Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery Part 6

_Thursday, September 4._--Tenallytown, Maryland. Heavy cannonade on the upper Potomac.

_Friday, September 5._--Tenallytown. The rebel army has crossed the Potomac. We left Tenallytown this morning. Marched to Rockville, twelve miles from Was.h.i.+ngton, and went to camp three miles from that place. New clothes were issued to-night.

_Sat.u.r.day, September 6._--Near Rockville. This morning the cavalry and our battery advanced several miles, going in position on a hill. Thirty cavalrymen were captured last night. Scouts coming in the afternoon informed of the enemy's presence, only four miles from us. We fell back until, to our surprise, we found the whole of the Second corps in line of battle. Our battery took position immediately. The whole road was covered by our artillery.

_Sunday, September 7._--Near Rockville. The rebel army occupies Frederick City. Our cavalry dashed into Poolesville. We marched only six miles to-day.

_Tuesday, September 9._--We started by ten o'clock, A. M., and marched seven miles. Our cavalry had a fight at Barnesville.

_Wednesday, September 10._--March to Clarksburg. Our advance is getting very slow.

_Thursday, September 11._--March to Hyattstown, eight miles from Frederick. We formed in line of battle on a hill in front of the town. Our skirmishers advanced, but could not find the enemy.

_Friday, September 12._--Left Hyattstown at nine o'clock A. M., marched only five miles and went to camp. Eight thousand men, cavalry and horse artillery, pa.s.sed by this afternoon. Signal lights can be seen on Sugar Loaf Mountain.

_Sat.u.r.day, September 13._--Early in the morning, we marched through Urbana. General McClellan pa.s.sed by at ten o'clock, crossing the Monocacy river. Triumphant entrance into Frederick City. The houses and inhabitants of the city presented a good appearance. Flags were floating all over.

General McClellan was surrounded by all of his corps and division commanders, on the roadside. The troops cheered while marching by. Our cavalry and horse artillery drove the rebel rear-guard out of the city, and are chasing them up the South Mountain Pa.s.s, the smoke of the artillery is plainly to be seen. The engine house in Frederick City is full of prisoners.

_Sunday, September 14._--Battle of South Mountain. General Burnside, marching all of last night, attacked the enemy, near Berkley, early this morning. Our corps left Frederick by eight o'clock A. M., marching towards the mountain. Considerable time was lost by getting on the wrong road. We arrived on the top of the first range of mountains by three o'clock P. M., and witnessed one of the grandest scenes ever seen during the war,--the contest for the possession of South Mountain Pa.s.s. At five o'clock P. M.

the pa.s.s was forced on the point of the bayonet, by the troops under General Reno, who fell during the charge. We arrived at Berkley by ten o'clock at night.

_Monday, September 15._--March through South Mountain Pa.s.s. The battle-field gives evidence of the desperate fighting of yesterday. Our advance guard is pressing the rear of the enemy through Boonesboro, where we pa.s.sed through at eleven o'clock A. M. The church and barns are full of wounded and rebel prisoners. The inhabitants seem to be elated at our entrance. After going two miles further, we halted four hours. Skirmis.h.i.+ng was going on near Kettysville. After dark we marched through the town.

_Tuesday, September 16._--Battle of Antietam. The battle commenced about eight o'clock, opening with heavy cannonading. Our division changed position during the afternoon, going from the centre to the right, pa.s.sing through Kettysville, and crossed Antietam Creek before dark. We were not engaged to-day.

