Saturday, March 1.—Remained in our quarters up to
Friday, March 7.—Left Harper’s Ferry. Detached to General Gorman’s brigade. Marched till within a mile of Charlestown, Virginia, and went in camp to the left of the road, close to the First Minnesota, Colonel Sully.
Saturday, March 8.—Remained in camp near Charlestown, and received new Sibly tents to-day.
Monday, March 10.—Marched through Charlestown, and thence to Berryville. On this occasion, something happened that wants mentioning. When leaving Poolesville, Captain J. A. Tompkins ordered the men to carry the knapsacks on the back. This is contrary to regulations. It created a great deal of dissatisfaction. The lot of a soldier is hard enough, without irritating him unreasonably. But, honor to the lamented hero, General Sedgwick, who, riding by our battery, at Charlestown, peremptorily ordered Captain Tompkins to have no more knapsacks carried by any of his men. An engagement was anticipated. Rebels were seen beyond Ripton. By one and a-half o’clock, our left section unlimbered, and fired two shells towards Berryville. Van Allen’s, and the Eighth Michigan cavalry, drove the rebel cavalry, two hundred and fifty strong, out of the town. Our battery followed closely—Gorman’s brigade in our rear. The stars and bars were lowered from the church steeple, and a substitute furnished in the shape of the colors of the First Minnesota. The pieces of the battery were brought in separate position by sections.
Tuesday, March 11.—Halted at Berryville during daytime. In the evening, the battery united outside the town, going in camp; but the guns in position.
Wednesday, March 12.—Some men of the First Minnesota, and Corporal Butler, of our battery, took possession of Gregg’s printing office, of “The Berryville Observator,” and published quite a number of copies of said paper. News of McClellan’s occupation of Manassas arrived, in consequence of which, a salute of forty guns was fired. In the evening, when Captain Tompkins rode into camp, the assembly was blown at once, and he addressed the men as follows: “Boys, a fight is going on at Winchester, and this battery must be there within twenty-five minutes.” Camp was struck, and the battery on the road, when the order was countermanded.
Thursday, March 13.—At Berryville. Marched by eight o’clock A. M. towards Winchester. When within two miles of the latter place, orders arrived for our division to return to Harper’s Ferry. General Banks’ troops were occupying Winchester already. Arrived at Berryville again by four o’clock in the afternoon.
Friday, March 14.—Marched to our old campground, beyond Charlestown.
Saturday, March 15.—Marched to Harper’s Ferry, and occupied the government building, in which we were quartered before, again. A heavy rain-storm to-day.
Saturday, March 22.—We left Harper’s Ferry in the morning. During the afternoon, the battery was loaded on railroad cars at Sandy Hook. The train started by seven o’clock in the evening, for Washington.