June 25th. The battery received orders to leave camp at Chantilly this morning at eight A. M., and proceed to Fairfax Court House, and report to Brig.-Gen. Henry J. Hunt, who had command of the Reserve Artillery of the Army of the Potomac. On our arrival there, Captain Hazard reported to General Hunt that the term of service of the attached men assigned from the Vermont brigade to our battery would expire on or about July 10th. The general, having more artillery than he needed, and noting the deficiency in the number of men in our battery, ordered Captain Hazard to report to Gen. William F. Barry, Chief of Artillery in the vicinity of Washington. Thus, owing to the depleted condition of the battery, we were not permitted to share with our sister batteries from our State in the honor of participating in the mighty struggle at Gettysburg a few days later, which shed so bright a lustre on the fame of the light artillery that Rhode Island furnished to the armies of the Union.
In accordance with the instructions from General Hunt our battery marched to Arlington Heights, camping outside of the intrenchments near Annandale Court House. About midnight an officer on General Barry’s staff directed Captain Hazard to withdraw his battery inside of the intrenchments, as there were no infantry troops to support us should the enemy appear in force. Accordingly we hitched up and shortly afterward moved within the intrenchments.
At eight o’clock on the morning of the 26th we left Arlington Heights and marched to Camp Barry.
June 28th. Our battery was again ordered to march, and, at eight P. M., left Camp Barry for Fairfax Seminary, passing through Washington, going over Long Bridge to Alexandria, Va., and from thence to Fairfax Seminary. On arriving in the vicinity of the Seminary a soldier on picket, from a New York regiment, fired upon our battery, mistaking us for the enemy. We then took position near Fort Ward, coming into action front, running our guns out of the embrasures and in line with the breastworks. As an attack was expected there our cannoneers remained at their posts till reveille the next morning. Captain Hazard reported with his command to Col. H. L. Abbott, of the First Connecticut Heavy Artillery, commanding the Third Brigade, Defenses South of the Potomac.
General Hooker ascertained that Lee’s army instead of threatening to attack him in front of Washington, had crossed the Potomac into Maryland. He accordingly made a similar movement, crossing between Harper’s Ferry and the capital. The 27th of June found the greater portion of his forces in the vicinity of Frederick. When nearing this place an order was received relieving him of the command of the Army of the Potomac, and appointing in his place Maj.-Gen. George G. Meade. Considerable astonishment was manifested among the army and the people at this unexpected change. It was subsequently stated that General Hooker was relieved at his own request, some of his plans not meeting with the approval of those in authority. He declared in his orders he felt that his usefulness was impaired, and he relinquished the command with regret at parting from his brave comrades, especially at this time when they were moving to drive the invaders from the loyal States. General Meade, upon whom this unsolicited and unexpected honor and responsibility was conferred, had been identified with the army from its organization, and had proved himself an able and competent officer. On the same day that he assumed command he issued orders for the movement of the army, rendered necessary in order to checkmate the operations of the Confederates.
On the 29th the position of our battery is thus defined by Colonel Abbott, commanding our brigade, in his report of affairs on Little River Turnpike, where our pickets were established. He says:
“I have the honor to report that the enemy have been reconnoitering on the Little River Turnpike, just in front of our pickets, both last night and to-day. On the first occasion three men put to flight a whole company of the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth New York (infantry), although the only demonstration (the Confederates) made was to retreat on being challenged by the pickets. On the second two armed men shot a civilian and drove two others into our lines in sight of our pickets.
“Fort Worth is too high to command this road by night by artillery fire, and my infantry is too bad to be trusted to protect even a section of the light artillery there, where there is no retreat for it from cavalry.
“I have ridden over the position this morning, and would respectfully suggest that the Twenty-fifth Maine regiment, now near my right, be placed where this company now is, to hold the road, and cover a section of my battery (Hazard’s) to-night.
“After due examination I have decided, unless more force is available, to put the whole battery in position in the rifle-pits, between Forts Worth and Ward, covered by three companies of the One Hundred and Seventy-eighth New York infantry, with orders to hold the Leesburg Turnpike, and await further developments in case of an attack to-night.