Tuesday, June 16.—The column got in motion at three o’clock in the morning. Heavy cannonade in the direction of the Blue Ridge Mountains. We arrived at Dumfries about ten o’clock A. M. Rations were issued there, and our march resumed at noon. The right section of our battery, under Lieutenant Peter Hunt, was acting rear-guard to-day. We passed Wolf’s run at seven o’clock, and went to camp for the night, after having marched twenty miles. The strong fortifications at Wolf Run Shoals, are counted to the defences of Washington.
Wednesday, June 17.—This morning we marched to Fairfax Station, (six miles,) and formed in line of battle. Our corps numbers not more than eight thousand effective men. The roads leading to Manassas are full of the army trains, coming from Warrenton.
Thursday, June 18.—Near Fairfax Station, in line of battle.
Friday, June 19.—Near Fairfax Station. Marched at four o’clock P. M., and arrived at Centreville about six. Went in position in one of the redoubts. A heavy shower in the night.
Saturday, June 20.—Centreville. Great row between the Tammany regiment, New York, and some of the new troops under General Hayes. We left Centreville at one o’clock P. M., crossed the Cub Run, and marched over the old battle-field of Bull Run at five o’clock, which awoke all the bitter feelings of the troops, especially the sight of the skeletons of so many brave soldiers lying around. It is a shame to the country that the remains of those men, who fell in the two battles, are not better taken care of, as the ground lies within our lines. Arriving at Gainesville, the First and Third divisions, and our battery went to camp. The Second division marched to Thoroughfare Gap in the night.
Sunday, June 21.—At Gainesville. A battle is going on between Pleasanton’s and Stuart’s cavalry near Ashby Gap. Our cavalry pickets near Gainesville, were driven in this afternoon. Three companies of infantry, and the right section, got ready for support. About seven o’clock P. M., General Stahl’s division of cavalry, with three rifled guns and a four-pound howitzer, taken from Moseby, near Fairfax Court House, two weeks ago, passed through, going to Warrenton. A dangerous experiment was made by John Tyng this evening. Pounding on a round shell, lying there since the second battle of Bull Run, the shell exploded amidst a crowd of the battery, without hurting any one.
Monday, June 22.—Gainesville. It was read in line that General Pleasanton, supported by Barnard’s division of infantry, Fifth corps, gained a victory over Stuart’s cavalry at Upperville and Ashby Gap, taking two guns and a quantity of small arms.
Tuesday, June 23.—Gainesville. Trains came up from Alexandria this morning, bringing supplies. Stahl’s cavalry came back from Warrenton.
Thursday, June 25.—Gainesville. Orders came to pack up. Two trains arrived from Alexandria, bringing supplies, and the news that the telegraph line had been broken and several cars burned, between this place and Fairfax Station, by guerillas. We left Gainesville at noon, crossed the Bull Run, marched on the Winchester and Leesburg turnpike, passed Sudley’s church, taking the same route we did under McDowell, going to and coming from the first Bull Run battle, until we turned off to Gum Spring, halting for the night. Marched eighteen miles in all. Battery B, lost a caisson and two men taken prisoners, coming from Thoroughfare Gap.
Friday, June 26.—Gum Spring. Left at ten o’clock A. M., going to Edward’s Ferry, where we arrived by eight o’clock P. M.—ten miles march. Two pontoon bridges are drawn across the Potomac. Troops are going over all the time. We halted for the purpose of camping. Tents were pitched, but the order came at ten o’clock P. M., that all the troops had to cross before daylight. General Hayes’ brigade of Heintzelman’s corps, consisting of the Thirty-ninth, One Hundred and Eleventh, One Hundred and Twenty-fifth, and One Hundred and Twenty-sixth New York regiments, was attached to the Second corps.