_Wednesday, September 17._--Battle of Antietam and Sharpsburg. Since four o'clock A. M., the battle is raging furiously. Joe Hooker gained some ground early in the morning, but was wounded soon after the beginning. Our battery was ordered to take position close to Hooker's line. The battle-field wore a terrific aspect, at our arrival. Before reaching the designated position, we had to pa.s.s through the enemy's artillery fire for nearly a mile. Two men of our battery, Fred. Phillips and Patrick Larkins, were wounded, before getting in position. Marching through a cornfield, we saw one of our batteries, entirely demolished, and hundreds of dead and wounded lying around. Crossing the fields, we were heartily cheered by our famous old Sedgwick's division, which was advancing on the enemy like veterans. We took our position near a cemetery and in front of a burning farm-house, a place already fought for all the morning, as could be seen by the dead and wounded strewn around. We relieved a battery of Hooker's command, and were supported by but two companies of the Twenty-eighth Pennsylvania infantry, commanded by a sergeant. Here we fought, repeatedly against artillery and infantry, for four hours and a half. At one time our situation was very critical. The enemy, after driving Gorman's brigade, on our right, came charging from that direction. We used double charges of canister. There was a time when half of the battery was compelled to cease firing. The order, "limber to the rear," was given; but, fortunately, not heard, as it would have resulted in the certain capture of the battery. At that critical turn, Captain Tompkins called on our infantry support to advance and do their duty, which they did, enabling us to load again. The enemy, after failing to take the battery, retreated slowly, leaving his battle-flag behind, which, by right, should have been given to the battery, as it fell before the infantry support advanced. Our ammunition giving away, Captain Tompkins sent word to be relieved. John Leech deserves due mentioning here, for carrying notice through the hottest fire, regardless of his personal safety, to bring rescue to his comrades.

Shortly afterwards, Battery G, Rhode Island, came to relieve us. We left the field under a heavy fire of the enemy's batteries, leaving our dead and wounded behind. Battery G fired only a few rounds, and left the position we held for four hours and a half. The ground was taken by the enemy. We returned to our former rendezvous, near Hoffman's farm, and received a written compliment from General Sumner for our good behavior.

Our loss was: Killed--Sergeant Reed, John Lawrence, Joe Bosworth, Stone.

Wounded--Budlong, John Church, Robert Raynor, F. C. Preston, Sherman Larkin, Zimmerli, Corporal Childs, Fred. Phillips, Francis Phillips, Cargill, Abner Wilder, and Theodore Reichardt. We lost nine horses. During the afternoon, we loaded ammunition. The battle raged till night set in, princ.i.p.ally near Sharpsburg. Colonel Miles surrendered Harper's Ferry, with eleven thousand five hundred men, to Stonewall Jackson.

_Thursday, September 18._--Antietam. Both armies are skirmis.h.i.+ng briskly since daylight. Our battery left Hoffman's farm in the morning, and went a little nearer to the battle-field. Lieutenant Jeffrey Ha.s.sard started, with eight selected men, to obtain the bodies of our dead, but was not able to accomplish it, the enemy's sharpshooters firing on our approach.

During the afternoon a truce was concluded between the two armies, for the purpose of burying the fallen. The remains of Sergeant Reed, John Lawrence, Joe Bosworth and Ed. Stone, were recovered in a mutilated state, and interred in the evening in the presence of the battery.

_Friday, September 19._--The enemy has fallen back to the Potomac.

Thousands of dead are covering the field yet. We remained quiet all day.

_Sat.u.r.day, September 20._--Antietam. We exchanged three guns with Pett.i.t's New York battery. Our battery marched back to Boonsboro, close to McClellan's headquarters, in the afternoon. Having settled down for the night, we were suddenly aroused and ordered to march immediately to Sharpsburg. An engagement was going on at Shepardstown, close to the Potomac, ending to our disadvantage. We pa.s.sed through Sharpsburg at two o'clock in the night, and went into park outside of the town.

_Sunday, September 21._--Sharpsburg, McClellan's headquarters. Cannonading still sounding from the Potomac. There is scarcely a house in Sharpsburg, which shows no marks of our artillery fire. The inhabitants admit that General Burnside gave them a right smart sh.e.l.ling.

_Monday, September 22._--Sharpsburg, headquarters of McClellan. Sumner's corps marched to Harper's Ferry to-day; but we remained, receiving a new battery of three-inch rifle guns.

_Tuesday, September 23._--Sharpsburg. We left the place at two o'clock P.

M. Crossed the Antietam, and marched to the foot of Maryland Heights, going to camp for the night.

_Wednesday, September 24._--We arrived at Harper's Ferry at ten o'clock A. M., and went to camp on Bolivar Heights.

_Sunday, September 28._--Bolivar. Mounted inspection.

_Wednesday, October 1._--President Lincoln visited the Army of the Potomac. Our battery fired a salute of twenty-one guns.

_Friday, October 3._--Bolivar. Mounted inspection.

_Sunday, October 5._--Bolivar. Mounted inspection. The Seventh Regiment, Rhode Island infantry, arrived at Sandy Hook, Maryland.

