Captains Randolph, Rosenbaum and Robbins, and Lieutenants Davis, Acker and Boyce, joined the regiment, they having made their escape from “Rebel prisons” during the fall and winter, this being the first we had seen of them since the disastrous fight at Winchester, June 15th, 1863.
Sometime in March we received a new stand of colors, our old ones being completely in ribbons, and Major Chamberlin going home on a leave of absence, took them with him to Ohio, and presented them to the Governor for safe keeping.
About the middle of March everything began to assume a busy air throughout the army, and it was evident that military movements would soon begin.
On the 25th our division received orders to be ready to move at an hours notice, and on the night of the 27th the orders came, and very shortly we were on the way, crossing the James River under cover of the darkness. We then struck off to the rear of our works for a short distance, and then away towards our left. All night long through that dense woods and pitchy darkness we slowly picked our way. The road was very muddy, and the march a tiresome one. We halted about 4 o’clock in the morning for a short rest.
Snatching a hasty breakfast at 8 o’clock, we were again on the road, pushing on all day towards the left. We now became aware that Sheridan was pressing the enemy’s right, and that we were probably on the way to reinforce him.
On the morning of the 29th we reached the position assigned us in the vicinity of Hatcher’s Run, and remained quietly behind the works until the next day.
Early in the morning we moved out beyond the entrenchments, and immediately the crack of musketry announced that skirmishing had begun, but we steadily pressed them back, through the tangled woods and across creeks and gullies. About noon the rain commenced falling in torrents, making our advance very tedious.
We stopped at night, and at once commenced fortifying our position. All next day the rain continued to pour, making it impossible for us to move our artillery, and we were compelled to remain idle. Early on the 31st our division moved out to the attack, the regiment being on the skirmish line, were immediately under fire, and drove the enemy steadily back until within five hundred yards of their entrenched position on Hatcher’s Run. Just before a halt was ordered, the regiment made a gallant charge, driving the Rebs from a point of timber, capturing some prisoners and gaining a very desirable position and maintained it against a heavy cannonade and musketry fire throughout the day. As soon as night came on, we set to work building breast works, using rails and loose stones, and digging dirt with our bayonets, we were very soon pretty strongly entrenched. We remained there all night, getting very little, if any, sleep. Firing commenced early in the morning and was kept up steadily through the day, no change, however, being made in our position. Now by all reason of fairness we certainly should have been relieved. We had been on severe duty for two days, sending many of our dead and wounded back to the rear, amply attesting the work we had done. We had cooked nothing to eat during the time, though the boys in the rear had sent us out hot coffee on several occasions. But Gen. Turner sent a special request to Col. Kellogg, who had gallantly and in person commanded the line; asking that he remain with his regiment, on the line, for another night. Of course his request was complied with.
At day-break the grand movement was made along the whole line, that gave us Petersburg, and sent the Rebels broken and shattered from their last stronghold in Virginia.
The advance was begun on our right, and as the cheers of our troops announced their success, Col. Kellogg became very anxious to lead his regiment against the works in our front. Twice he sent for permission before it came.