Friday, January 15.—Mounted inspection.
Monday, January 18.—Rain.
Thursday, January 21.—Mrs. Captain Arnold arrived in camp.
Sunday, January 24.—Mounted inspection.
Friday, January 29.—Mounted drill before General Hayes.
Tuesday, February 2.—First thunder-shower.
Friday, February 5.—The First Minnesota regiment marched off at daybreak, going home to reorganize.
Saturday, February 6.—Reveille at four o’clock in the morning. We had orders to march by six o’clock A. M., with a blanket and rations for three days. The infantry of the Second corps, and all the long range artillery, marched through Stevensburg to the Rapidan. Arriving at Morton’s Ford, skirmishing commenced between ours and the rebel infantry. A rebel battery on a hill opened on our battery, while going in position close to the river. We did not open immediately, as the rebel battery fired but a few rounds. The Third division, under General Hayes, forded the stream. At four o’clock in the afternoon, General Webb, of the Second division, ordered the infantry to advance, and our battery to fire. We used twenty-four rounds. The infantry pushed on, half-way up the hill, but had to retire at dark. Our battery fired fifteen more rounds, by Lieutenant Colonel Munroe’s order. The infantry kept on fighting until seven o’clock in the evening. It rained all day.
Sunday, February 7.—In line of battle at Morton’s Ford. All of our infantry recrossed last night. The rebel sharpshooters advanced to their rifle-pits, firing on us. We remained quiet nearly all day. At dark we returned to camp, arriving about ten o’clock P. M. The roads were in a floating condition. The loss of our corps amounts to three hundred men.
Friday, February 12.—Sergeant Greene and Eugene Googins, went to Rhode Island for the purpose of recruiting. Mounted drill.