Wednesday, October 23.—A clear day. The enemy in great force around Leesburg. We can see the church steeples of that place. Skirmishing kept up all day. In the evening our battery received orders to embark and cross the river,—Capt. Tompkins, having come back from Harper’s Ferry, with the right section, the evening before,—three guns were already loaded on a canal boat, together with Company C, First Maryland Regiment, and started; but the current of the stream being too strong, and losing half of the oars, they had to return again. Orders awaited us already to disembark immediately, and return to camp. All the troops withdrew from the Virginia shore before daylight,—eight thousand men in all.
Thursday, October 24.—After all the troops had been withdrawn, the rebel pickets held the line close to the river, and fired a shot once in a while. Rickett’s, ours, and Captain Bess’ batteries, were drawn up in one line. Our battery is detached to General Williams’ brigade.
Friday, October 25.—Remained the same, at Edwards Ferry.
Saturday, October 26.—General Williams’ brigade and our battery marched off to Muddy Branch in the morning. Arrived there, in camp of the Twenty-eighth New York, in the afternoon.
Sunday, October 27.—Established our camp.
Monday, October 28.—Commenced to build a stable for horses, three hundred feet long. Captain Bess, our chief of artillery. Our battery remained at Muddy Branch up to the twenty-seventh of November. Little is to be said of this period. Drill as usual. Received the news of the taking of Beaufort, South Carolina, and the capture of Slidell and Mason. Captain Reynolds visited the battery for the last time, having been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel of the Rhode Island artillery, and transferred to another department.
Wednesday, November 27.—The battery left Muddy Branch, with the understanding to go into winter-quarters near Poolesville. We were told that we should have many drills together with Battery B, no longer Captain Vaughan’s battery, who, having had disagreements, left the service. We marched by nine o’clock in the morning. The weather was very unpleasant, raining and freezing all day. Passed through Poolesville at four o’clock, and commenced to pitch tents by five o’clock. Our camp is next to Battery B’s, commanded by Lieutenant Perry. We had a good reception by the men, who treated all of us to coffee.
Thursday, November 28.—Thanksgiving day. Governor Sprague furnished twenty turkeys for us.
Friday, 29th, and Saturday, November 30.—A stable for the horses commenced on.
Sunday, December 1, to Tuesday the 10th.—Nothing of any consequence happened. Camp wore a wintry aspect. The time was mostly occupied in building stables for the horses. Colonel Tompkins, now on General Stone’s staff, arrived at Poolesville; we did no longer belong to General Banks’ division, but to General Stone’s.