After crossing the river Captain Barker was directed to push on without waiting for the brigade, with orders to report to any officer of General Hancock's staff. We passed through a strong line of works captured early in the day by Birney's division of the Second Corps, and were ordered to relieve a Pennsylvania regiment of Mott's brigade, which had been deployed in the woods as skirmishers. This duty was at once performed, when General Hancock, who had come out to look at the ground, ordered us to push forward, with the remark, "See if you can find any rebels." The regiment advanced gallantly with a fine line, considering its length and the dense forest. In a few minutes a sharp rattling fire proved that we had found the enemy and in strong force. We continued the advance until we neared a large clearing,—an open, level field, across which, in the edge of the woods, could be seen the enemy's entrenched picket line and the strong main line beyond. A charge across this field would entail fearful loss, for the rebels were burrowed in their works and could pour a most destructive fire upon our line. By this time the remainder of the division had come into line in our rear, and in a little while had a line of log breastworks erected. We were ordered to cover the front of our division, and it became necessary to extend our right to the bank of the river, which at this point was very high and steep. The enemy were well posted, and the fire of their sharp-shooters was very annoying and fatal. Company A lost Sergeants May and Derby, two of its best men, within five minutes after the line was extended. At the same time the left was extended, and our line, though thin, was in good position.
While these movements were in progress a most furious thunder-shower, which had threatened for some hours, burst upon us in great violence. The rain poured in torrents, and the blinding lightning and rolling thunder mingling with the volleys of musketry and crash of artillery produced an impression calculated to inspire terror in the stoutest heart. The storm was so severe as for a time to put a stop to the firing while the battle of the elements continued. After the fury of the tempest had somewhat abated the picket-firing was actively renewed. Just before dark General Potter came out to examine the position, and while inspecting the picket line narrowly escaped death from the fire of the sharp-shooters. He was mounted, and presented a good target for their fire. He was cautioned of his danger and the nearness of the enemy, but answered only with an indifferent "Humph!" and after he had completed his inspection, which seemed unnecessarily long, turned and rode leisurely away, to the evident relief of his companions.
Notwithstanding a heavy rain, which continued the greater part of the night, and our cheerless and exposed position, a steady fire was kept up all along the picket line, and the enemy's fire was unusually hostile. The returning daylight revealed the entrenchments of the enemy across the clearing in our front to be much nearer than we had realized in our advance in the previous twilight. They were very strong, protected by a formidable abatis, and were well filled with troops, who poured upon us a very close and effective fire. Our position, although somewhat protected by detached rifle-pits thrown up the night before, was greatly exposed and very dangerous. Soon after daylight the left of the regiment was advanced a short distance, for the purpose of correcting the formation of the picket line. The work was accomplished under a severe fire, by which Luke Doyle of K, and Corporal Rice of C, were badly wounded. By slow degrees the picket-pits were extended, and by noon the line was made continuous and afforded a good protection. At four o'clock that afternoon the regiment was relieved, and posted in rear of the Forty-fifth Pennsylvania in the line of battle, having lost one man killed and four wounded.
During the 26th the brigade was under arms all day. The Second Brigade, supported by a portion of our own, attacked and drove back the whole line of the enemy's skirmishers in our front, and established a new line farther in advance. The works of the enemy were now reconnoitred, and found to be so strong as to make an attack impracticable; accordingly the anticipated assault was not made. The rain continued; but the arrival of an unusually large mail caused much joy in camp, and more than compensated for the drenching we sustained. At nine o'clock that evening Captain Smith, brigade officer of the day, advanced the entire skirmish line, under a sharp fire of musketry and artillery. Our brigade was then relieved by a brigade of Birney's division, and quietly withdrawn across the river, the Thirty-sixth leading the division line. After stumbling about in the mud and darkness for some five miles, the brigade, at two A.M., bivouacked near Mount Carmel Church, on the same ground occupied by us on the night of the 23d. The operations of the last four days had been extremely exhausting. The constant strain by day and night, the exposure to storm, and all the dangers and fatigue incident to such a campaign, began to tell seriously upon the command. The effective strength of the regiment now was ten commissioned officers and two hundred and thirty-six enlisted men.
