W. R. Calder, back; Corporal Shaw, shoulder; Privates--Grady, leg off, died afterwards; Gil. Harrison, foot; Higgins, arm shot away, died afterwards; Markey, shoulder; Curtis, foot, slightly; Googin, arm, slightly; Cargill, leg; Byron Snow, back; Walter Arnold, leg; Wellman, elbow, slightly; Morrissey, leg, badly; Hathaway, shoulder; Shampman, hip; Tuttle, arm; Carlier, slightly; Middleton, leg, slightly; Dawson, slightly; Tomdorf, leg, slightly; Oaks, slightly. Jack Hughes, and Long Clark and his brother, ran away. Our battery went two miles to the rear, in an exhausted condition. The Sixth corps reached the battle-field about three o'clock P. M.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 4._--Gettysburg. The battle is over. The skirmishers of the two armies are yet still confronting each other. Three men of our battery rode back to the battle-ground to inter our dead; but found them already buried by Battery C, Rhode Island. Lannegan was buried near our camp; also, Lieutenant Cus.h.i.+ng, Battery A, Fourth Regulars--this battery is to be consolidated with Battery I, First Regulars. The great artillery a.s.sault on our centre, was the last effort of Lee's army to force our lines from Cemetery Hill. The rebels' ammunition must have been nearly expended after that. Our battery used as much as twenty-two hundred rounds of ammunition, during the battle. The town of Gettysburg is occupied by our forces. A heavy shower this evening.

_Sunday, July 5._--Battlefield of Gettysburg. Our army has taken twelve thousand prisoners. The rebels are in full retreat. Pleasanton's cavalry and the Sixth corps are in pursuit. Our battery will be consolidated with Battery B, Rhode Island. We received a new supply of ammunition and marched off on the Baltimore road, by seven o'clock P. M., going in camp near Littletown, six miles from Gettysburg, by nine P. M. It rained during the night.

_Monday, July 6._--Remained in camp near Littletown all day. General French took a pontoon train from the rebels near Williamsport. The Potomac reported to be very high.

_Tuesday, July 7._--Marched to Taneytown, seven miles, and went to camp, on account of the infantry having been without rations for several days.

The Twelfth corps pa.s.sed through this afternoon. The town is under contribution of rations for the troops.

_Wednesday, July 8._--Left Taneytown early. Marched twenty-four miles during a tremendous rain-storm. Pa.s.sed through Woodsborough and Walkersville, and went to camp in a field of oats, live miles from Frederick City. The news of the surrender of Vicksburg were read in line on the road.

_Thursday, July 9._--Marched at seven o'clock A. M. Pa.s.sed through Frederick City, which was guarded by the Seventh Regiment, New York militia, and a new battery; Jefferson City and Perkinsville, crossed the South Mountain and went to camp for the night, not far from Sharpsburg.

Near Frederick we saw the body of the spy Richardson, hung on a tree by order of General Buford of the cavalry. Marched eighteen miles to-day.

_Friday, July 10._--Marched through Kettysville. The Third corps, General French, was fighting yesterday, and cannonading is going on now. Pa.s.sed the battle-field of Antietam at twelve o'clock M., going to camp three miles beyond. The Twelfth corps is camping close to us. The different corps are fortifying their positions.

_Sat.u.r.day, July 11._--Marched four miles. Pa.s.sed through Tillmington. The enemy was found in front. Our columns formed in line of battle.

Skirmis.h.i.+ng was kept up briskly. The rebels fell back a little, as our artillery opened on them. The cavalry advanced in a body at half-past four o'clock, gaining some ground. At midnight, the infantry was ordered to advance and take possession of the Hagerstown road. We remained all night.

We have marched two hundred and twenty-three miles since the fourteenth of June.