Thursday, June 5.—Brisk fighting near Mechanicsville all day.
Friday, June 6.—Fair Oaks. Expiration of our first year in the service. Very quiet on the line.
Saturday, June 7.—General Burns’ brigade made a reconnoisance, in consequence of which a short fight took place.
Sunday, June 8.—The enemy made a severe attack on our position this morning. Bad conduct of Baxter’s Zouaves. Generals Sedgwick and Gorman forced them to return to the front. Visit of General McClellan, Duc de Chartres, the Count of Paris, Prince de Joinville, the Spanish Generals Prim and Milano del Bosch, Senor Justo San Miguel, Colonel Denteure, Colonel Cordazo, Senor de Sales, and Senor Perez Caloo, Spanish historian. They remained fifteen minutes at the headquarters of General Sumner, and made quite a show.
Monday, June 9.—Fair Oaks. The rebels open on General Gorman’s picket line, without inflicting any damage.
Tuesday, June 10.—Fair Oaks. Heavy rain. The enemy opened with artillery on General Smith’s division, towards evening.
Wednesday, June 11.—Fair Oaks. In line of battle since two o’clock A. M. An attack expected every moment.
Thursday, June 12.—Fair Oaks. Our whole line is fortifying stronger. Baxter’s Zouaves are building breastworks of solid timber. Splendid moon nights.
Friday, June 13.—Fair Oaks. We are in line of battle since three o’clock A. M. At five o’clock the enemy opened on our line with two Parrott guns, two Napoleons, and a howitzer, killing a man of Company I, First Minnesota, and wounding one of the Thirty-fourth New York Regiment. General McClellan inspected the whole line of Sumner’s corps. Orders were given to strengthen the breastworks. Generals Sumner and Sedgwick change their headquarters, their former quarters being too much under fire.
Saturday, June 14.—Fair Oaks. The First Minnesota were intrenching all day. Very quiet along the line. Great raid of Stuart’s cavalry at White House Landing.