6th day, 5th mo. 6th. Nine o'clock A. M. At one o'clock yesterday we advanced as a forward guard centre, we being the third regiment in line from the position we occupied at 12 M. Kept on through woods for a half mile, then the other regiment halted and deployed, and helped us on the second line, with our right resting on the turnpike. The front line was busily engaged as we advanced—the bullets flew thick and fast around us, mostly high. About two o'clock we advanced the second time, about two hundred yards, and lay down under a heavy fire where we remained until six o'clock. All the time we lay under a fire from the rebels, who were less than a quarter of a mile off. They had a battery on the left of the pike which occasionally threw shells and solid shot in good range over us, cutting off the limbs of the trees; only a few were low enough to come near us. One solid shot lit in the centre of our company, and plowed the ground up under Audenreid's feet, bursting his canteen and throwing the dirt over the men around him, without doing any more damage. At six o'clock P. M., an officer, I do not know who, came up and gave us the order to "advance with the 39th Massachusetts." After the order was repeated twice, we started, going over dead and wounded who had been slaughtered by hundreds, and lay thick on the ground we went over. The rebels did not fire a shot until after we got out into the open plain, and then they opened with grape and canister and volleys of musketry. After going to the bottom of the hill and up halfway towards the enemy's battery, the Colonel gave the order to "about face." I had stopped to cap my piece, and before I got it done the regiment was going back on a double-quick. I followed in the rear, and coming to a ditch, fell into it, and on looking up saw our fellows going up the hill towards our line. The bullets flew so thick that I thought it next thing to getting shot to get out of the ditch, and after a few moments concluded I had better stay where I was until after dark, and then get up the hill into our lines. I soon noticed that the ditch was full of men. After hallooing to those above and below me, I found that Griffith, Edwards and Fry of our company, and one of company B's men were near us. We all thought we had better stay where we were until after dark. I went to Edwards and there found a man who told us to lay still and he would take us off after a while. Edwards asked him who he was. He said he was a Confederate officer. On looking up the ditch, which was deep above us, I saw some of the enemy's sharp shooters and skirmishers, and it was plain to be seen that we were in their power. The officer ordered us to disarm ourselves and it would be all right. We were taken about half-past seven o'clock into the Confederate lines, to the pike, then to the rear for about half a mile and kept under guard. As we were going off I found Sergeant M., of company —; picked him up and took him with us. He had been knocked down but was not hurt. Sergeant Riley I also picked up. I told him how we were situated. Griffith gave him a canteen of water, and then we were ordered to come on. He was trying to play it, I thought. I am certain half our regiment was lost. Griffith and I went to work and made some coffee in a pot that I picked up in the morning. About nine P. M., twelve of our company and some more of the 90th were brought in. Everything, while I was awake, was quiet. Griffith and I made a bed and slept together. I did not get to sleep until after twelve o'clock. At day-break this morning I was awakened by artillery firing. I got up and went to the creek, got a pot of water and made some coffee, and then awakened Griffith and we took our breakfast. At six A. M. we were ordered to fall in; we got our things, and were marched to Robertson's Tavern, where we are at present. From seven to half-past eight there was some very sharp musketry up the pike. The guards are busy trading with the boys; there are about fifty of us here. Ten A. M. All seems to be quiet in front. Night—Lay under guard all day; heard no fighting of any account to-day. Things appear to be quiet in front. The ambulances brought in a great many wounded men all day.
7th day, 5th mo. 7th. Were marched, some two hundred and seventy of us, to Orange Court House, then put aboard the cars and taken to Gordonsville.
1st day, 5th mo. 8th. Kept here all day. Where we were last night we drew one day's rations of corn meal, beef and salt. I was commissary for a squad of twenty-five men. Sent a letter home. The sun was burning hot.
2d day, 5th mo. 9th. We were put into a house forty by fifty feet square last night and came near smothering. We were taken out this morning. Made mush for breakfast. Had to stay out in the sun all day. Part of us were sent to Lynchburg yesterday—some more came last night. Griffith and I laid down after supper to rest for the night. Drew one ration of corn meal and herring—three of the latter to each man.
3d day, 5th mo., 10th. Soon after we got to bed last night we were ordered to pack up. Left Gordonsville in a train of cars at eleven o'clock at night, and after a hard night's travel got to this place (Lynchburg) about ten this morning. Were put in a deep ravine with a stream of water running through it. A heavy guard of citizens, consisting of old men, "played out" soldiers, and boys were around us. Two pieces of artillery are planted in range of us. I was with the first one hundred of our squad that came in to-day. We were put in charge of a Sergeant-Major, who drew rations for us. There was about one thousand came here yesterday. I got seven "hard tack" and some bacon for one day's rations. There are about 2500 of us here. To-day was burning hot.
4th day, 5th mo. 11th. Had a good sleep last night. This was a very warm day. There were seventy-five loaves of soft rye bread, half a peck of rice, and a little salt issued to a squad to-day. There were one thousand men sent away to-day.
5th day, 5th mo. 12th. It commenced to rain about nine o'clock last night. Griffith and I had a rough night of it—had to sit up a good part of the time, till the after-part of the night, when we laid down under the woollen blanket. About daylight it commenced to rain rapidly. The water ran on us and caused us to get up and sit with the gum blanket over our shoulders. It rained pretty much all day; we had to sit most of the time with the gum blanket over us. With hard work we made some coffee for breakfast and some mush for supper. Carried some flat stones to lay on to-night. Drew seventy-five loaves of bread for the balance of yesterday's rations; also for to-day, six "hard tack," pork and rice, to a man, for two days' rations.
6th day, 5th mo. 13th. Had a rough night of it. Slept under our woollen blankets until daylight. It rained a great deal all night—got considerably wet. Showery all day. About ten o'clock A. M. we were moved out of the ravine to the cars and got aboard at twelve, and were off for Danville. We were stowed as closely as possible in burden cars. Passed through Fairville before dark. There are rebel hospitals at this place.
7th day, 5th mo. 14th. Traveling all night and until ten o'clock this forenoon, when we arrived at Danville. Here we were put into large houses. The house I am in is one hundred by forty-seven feet, three stories high. The two upper stories are only occupied by us, some five hundred in number. Here we were divided into messes of twenty each, and drawing two square inches of boiled bacon and a loaf of corn bread for two men.