July 16th. Our battery was inspected to-day by Captain Howard on General De Russy’s staff.
July 18th. The paymaster arrived in camp and we received two months’ pay, which was very welcome. While in camp here the several sections of the battery were drilled by the bugle call by First Lieut. Charles F. Mason, he also acting as bugler. First Sergt. Charles E. Bonn also assisted in drilling the battery.
August 6th. We find on this date only twenty-seven men fit for duty in camp, a large number being sick with chills and fever.
August 17th. Capt. Jeffrey Hazard, our battery commander, took his departure, having tendered his resignation from the service. He bade us “good bye” at retreat roll call and started for Rhode Island. Captain Hazard was a skillful and efficient officer, loved and respected by his men. While in command of the battery he brought it to a high state of proficiency in drill and discipline. Upon the resignation of Captain Hazard, First Lieut. Charles F. Mason assumed command of the battery. He was a brave and accomplished soldier, having previously served with Captain Hazard in Battery A, First Rhode Island Light Artillery. At the battle of Antietam both of these officers, then lieutenants in that battery, after many of their number had been killed or wounded, bravely worked the guns for the want of men.
August 30th. Our battery was inspected by Colonel Abbott, commanding Third Brigade, Twenty-second Army Corps, of the forces south of the Potomac.
August 31st. At 12.30 A. M. we bade farewell to our old camp at Fairfax Seminary and marched to Fort Scott, going into park in that vicinity.
September 1st. Moved our camp to higher land and nearer Fort Scott. Farrier George W. Tracy died to-day in hospital at Fairfax Seminary.
September 12th. Again the welcome paymaster appeared in camp. We signed the rolls and received two months’ pay.
September 30th. First Lieut. Crawford Allen, Jr., of Battery G, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, has been promoted to the command of our battery. Captain Allen came to us with a record of good service in the field. He was commissioned second lieutenant in Battery G, First Rhode Island Light Artillery, Nov. 7, 1861, and on the 18th of November, in the following year, was promoted to first lieutenant. He participated with his battery in the Peninsular campaign, and in the battles of Antietam and the first and second Fredericksburg. In the latter engagement, May 2d, 1863, Captain Allen was slightly wounded. He was subsequently made adjutant of his regiment and acting adjutant-general of the artillery brigade of the Sixth Army Corps, which positions he continued to hold until he was promoted to the captaincy of Battery H, to fill the vacancy occasioned by the resignation of Captain Hazard.
October 14th. We heard the sound of artillery firing in the direction of Thoroughfare Gap, caused by a skirmish of our troops with Gen. Fitz Hugh Lee’s cavalry. Our battery was ordered to hold itself in readiness to move at a moment’s notice.