On the 27th orders bearing date of May 25th were promulgated from General Grant's head-quarters, consolidating the Ninth Army Corps with the Army of the Potomac. Heretofore it had been an independent command, receiving directions from General Grant. By this arrangement General Burnside, although senior in rank to General Meade, placed himself voluntarily under his command, and, with characteristic unselfishness, generously waived all considerations of rank and military etiquette for the good of the service.
During the forenoon of the 27th the corps was concentrated near Mount Carmel Church. Early in the afternoon the third flanking movement commenced. Each of these movements had brought us face to face with the enemy strongly intrenched to dispute our further progress. Each time, after days of toil and bloodshed, without gaining any material advantage, we had been withdrawn to renew the struggle at some other point. This movement was secretly and successfully accomplished. Not a picket shot was fired, and the enemy did not seem to be aware of the withdrawal. In the march the Second Division had the rear of the column, and we moved in a south-easterly direction, toward the Pamunkey river. The roads were so obstructed by wagon trains and artillery that it cannot be said that we marched until night. We caught two or three hours' sleep at intervals during the evening, but after nine o'clock the halts were less frequent until about one o'clock, when we bivouacked by the roadside, after a toilsome march of about twelve miles.
At daylight on the 28th the camp was astir. At seven o'clock the march was resumed, and we passed through a fine, open country, level and well cultivated. The march, however, was as tedious as that of the day before. The regular roads were given up to the immense trains, and the troops were obliged to make their way across fields and bottom lands. At noon we had an hour's rest for dinner, and at half-past two we halted on the grounds of an extensive plantation, where the corps was massed. Corps head-quarters were at the mansion-house. It was a princely establishment, surrounded by the cabins of the slaves, and from appearances "all the hands" were at home. We expected to camp at this place; but, after an hour's halt, greatly to our disappointment we were ordered forward.
The Second Division now had the right. The march was severe, and many fell out exhausted. Occasionally a halt was ordered, and the men dropped in the road for rest, and many had to be aroused to prevent them from being run over by the galloping artillery. It was emphatically a forced march. The roads were ablaze with burning rails, and the tall pines on fire presented a most picturesque and brilliant scene for those who could keep their eyes open long enough to enjoy it. Soon after midnight, near Hanover Town, we reached the Pamunkey river, which we crossed on the pontoon bridge at one o'clock, and half an hour later bivouacked about two miles from the river. It was noticed that there was no playing "High, Low, Jack" to determine who should go for the water or cook the coffee. Every man dropped in his place, completely exhausted from the effects of a night march of more than twenty miles.
At four o'clock on the 29th we were again aroused, moved forward a few miles, and halted in the woods by the roadside while the Fifth Corps passed to the front. Soon after noon we were ordered to the rear, and halted for rest in a pine grove, through which flowed a stream of water in close proximity to the wagon train. It was Sunday; surely rest was never more welcome to wearied, jaded men. It was the first rest deserving the name since the 20th, at Spottsylvania. Here we pitched our tents, and the men availed themselves of a fine opportunity for washing clothes, and overhauling their sadly diminished wardrobe. The evening was bright and beautiful. The head-quarters' band near us discoursed patriotic and sacred music and songs of home, and the memory of that pleasant Sabbath is undimmed even at this lapse of time. To many it was the last Sabbath on earth. The next dawned upon their lowly graves in the swamps of the Chickahominy!
At eight o'clock on Monday, the 30th, we moved out of camp, and soon joined the remainder of the division at Hawes' shop. An intelligent guideboard informed us we were only twelve miles from Richmond. Line of battle was soon after formed, and an advance ordered. The enemy was in a strong position, and the skirmishing was very sharp. The division halted in the road while the Forty-eighth Pennsylvania cleared the ground in our front by a gallant charge, when the division crossed a creek, and advanced about half a mile by the right flank into an open plain, where we formed line of battle under the personal direction of General Potter, who himself placed the guides. Here we were ordered to intrench, and soon had a good line of rifle-pits, while a heavy skirmish line was deployed in the woods in our front. The Second Corps was upon our right, our corps occupying a position between the Second and Fifth Corps. Strong reconnoissances were made on the roads leading toward the Chickahominy and Richmond. The firing was very heavy, and the rebel army was found to be in strong position on the line of the Totopotomoy. Again having the direct road they were enabled to confront us with their entire army strongly intrenched. The result of the movements of this day was to secure ground well up to the enemy's lines; but no decisive action was fought.