At 5 o'clock on the morning of the 23d we moved to Chesterfield Ford on the North Anna river, and took position on the north bank. At 6 p. m. we advanced and took the enemy's works by a charge of Pierce's and Egan's brigades of Birney's position.
On the morning of the 24th part of our corps crossed the river, but the 57th did not cross, it being on the skirmish line during the day at a point further down the river, but at night we crossed the river and joined the rest of the corps.
During the 25th and 26th we lay in the entrenched line on the south side of the North Anna. On the night of the 26th we recrossed the river and marched to the Pamunkey river, crossing it at Huntleys, four miles above Hanovertown, about noon on the 28th. We then moved to the vicinity of Haw's shop, where we had a skirmish with the enemy's cavalry and some South Carolina infantry.
On the morning of the 29th, we moved up the Haw's shop road, with considerable fighting at Totopotomoy creek, keeping in close proximity to the enemy's lines. On the 30th we had severe skirmishing in which artillery was brought into action, when at 7:40 p. m. General Meade ordered the attack to cease.
On the 31st the infantry line was pressed up close to the enemy, and heavy skirmishing was kept up all day, but without bringing on a general engagement, the enemy being strongly entrenched.
On the night of June 1st we left the Totopotomoy, and moved to Cold Harbor, arriving at 6 a. m. on the 2d, when Birney's division was detached and sent to support the 18th corps on our left. Our army was now on ground over which it had fought during the Seven Days' battles, two years previous.
The order for a general attack was countermanded for June 2d, but the next day at 4:30 a. m. we made an assault and drove the enemy back to their main line of entrenchments, but could proceed no further on account of the heavy cross fire we were subjected to. We were under a heavy fire until noon, when our division (Birney's) was ordered to the support of the 5th corps.
On coming into line for their support, the colors of the 57th were struck by a piece of the enemy's shell, cutting the flag staff in two, and tearing out one entire stripe right in the center of the flag.
We were under a heavy fire until darkness set in, when the fighting ceased. We remained in this position until June 12th, being under heavy skirmish and picket firing during the daytime and under heavy artillery fire at night, allowing scarcely any sleep, and during the day it was extremely warm and sultry.
On the evening of the 12th we were stationed in our entrenched line and remained there until the other troops had cleared the roads, when we moved by way of Dispatch Station to Long Bridge, crossing the Chickahominy river, and then moved towards Charles City Court House, by way of St. Mary's church and Walkers. We arrived at the James river on the evening of the 14th, crossing at Wilcox's Landing on transports to Windmill Point, arriving on the south side of the river early on the morning of the 15th. On the afternoon of that day we started for Petersburg, arriving at that place on the evening of the same day after a march of sixteen miles. At Harrison's creek on the way we had a brisk skirmish, and then halted for the night near an old dirt fort.