On the 26th of May the battery crossed the Rappahannock River into Fredericksburg, and made camp on a common in the centre of the town, remaining until the 29th.
Union soldiers were not welcome guests in that city at that time, and the citizens took no pains to disguise the fact. Their manner towards us and treatment of us left no doubt in our minds that they wished we were anywhere but in their presence. We did not mind it, however, and made ourselves just as much at home as though we were welcome.
Early in the morning of the 29th the battery recrossed the river, and joining our division, commenced our journey for Thoroughfare Gap, for the purpose of aiding Gen. Banks, who was being badly pressed by the rebel Gen. Jackson, in the Shenandoah Valley. We made only a short distance the first day, but did better next day, making nearly twenty-five miles, and reached Catlett's Station.
On the 31st we marched only four miles, but pushed on the next, and reached Haymarket, near the Gap.
June 1st was a day of rest for us, but on June 2d the troops were early in motion, and after marching through the Gap were halted for an hour, then countermarched, passing through the Gap, and encamped on almost the same spot that they had left in the morning.
This was a movement which at the time was very confusing to us, but time developed the fact that the emergency which demanded our presence in the Shenandoah Valley had passed, Jackson having accomplished what he desired, and his troops being wanted at Richmond by Gen. Lee, he had left the Valley, and at the moment of our arrival at the Gap, was well on his way. Our stay at Haymarket continued for three days.
On the 6th we had orders to move. Our destination was Warrenton, where we arrived after an easy march, late in the afternoon. Here we remained until the 8th, moving on that date to Warrenton Junction, bivouacking for the night, continuing on the next day towards Catlett's Station, which we reached on the 10th, and made a stay of four days. This trip was very pleasant to us; the weather was good, the roads were fair, our marches were not long, and the whole more of a pleasure trip through a rather interesting country.
June 15th we marched to Cannon Creek, and after remaining for five days we continued our journey to Spotted Tavern, and, after a stay of forty-eight hours, returned to Fredericksburg on the 23d, after nearly a mouth of marching, and made camp within a short distance of the old one, in which we remained until Aug. 5th, our time being occupied with the usual duties of camp life, drills, inspections, etc.
July 2d we turned in our battery of Parrotts and howitzers and drew one of light twelves or Napoleons. These guns were of brass, smooth bore, and had fixed ammunition. They were of short range, which would necessitate our coming in close contact with the enemy; but the fixed ammunition would enable them to be fired much more rapidly; and as they had the reputation of being very destructive when used at short range, the exchange was on the whole very acceptable to the men.
July 4th was celebrated by a salute in the morning, and repeating it in the afternoon.