It was quite a change to us when we were told that we could now go to our respective homes for thirty days. It is needless to add that we made the most of our leave of absence. I think most of us rather appreciated our change of diet, and it seemed as if those thirty days passed off very quickly; but notwithstanding the good times we were having, on April 20th, every man but one reported in Providence to Capt. Buckley, ready to again go to the front.
Battles of the Wilderness and Spottsylvania—the Campaign in the Shenandoah Valley.
Leaving Providence at quarter past seven o'clock, on April 20th, 1864, we took the steamboat train en route for Washington, where we arrived at dark on the 23d, and went to the "Soldiers' Rest" barracks.
On the 24th we took in the Capitol and other sights about Washington, and the next day went into camp about a mile east of the Capitol.
The 26th we drew two government wagons, ambulance, and horse equipments for the officers. The men who did not re-enlist, and were left in Knoxville, joined the battery at this camp.
On the 27th we drew horses, a battery of six Napoleon guns, ammunition, etc., and were now ready for the field; and on the morning of the 30th we were ordered to Alexandria, and arrived there in the afternoon, and went into camp near the city.
May 2d, loaded the battery on cars and started for Warrenton Junction, arriving there at three o'clock in the afternoon, and were assigned to the artillery brigade of the Ninth Army Corps.