6th day, 7th mo. 3d. The battle opened with the skirmishers on the left and cannonading all along our lines, at daylight. The batteries behind us shot over our heads. The musketry was sharp on the right. We were first taken from the position we occupied last night to the rear of the battery near the Cemetery, where we remained for half an hour; then were moved to the right a little more, where we lay behind the batteries until near eleven o'clock. The firing was very hot on all sides—sharp musketry on the right. About eleven the rebels concentrated their fire on the centre, when we formed in line, and under a heavy fire of shot and shell, moved to the right, or north of the Cemetery, and lay in front of the battery. Here the fire was very hot, the rebels having batteries playing on us from all sides; many of our men were struck by the shells; we lay flat and escaped many bullets, &c., from the skirmishers and sharpshooters. The sun came out very warm and many of our men were sun-struck. We lay here some three hours. The First Division of the Eleventh Corps was in front, all along the road. About three o'clock we had to get up, under the heaviest fire I ever saw, and form in line of battle behind some batteries in the Cemetery. Just as we started, Colonel Coulter, of the Eleventh Corps, who had command of the First Brigade, was struck in the arm by a sharpshooter; Colonel Lyle took his place, and Major Sellers took command of the Ninetieth Regiment. We were taken towards the left of the centre and put in the front line of battle. Here General Hayes rode along the lines with a rebel battle flag. We advanced to within one hundred yards of the road, and formed in line, and sent out a large force of skirmishers. As we lay here, we had the fire of the rebel sharpshooters and skirmishers in our front, and a large Whitworth gun, which the rebels had planted on our flank, over two miles off, which was constantly letting the missiles fly directly over or near us. Four fell near the right of our line, but did no damage. We put up a few rails and lay as low as possible. About seven o'clock in the evening, all of the Ninetieth who were not skirmishing, had to support a company of sharpshooters; I was among them; we went to the road and lay behind the bank until dark, and then came in, carrying Miller with us in a blanket to the hospital; then went back to the line, and made a strong barricade of rails and stones, three feet high, where we lay all night. All have run out of rations. This has been a warm day all around. We still hold the field. General Longstreet was wounded and is in our hands. Just as we came here, there had been a charge made in front of us, which drove the rebels. Large numbers came into our lines, holding up their hands, hats, and white rags.
7th day, 7th mo. 4th. Six o'clock A. M. Still hold our position. All is quiet except the skirmishing. Had rations of pork, crackers, sugar and coffee. Night. We lay in the position we took up last. This morning we made a barricade strong enough to turn bullets. This evening some of us were put on detail for burying the dead, but when we got out to where we were ordered, found that we were not wanted. We took a look at the large numbers of wounded prisoners in the barns and the field, southeast of the Cemetery, which was covered with everything almost belonging to a soldier. Most of the dead have been buried. All day there were details sent out to gather up muskets, cartridge boxes, &c. There was no fighting, except amongst the skirmishers and pickets, all day, but we did not know how soon we might be called on. I tried to get liberty to go and look for Wheaton, who was wounded, but could not. The news is this evening that the rebels have left. We had a very heavy rain this afternoon. Got rations of pork, crackers, coffee and sugar, for four days, this evening.
1st day, 7th mo. 5th. Had a hard night last night; made a bed on three rails, with gum blanket for cover; it rained very hard all night. Soon after we got to bed, orders came for every man to have his accoutrements on, and gun by his side. About three o'clock there was a general alarm along our lines; we were up and in our places in a moment, but after waiting half an hour, when all was quiet, General Baxter said we might go to bed again. The alarm was false. I tried again to get liberty to look for Wheaton, but could not. We were sent out to gather up the dead and wounded rebels who lay in front of us. They could not be got off any earlier on account of the sharpshooters. We went out this morning to look at the field where we had not been before; it was a horrible sight, the ground being literally strewed with dead and a few wounded. The dead were so putrified that it would be difficult for a friend to recognize one. The mail came in this morning; received letters and sent some home. About nine o'clock we were taken out to relieve the Sixth Corps, which had been stationed to the left one-fourth of a mile, behind some rifle-pits. We remained until sundown, when we were moved farther to the front, and encamped for the night. This afternoon I went up to see some who were in Company B, Ninety-ninth Regiment, which was encamped farther up towards the left. Saw a citizen from Lancaster. There are a great many citizens on the field. This has been a cloudy, dull, damp day.
2d day, 7th mo. 6th. Moved from near the left of the battle-field this morning, and encamped within a mile of Emmettsburg; was put on guard. This has been a damp day, and the ground is very muddy.
3d day, 7th mo. 7th. We were called up early this morning, and started on the Frederick City pike; went through Emmettsburg. Instead of going to Frederick City, took a cut across the mountains, and got within six miles of Middletown, and encamped in the mountains near Belmont. This was one of the hardest marches we have had yet; distance, twenty-two miles. The mountains were so steep and the roads so muddy.
4th day, 7th mo. 8th. Were called up at four o'clock, ordered to pack up, and get in line immediately, which we did, and were on the road. We took the direct road to, and went through Middletown, and encamped half a mile north of the town. We were almost worn out by the time we got to camp. It rains most of the time, making the roads muddy and traveling difficult. At two o'clock we had orders to move, and by half-past two were off. Took the Hagerstown pike and followed it partly over the mountain; then turned to the left, and up a high mountain, and formed in line of battle along the road at sundown. After getting supper we built breastworks until dark. Part of the Eleventh Corps is here with us. Met large numbers of cavalry. Most of the army is here. The rebels are not far off.
5th day, 7th mo. 9th. Were up at daylight and got our breakfast; then all hands went to work and put up our breastworks near three feet high. By six heard something like skirmishing in front of us, and a band playing. By seven o'clock we were under arms. Yesterday afternoon we heard some cannonading, which, we were told, was our cavalry and the rebel cavalry, with some artillery. We have a strong stone wall before us. We lay all day behind our works. All the rest of the army, or nearly so, has gone by; we, the First Corps, are in the rear and will not go until morning.