May 13th. Marched at seven A. M. for Marye’s Heights, where we encamped for the night.
May 14th. Although yesterday was stormy, this morning it cleared off and the weather was very pleasant, giving the men an opportunity to dry their clothing. About eleven P. M. we were routed out, ordered to hitch up and prepare to move at a moment’s notice.
May 15th. At four A. M. made preparations to move, but did not get started until six A. M., when we marched as far as Belle Fonte and encamped.
May 16th. At eight A. M. our battery moved into Fredericksburg and went into camp on the west side of the city. While here permission was given our men to visit the place and observe the effects of the destruction made by the shot and shell of Burnside’s army in 1862. Some of the churches and houses were badly riddled. Our corps commander, General Abercrombie, is waiting for the Eighth Corps to pass through the city to the front; then we will cross the Rappahannock River and march to Aquia Creek Landing to guard the base of supplies.
May 17th. Marched at 7.30 A. M. through Fredericksburg, crossing the Rappahannock River on pontoons, and encamped near Falmouth for the night.
May 18th. Again on the move towards Aquia Creek Landing. On arriving there went into camp on high land near the Landing.
May 19th. It is raining this morning and our boys are out on a foraging expedition, searching for hard tack and salt pork, for we are very short of rations, being allowanced to three hard tack a day until our supplies are brought down the river. There was a regiment of heavy artillery breaking camp near us and they left a number of boxes of hard bread and some salt pork, which our men brought into camp, and it proved a welcome addition to our stock of rations until our supplies can be forwarded to us.
May 20th. During the day four hundred rebel prisoners passed our camp going to the Landing to take the boat north.
May 24th. At seven A. M. we marched to White Oak Barn, reporting to Major Cowan, chief of artillery. Waited in line three hours for the Third New Jersey Battery, which was lost somewhere on the road. When they came up our chief of artillery rode out to meet the captain. The major said: “Captain, where have you been?” “I have been trying to find the ‘white oak barn’ all the morning,” replied the Jerseyman. The major then said: “Here is the ‘White Oak Barn,’ captain, right here.” After a hearty laugh at the expense of the Jerseyman, the whole command moved to and through Fredericksburg and encamped a few miles beyond the city, and were guarded by the First Rhode Island Cavalry. Towards morning we marched to Westmoreland Plain.
May 25th. Moved at 7.30 A. M. towards Port Royal, Va. One squadron of the First Rhode Island Cavalry acted as advance guard, with squadrons on our right and left flanks as a precautionary measure against a surprise. Our battery followed the advance guard of the First Rhode Island Cavalry. During the day the Third New Jersey Battery again lost its way. The column arrived at Port Conway about 4.30 P. M. Here we found the Third New Jersey in position with their guns trained on the woods beyond the river. At seven P. M. the battery crossed the river on pontoons to Port Royal and encamped a mile and a half from the landing on Dr. Judd’s farm, a short distance from the barn where, in the following year, the assassinator of President Lincoln (Booth) was shot by Sergt. (Boston) Corbett.