May 15th. At eleven o’clock last night, after all had turned in, and most of us were asleep, an orderly routed me out with written orders to have breakfast, and be ready to march at four o’clock in the morning. I ordered reveille at 2 A. M., and at that hour the regiment turned out and prepared breakfast; we had plenty of time, and so took it leisurely, forming on the color line, in full marching order, just at four o’clock. The brigade did not move until five o’clock, but after once started, did some fine work, never halting till twelve noon, and then only for an hour. We fell in again, continuing the march till four P. M., then filed off into a dense pine woods, and bivouacked for the night. The first part of the day’s march was capital, the weather fine, and the road hard and dry, but about two o’clock in the afternoon, it commenced raining, and at the time we went into bivouac, it poured down in torrents. It is a singular coincidence that when active operations begin, it invariably rains; on the advance to Manassas; the day after landing at Yorktown, and on the day we commenced the pursuit of the rebels to Williamsburg; not to mention the memorable retreat after the battle of Bull Run. If there were any kind of roads in this country, it would not matter so much, but they are all clay, and the center of the road is universally the lowest part of it, in consequence, an hour’s rain makes them impassable for artillery or wagons, and laborious and difficult for infantry. We are a mile from Cumberland Landing, on the Pamunkey, and within two miles of the enemy, who are concentrated and awaiting our approach. After a supper of hard tack and coffee, the men turned in, pretty well exhausted by the march and bad roads; headquarters followed suit, and by nine o’clock all were asleep.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
MAY 15TH.—The enemy’s gun-boats, Monitor, Galena, etc. are at Drewry’s Bluff, eight miles below the city, shelling our batteries, and our batteries are bravely shelling them. The President rode down to the vicinity this morning, and observed the firing.
The guns are heard distinctly in the city, and yet there is no consternation manifested by the people. If the enemy pass the obstructions, the city will be, it is true, very much at their mercy. They may shell us out of it, and this may occur any hour. South of the city the enemy have no forces, and we can find refuge there. I suppose the government would go to Lynchburg. I shall remain with the army, and see that the tobacco be burnt, at all hazards, according to law. I have seen some of our generals, and am convinced that the Baltimore rabble, and those that direct them, will be suppressed, or exterminated, if they attempt to throw impediments in the way of our soldiers in the work of destroying the tobacco, as enjoined by Congress.
Our marksmen will keep up an incessant fire into the port-holes of the gun-boats; and if it be at all practicable, we will board them. So hope is by no means extinct. But it is apprehended, if the enemy get within shelling distance of the city, there will be an attack along our lines by McClellan. We must beat him there, as we could never save our guns, stores, etc. retreating across the river. And we will beat him, for we have 80,000 men, and more are coming.
Joyful tidings! the gun-boats have been repulsed! A heavy shot from one of our batteries ranged through the Galena from stem to stern, making frightful slaughter, and disabling the ship; and the whole fleet turned about and steamed down the river! We have not lost a dozen men. We breathe freely; and the government will lose no time in completing the obstructions and strengthening the batteries.
Off Yorktown, May 15
. . . It is now midnight. Knapp and two supply boats started five hours ago for the sick at Bigelow’s Landing. Two of the ladies are with him; the rest are giving beef tea and brandy and water to the sick on the Knickerbocker, who have been put into clean beds. Drs. Ware and Swan are in attendance, aided most efficiently by Wheelock and Haight. Mr. Collins is executive officer on the boat, and Mr. Woolsey, clerk, taking charge of the effects of the soldiers.”
And later from Miss Wormeley:
“We all take the greatest interest in Charley’s letter. He writes well, just what he sees and thinks about and throws genuine light on other accounts.”
May 15.—Heavy firing was heard today, and I felt certain that a battle had commenced. I was in the kitchen when I first heard it, and was compelled to stop what I was doing, as the sound makes me unfit for any thing.
May 15.—A company of infantry of General Geary’s command was ordered to Linden, Va., to remain stationed there. A detachment of seventeen men, guard to the company wagon, reached there a short time before the main body of the company, which was on a train. They were attacked by a body of cavalry, variously estimated at from three to six hundred, coming upon them from four different directions. The Nationals resisted them, keeping up a sharp fire under shelter of the depot, which was riddled with bullets. Gen. Geary’s men were overpowered; one was killed and fourteen were taken prisoners, three of whom were wounded, when the enemy hastily retired under fire.— General Geary’s Despatch.
—The United States gunboats Galena, Monitor, Aroostook, Naugatuck, and Port Royal were repulsed from Fort Darling, on the James River. The one hundred pound gun on the Naugatuck exploded at the first fire.—(Doc.37.)
— Great excitement existed in Richmond, Va., on the approach of Gen. McClellan’s army and the gunboats. A joint Committee were appointed by the Legislature of Virginia to communicate with Jeff Davis in relation to the defence of the city. The General Assembly resolved that the capital of the State should be defended to the last extremity. Governor Letcher issued a proclamation calling all the officers out of service, and others who were willing to unite in defending the capital, to meet at the City Hall that evening. The meeting was held amid great excitement and enthusiasm. The action of the Governor was warmly commended.—(Doc. 109.)
—In the Senate of Virginia Mr. Collier submitted a joint resolution declaring that slavery is the fundamental doctrine of Southern civilization.— (See Supplement.)
—A skirmish took place, nine miles east of Batesville, Arkansas, between a party of the Fifth Illinois cavalry, under Lieut Smith, and a small force of the enemy. The rebels were repulsed, leaving in the hands of the Unionists, a major, a captain, and one private. The Union party lost none.—Missouri Democrat.
—Alexander H. Brown, Assistant Provost Marshal at Charleston, S. C, issued the following regulations in reference to travelling in that department:
“With the view of preventing any unauthorized person of color, bond or free, from leaving the city, the following regulations have been adopted by this department:
“1. Railroads and other means of transportation are forbid conveying, without a passport, any free person of color or slave from the limits wherein martial law prevails.
“2. Applications for passports for free persons of color must be made by their guardians or other responsible white person.
“3. Applications for passports for slaves must be made either by their owners or responsible representatives or agents.
“4. Travelling with a white person will not dispense with these regulations.”
