On the 9th of January long roll sounded about four P. M., when we found that our pickets had been driven in on the right of our lines. A sharp engagement ensued between our troops and the enemy, which finally resulted in the rebels being forced back to their former positions with considerable loss. Our men stood to their guns until seven o’clock in the morning.
In consequence of our close proximity to the enemy, and the fear that they might make a sudden attack on our immediate front, the men were strictly enjoined not to leave camp without permission. On the evening of the 11th heavy firing was heard on the right of our lines, and we were ordered to be ready to move at short notice. The left section of our battery, under command of Lieut. Anthony B. Horton, had been ordered on the morning of this date to Hatcher’s Run for picket duty. This was in accordance with a movement in conjunction with other troops to get possession of the South Side Railroad. This section returned to camp on the 13th. At midnight we were again aroused from our slumbers by the sound of the long roll. We were led to expect that the enemy might be endeavoring to make an attack on our lines directly in our front, as heavy firing was heard in that direction. This, however, proved to be only a feint to withdraw attention from our right where the real attack of the enemy was made. They did not succeed, however, in gaining any advantage at that point and were forced to retire.
Again on the 14th the cannoneers were summoned to their posts to be ready to repel an attack of the enemy, and were ordered to remain by their pieces till reveille the next morning. On the succeeding night the same programme was repeated, with the exception that the men were allowed to retire at twelve P. M. On the 16th, one-half of the men of the battery remained by the guns until midnight, and the other half from midnight until the next morning. On the 19th at ten P. M. orders were received to be prepared to march to Hatcher’s Run at short notice. At reveille on the 20th the orders were countermanded and we returned to our quarters.
For several days we were occupied in constructing a barrack to shelter us from the inclement weather. It was built of logs and said to resemble somewhat Noah’s ark. This ark was eighty-five feet long, seventeen feet wide, and a roof was made of poles, taking ninety-two pieces of our shelter tents to cover it. Five chimneys were built, with the intention of carrying the smoke out from the ark, but on the contrary when the wind was high, about as much smoke remained inside as was carried out at the top of these so-called chimneys, and occasioned the men to designate it as “The Old Smoke House.”
Perhaps it may not be amiss to insert the following stanzas, as they portrayed our thoughts and feelings at that time, and are indicative of the many privations and hardships endured by our soldiers at the front:
THE OLD SMOKE HOUSE.
Air.—“The Old Oaken Bucket.”
How near to our hearts are the thoughts of that Smoke House,
As returning from duty we entered the door,
Not all the wealth of the Indies could tempt us to love it