Wednesday, May 25.—Southside of the North Anna River. The battery was ordered to advance at eight o’clock A. M. The cannoniers were sent ahead with shovels and pick-axes, to fortify our position. Not much of any consequence was done in our front during the day, some sharpshooting excepted. The corps had three fortified lines of battle. Our battery was in the first—skirmishers in front of us. The mortar-battery was playing all the afternoon. Shower in evening.
Thursday, May 26.—Southside of the North Anna river. The Ninth corps was considerably engaged. We held our line all day. Shower in evening. Our forces evacuated the southside of the North Anna River at ten o’clock in the night, going back to where the first line of battle was formed during the fight on the North Anna River, and rested until the next morning.
Friday, May 27.—Flank march to the Pamunkey River. Sheridan’s cavalry, the Fifth and Sixth corps ahead; the Second and Ninth corps in the rear. Started about noon, and halted at eight o’clock, P. M., having marched fifteen miles. About eleven o’clock in the night we went three miles further and rested in a ploughed field.
Saturday, May 28.—Resumed marching at seven o’clock in the morning. Crossed the Pamunkey River about four o’clock P. M., on a pontoon bridge. General Meade’s headquarters were on the southside of the river. Going a mile further, our battery went to camp, unhitched and unharnessed. The smoke of our gunboats on the Pamunkey River, was visible.
Sunday, May 29.—Southside of the Pamunkey River. The battery was hitched up at two o’clock in the morning. We remained until evening. Marched off by seven o’clock, but returned soon after. We left camp again at eleven o’clock in the night, marched on the Mechanicsville road, going in park by one o’clock A. M., on
Monday, May 30.—Within twenty miles of Richmond. The infantry was fortifying all of last night. Before daybreak, our battery was ordered to the extreme front, only one thousand yards from the enemy’s works. We were set to work digging; but ordered back to the rear, until the engineers had thrown up breastworks. It was lucky for us that we could not be seen by the enemy, on account of the fog, or else but few would have escaped. At noon the battery returned, taking position behind the works. Shortly after the enemy opened, concentrating a heavy artillery fire on our battery, which was vigorously replied to by our four guns. Lieutenant Peter Hunt was the only man hurt, a piece of a shell fracturing his right heel. During the afternoon a twenty-four pounder mortar battery was posted between our guns, keeping up a regular bombardment. Fighting lasted until eight o’clock in the evening. At that time, five of our batteries were playing on the enemy’s works, which were considerably damaged. Our horses were sent a half mile to the rear.
Tuesday, May 31.—The rebels evacuated their line of intrenchments during last night. We could hear the noise created by the removal of the artillery, mistaking it for the arrival of reinforcements. General Barlow’s division occupied the works at ten o’clock A. M. A brass battery was put in position, keeping up a steady fire on the retiring enemy. Considerable fighting was going on along the whole line to-day. The rebel sharpshooters were very troublesome, firing from high trees. Norris L. Church was shot in the head at eleven o’clock A. M., and died ten minutes afterwards. We changed position about eight o’clock in the evening, going a-half mile to the right.
Wednesday, June 1.—Heavy fighting was going on at Coal Harbor. The Sixth corps, and the Eighteenth, General Baldy Smith, being engaged with the rebels. Our battery was supported by two companies of the Twenty-eighth Massachusetts regiment, but not engaged to-day. The Second corps commenced moving at dark, and marched all night.
Thursday, June 2.—Battle of Coal Harbor. We arrived at Coal Harbor about ten o’clock in the morning. Fighting was still going on. The rebels had attacked the Sixth and Eighteenth corps about two o’clock in the morning, but were repulsed losing five hundred and twenty prisoners, who passed by our battery. We were not in action to-day, but yet exposed to the enemy’s artillery fire. Our horses were unhitched and unharnessed for the night.
Friday, June 3.—Battle on Gaines’ Farm. The battle began at four o’clock in the morning. Our battery took position about eight o’clock A. M., but changed it two hours after, going nearer to the front, and engaging one of the enemy’s batteries at once. The breastworks in our front were of a very weak construction. During the afternoon the enemy fired with solid shot. As soon as they struck our breastworks, they stopped. It was only to ascertain the exact range. The use of strengthening the breastworks was demonstrated to the men of the first piece, but they did not feel disposed to work. At eight o’clock in the evening, the enemy’s batteries commenced a heavy cannonade on our lines. Having gained the precise range of our battery, they fired very correct, two shots passing clear through the breastworks, wounding five men of the first piece: W. Sweet, in the face; Gileo, slightly, in the face; Swett, in the back, badly; Coleman, in the groin; and Whitford, right arm shot off. The engagement lasted a-half an hour. We were told afterwards, that the firing of our battery caused great havoc amongst the rebels. Charles Lake was badly wounded by a shell, during the day. In the night, Major John G. Hassard brought orders for our battery to take an advanced position in front of Gaines’ Hill, before daybreak the next morning, saying he would see to the erection of strong breastworks by the engineers.