Wednesday, April 30.—Battery No. 8. We were relieved in the morning by Battery B. Heavy cannonading in the night.
Thursday, May 1.—News of the capture of New Orleans.
Friday, May 2.—Camp “Winfield Scott.” Steady cannonading all day.
Saturday, May 3.—The rebels are preparing to evacuate Yorktown. Heavy firing, day and night.
Sunday, May 4.—Evacuation of Yorktown. Our lines advanced at daybreak, and found the fortifications deserted by the rebels, leaving most of the siege-guns behind. Stoneman’s cavalry is following up the enemy’s rear-guard. Our whole army ready to march.
Monday, May 5.—A battle going on at Williamsburgh since morning. Our division marched into Yorktown towards afternoon, under a heavy rain. Explosions of torpedoes very frequent. We commenced to camp inside the fortifications, but we were ordered to march towards Williamsburgh immediately. The column started; halted shortly after on the turnpike road, and remained during the night, under an incessant rain. This was one of the most horrid nights we ever saw in the service. At two o’clock in the morning orders came for us to retire to our camps to rest.
Tuesday, May 6.—Our battery moved to the river, close to Yorktown, ready to be shipped. General Franklin’s corps is embarking already. We loaded ammunition all day.
Wednesday, May 7.—Our guns were put aboard the steamer Delaware. We started for West Point, at the mouths of the Pamunkey and Mattapony rivers. Arrived there at five o’clock P. M., and dropped anchor for the night. General Franklin’s corps had a fight with the enemy’s rear-guard.
Thursday, May 8.—Captain Arnold, of the regular artillery, inspected the unloading of our battery. We camp close to the Pamunkey.
Saturday, May 10.—West Point. The horses were landed to-day. By five o’clock P. M., we marched two miles, and camped at Elkhorn, on the Pamunkey.