enemy had evacuated their line of rifle pits on our front, and the orders were issued for our corps to advance and make a reconnoissance, which we did. Finding their line deserted, we pushed forward and skirmished with them, they falling back all the while evidently to get us into an ambuscade. We fell back to the line evacuated by the rebels and awaited results. The sharpshooters annoyed us exceedingly all day, being posted in the trees, and their clothing was so near the color of the bark of the trees that it was difficult to discover their position. The enemy gave us a vigorous shelling early in the afternoon; and as that nearly always preceded an advance, the whole line awaited anxiously the result. The Johnnies were soon discovered slowly approaching through the woods directly in front of the Sixth. They rushed forward with a yell, but did not find us unprepared to meet them. The bullets flew lively for a time, and the rebels swayed backward, but soon rallied and rushed forward in large numbers, forcing back the Union lines and regaining their rifle pits. Their numbers must have been very much larger than ours, and they evidently expected we would take their pits when they fell back, and no doubt had a plan laid to gobble us all up; but our commander displayed that wisdom requisite for the occasion. We retired, however, with considerable loss. The Sixth lost in this engagement 5 killed, 16 wounded and
18 missing. Capt. Nichols was captured by the enemy.
The weather was excessively warm and no exertion was required to produce perspiration. The thermometer on June 22d rose to 103 degrees in the shade. We were apprised of the fact that our worthy President, Abraham Lincoln, was near us, and all that were not engaged on duty were ordered to appear near the regimental quarters and render a proper salute. He came on horseback, attended by Gen. Butler and staff. The troops greeted him pleasantly and gave hearty cheers along the whole line. The President looked careworn and troubled. Undoubtedly the trials through which the nation was passing had much to do with his depression of spirits.
The next day we received some rebel papers which had an article headed, “What mean those cheers?” In allusion to the cheers which they distinctly heard, they inferred that we had received some good news of a recent Union victory; but as no such information had come to them through their sources, they finally came to the conclusion that it must be some scheme made known to the troops from the fertile brain of that “beefy, bloated Massachusetts Yankee,” as they called Gen. Butler.
Sheridan’s cavalry were at the “White House,” and were ordered to join Grant at the rear of Petersburg on the 25th of June. Some of our division
were sent over the Appomatox to cover his retreat. The Sixth Connecticut and Third New Hampshire regiments formed a part of the force employed for that purpose, which returned to camp after their mission was accomplished. Sergt. Andrew Grogan, of Co. “I,” who had been but recently promoted to 2d Lieutenant, went on the picket line on the evening of June 29, in charge of the pickets of the Sixth. The rebels fired upon the line, wounding Lieut. Grogan in the thigh. He was carried to camp and the surgeons found it necessary to amputate the limb to save his life. The operation was performed successfully and he fully recovered. Lieut. Grogan was exemplary in his habits and was a consistent Christian; respected and loved by the regiment, and it was with sorrow that we were obliged to part with his services. It will be remembered that Lieut. Grogan bore Col. Chatfield from Fort Wagner after the Colonel was twice wounded in that memorable assault on the night of July 18th.
Gen. Butler issued an order calling for volunteers for fatigue duty upon his famous Dutch Gap Canal, offering eight cents an hour extra pay and two rations of whisky each day. The work was very laborious, the enemy keeping a continuous fire upon the working parties, which together with the excessive heat, rendered the service anything but desirable; yet many availed themselves of the offer. The pickets
were strengthened and the reserve made secure to prevent any sudden dash upon the working parties; while our gunboats in the James rendered effective service in dispersing these advances. The Johnnies were pretty sure to retire if the gunboats sent their compliments. Some of the captured rebels affirmed that they could stand any ordinary shelling, but when our navy sent a whole “blacksmith shop, with forge and bellows complete,” they thought it was time to “change front to the rear.”
The report that Gen. A. P. Hill, of the rebel army, was advancing south of Richmond in the direction of Petersburg, aroused our General commanding, and Gen. Smith’s corps was ordered on the move. The Sixth was accordingly ordered to cook up the usual three days rations. We left the front shortly after midnight on the morning of the 14th of August, and at about 5 o’clock Sunday morning we crossed the James River on the pontoons, drove in the advance pickets and rapidly pushed forward, skirmishing with the enemy at different points. We soon heard the rebel yell, and the enemy came pouring upon us with all their fury. Our regiment, divested of knapsacks, immediately charged upon them and captured two lines of rebel earthworks, driving the enemy before us at a place called Strawberry Plains, near Malvern Hill. We skirmished with the enemy all day, and when night came on our division occupied
Hancock’s old works near the hill, and gladly availed ourselves of a chance to lay down, but not to sleep, as that would have been a luxury not to be entertained. Owing to the excessive heat of the day, many fell from the ranks completely exhausted. So severe had been our campaign in Virginia, in its marches and fatigue duty, that the Sixth mustered but few men for duty. We were continually on the move; and often, in our midnight marches, some would fall asleep while in the ranks, and as soon as the order was given to halt and rest, the entire regiment would fall down where it stood, and sleep during the few moments allotted for rest.