_Thursday, October 9._--Bolivar. We were paid off for five months service.

_Thursday, October 16._--Bolivar. Reconnoisance in force. Ten thousand men started early in the morning under command of General Hanc.o.c.k. The enemy was found near Charlestown, opening on us with artillery. Battery A, Fourth Regular Artillery, went into action. Our battery supported the Fourth regulars, and the enemy's battery left soon. Battery A, Fourth regulars, had a caisson blown up, one man killed and four wounded. We occupied Charlestown, going in position outside of the town, pointing to Berryville and Smithfield. Heavy rain in the evening. The cars were running between Harper's Ferry and Charlestown all night, carrying off grain from the latter place to Harper's Ferry. The troops were in line of battle during the night.

_Friday, October 17._--Charlestown, Virginia. In position. We left Charlestown at two o'clock P. M. Marched back to Halltown. At that place General Hanc.o.c.k formed a line of battle, an attack of the rebels being antic.i.p.ated. All the artillery went in position on high ground, while the infantry formed below. We remained on the hill all night. It was very cold during the night.

_Sat.u.r.day, October 18._--We returned to Bolivar Heights early in the morning, and went back to camp.

_Tuesday, October 21._--Battery drill in the morning.

_Sunday, October 26._--Captain Tompkins went off on a furlough.

_Monday, October 27._--Bolivar. General Burnside has crossed the Potomac at Berlin.

_Wednesday, October 29._--Bolivar. We are under marching orders.

_Thursday, October 30._--Bolivar. Troops are crossing the Shenandoah river all day. Our battery left Bolivar at two o'clock P. M. Marched through Harper's Ferry and crossed the Shenandoah by way of pontoons. Advanced on the Leesburg turnpike six miles. After sunset we went to camp for the night.

_Friday, October 31._--Loudon Valley. We were mustered in for two months pay; after that, changed camp, and remained quiet for the rest of the day.

Troops are pa.s.sing by all day.

_Sat.u.r.day, November 1._--Loudon Valley. We commenced marching at ten o'clock in the direction of Snicker's Gap, pa.s.sed Snickersville, and formed in line of battle in the evening, near Wood Grove. Marched ten miles to-day. A number of pigs were killed during the night.

_Sunday, November 2._--Wood Grove. Commenced marching at eight o'clock A.

M. A fight was in progress between Burnside's corps and the rebels. We could see the firing of guns. Camped at seven o'clock P. M. Cold and rainy weather.

_Monday, November 3._--Marched at ten o'clock A. M., towards Union and Upperville. Firing was heard in the afternoon. Shortly afterwards we could see Pleasanton's cavalry running close after the enemy's. We went to camp.

Splendid moon night. Great slaughter amongst pigs, sheep, and chickens.

_Tuesday, November 4._--Loudon Valley, Virginia. We marched through Upperville about 1 o'clock P. M. General Burnside and staff pa.s.sed by. At three o'clock we came through Paris, at the foot of Ashby Gap. Occupied the heights of Ashby Gap and went in position. A most splendid view presented itself to our eyes. The whole Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, Berryville, Bunker Hill, and other places could distinctly be seen. The enemy's camp fires were visible on the other side of the Shenandoah river.

The weather is very cold.

_Wednesday, November 5._--Ashby Gap. Remained in position all day. Some of us had quite a time, killing a young bull. A fearful cold night. Some snow fell.

_Thursday, November 6._--We left Ashby Gap at eight o'clock A. M. Marched seven miles, and went to camp near Cubb run.

_Friday, November 7._--We remained in camp to-day. The horses are in a bad condition, and most of the men without shoes. Snow fell three inches deep.

_Sat.u.r.day, November 8._--Marched in the morning with only four horses to a gun. Pa.s.sed through Salem and Rectortown. Generals McClellan, Burnside, and Sumner, rode past the line. We went to camp at four o'clock P. M.

_Sunday, November 9._--Arrived at Warrenton at twelve o'clock M., and went to camp outside of the town.

_Monday, November 10._--Warrenton. To the astonishment of the army, it was announced to-day that General McClellan was to be removed from the Army of the Potomac, and the command transferred to General Burnside. The troops turned out on parade along the road. General McClellan and staff pa.s.sed by. He seemed to be greatly affected. The air rang with the cheers of the troops for their old commander.