FORT DARLING.
We should here state that the right of the line, which was the first to give way before the Confederate assault, was under the command of General Wright; while the left of the line, under General Terry, resisted every attack, and only retreated when the danger of being cut off and captured became imminent. That night we spent in our old camp, near the intrenchments at Bermuda Hundred; and the following day rested. On the 18th, did some picket and skirmish duty, and on the 19th were still in the front, enjoying the music of shot and shell; and to the 28th, there was little rest, night or day, between fatigue, picket, and skirmish duty. The enemy made frequent attacks on our outer lines, but without success; and we could observe them for the most of the time engaged in constructing intrenchments. General Butler was not accomplishing the work allotted to him. Petersburg was not taken, and no important advantage had been gained.
On the 25th, Captain Lockwood left us, to return to civil life. It was a great loss to the regiment, for he was a good officer, an intelligent man, an agreeable companion, and a loyal friend. The places of the old officers, so many of whom have fallen in battle or have voluntarily left the service, cannot be filled. They were loyal men, who were borne into the service by that first fresh, pure wave of patriotism which swept over the North in the earliest days of the war. Of them all, Lockwood was my most intimate friend—respected, trusted, and beloved. Returning home, he engaged in the business of manufacturing, in which he continued until his death, which occurred some years after the war closed. He and Lieutenant-Colonel Strickland were law partners in New York city at the breaking-out of the war.
Assigned to 6th. corps. On the way to the Army of the Potomac. A dreadful march. At Cold Harbor. Trying situation. Assume command. A gallant charge. Grand success. Severe losses. Driven back. Lack of support. Incidents of the battle. The demoralized general. Further account of Cold Harbor. Occupying the Confederate line. A sad picture of war. An uncomfortable situation. Relieved. Close work. Change of base. Grand but perilous movement of the army. The old church at Jamestown.
On the evening of the 28th, we broke camp, and marched all—night towards City Point, which we reached about daylight on the morning of the 29th. We remained there until afternoon, when, having embarked on the steamer Delaware, we proceeded down the river. By this time, it had become generally understood that our division of the 10th corps had been temporarily united with the 18th corps, and that we were on our way to join the Army of the Potomac. About the middle of the forenoon of the 31st, we landed at the White House, on the Pamunkey River. Here rations were distributed, the men got their dinners, and late in the afternoon the order was given to fall in.
Nearly all night was spent on the march; and when we halted it was not to rest, but to do picket duty. Early on the morning of June 1, we resumed our march, and continued all day, resting occasionally, as the men became too exhausted to keep on. The heat was almost intolerable, and the dust so filled the air that at times it was impossible to see the distance of a company front ahead of us. When the command to halt was given, the regiment seemed to melt away, and it was with the utmost difficulty that the march could be resumed. Many men were reported as fatally exhausted and left to die by the roadside from the commands that had preceded us, and it required the combined efforts of our own officers, and the example of patient and cheerful endurance on their part, to keep our men from falling away and straggling. Arrived at Cold Harbor, late in the afternoon, we were ordered into the woods—as we supposed, to encamp. But alas! a soldier may never rest, till he or the enemy is dead.