Thursday, 2d—A fine shower about noon cooled the air and laid the dust. The entire corps lay in camp all day, the men washing and mending their clothes, and the blacksmiths shoeing the horses and mules. We are in the valley between the Sandy and Lookout mountains, which are heavily timbered with pine and ash. The quartermaster’s trains were sent out on forage today, but although the farms in the valley are fairly good, there is little to be had, for the few farmers thought it useless to grow crops this summer.
June 2014
June 2, 1864.
The 40th Illinois returned to-day, and I was right glad to see them back. We have lost no men to-day. The 17th Army Corps is beginning to come in. We advanced our works last night, commencing a new line in front of our regiment. The Rebels didn’t fire at us once, though they might as well killed some one as not. Colonel Wright and ten men picked out the ground and then I took a detail and went to work. By daylight we had enough of rifle pit to cover 50 men and had the men in it. I tell you it waked them up when our boys opened upon them. This is getting on the Vicksburg order. The troops are in splendid spirits and everything is going on as well as could be wished. I think this thing will be brought to a focus in a few days.
Huntsville, Thursday, June 2. A warm sultry day. Did not go out drilling. No mail, but big news from Sherman. Feel dumpish.
Near Tottopotamoy Creek, Va.,
(11 miles from Richmond) June 2, 1864
Dear Father, — We are stationed here about four or five miles from Mechanicsville, and about 11 from Richmond. We are bivouacking, and may move at any moment. We have had skirmishing almost every day, in which this regiment has lost some men. Yesterday evening the enemy opened a heavy fire on us, advancing a very heavy line of skirmishers on to the front of our corps, and also on the Fifth Corps. It was more of a reconnoissance on their part than a general attack. They were driven back along the whole line.
Our men are pretty well used up by this campaign. Officers as well as men need rest, and I hope we shall get it before long. A great many of the men are without shoes, and most all of them are in rags. We have communication open with White House now, and I hope that we shall soon have all such deficiencies supplied.
We shall have some pretty hard fighting before we get Richmond. We are gradually working our way to the left towards James River, where I imagine we shall open communication with Butler.
I never knew before what campaigning was. I think, though, that all this army have a pretty fair idea of it now. We have had to march all day and all night, ford rivers, bivouac without blankets or any covering during rain and sunshine, and a good part of the time have been half starved. I know that no one staying at home can have any idea of what this army has been through. Any one who gets through safely may consider himself lucky.
We have lost 300 men in killed, wounded and missing since the beginning of the campaign. The missing amount to about 30 or 40 men, many of them killed and wounded. I have but 250 men for duty now, —rather a contrast to the size of the regiment when we left Readville.
Do you know whether I am to be commissioned as colonel of the regiment or not? No other person, were he commissioned, could take the place, as there are not enough men for him to be mustered. If I am commissioned as colonel and my commission dates the 6th or 7th of May, I can probably be mustered back to that date, as I have been acting as colonel since then. I had over a minimum regiment on the 7th of May.
I think there is no doubt about our getting Richmond. It will undoubtedly be hard work, but we expect that.
I have not heard from home for a long time. I suppose you have seen Major Jarves. He behaved splendidly.
Give my love to all the family.
Thursday, June 2. — We were under marching orders, and about 3 P.M. moved to our rear. The whole corps marched ahead of us, leaving us as rear-guard. We had not gone far before the rebels attacked us. The whole thing was miserably managed. We checked the enemy, however. Our regiment was in the third line, being in front of Captain Thomas’s battery. While there we lost about six men, and Lieutenant Mitchell, wounded by our own shell. We were moved afterwards to the right, occupying some temporary rifle-pits. Had a heavy thundershower during the afternoon, just before the enemy attacked. Captain Cowdin, F. O. D., was wounded while falling back. During night, rainy. Dug some strong rifle-pits.
[Our position this day was a most disagreeable one. We were supporting a battery and in front of it, they firing over our heads and we lying down on the ground. The battery was on slightly rising ground, but the shells stripped as they were fired from the guns, and as the firing was unusually bad, it was most destructive to our regiment, as the strips of the shells and shot flew around us right and left. It was bad enough to be killed by the rebels, but to have our own men shoot us was worse. Captain Cowdin never turned up. He was probably killed. The last seen of him he was getting over a wall. He was a good officer and did his duty well, and we were very sorry to lose him.]
June 2 — Heavy thunder-showers this evening, with hail. We are still in camp near Hughes’ Cross Roads. I heard heavy cannonading all afternoon in the direction of the Pamunkey.
Thursday, June 2. — March at 5 A. M. White Sulphur to Callaghan, about fourteen miles; a cloudy, good marching day. Nothing of interest today. Bill Jackson left Callaghan three days ago.
June 2, Thursday. There is intense anxiety in relation to the Army of the Potomac. Great confidence is felt in Grant, but the immense slaughter of our brave men chills and sickens us all. The hospitals are crowded with the thousands of mutilated and dying heroes who have poured out their blood for the Union cause. Lee has returned to the vicinity of Richmond, overpowered by numbers, beaten but hardly defeated.
by John Beauchamp Jones
JUNE 2D—Very warm and cloudy.
There was no general engagement yesterday, but heavy skirmishing, and several assaults at different points; and a dispatch from Gen. Lee says they resulted favorably to our arms.
A dispatch from Gen. Johnston says his men are in good plight, after combats enough to make a battle, in all of which the enemy suffered most.
The local troops (Custis’s battalion, etc.) were ordered out today. I have not understood to what point they were ordered ; but it indicates the imminency of a battle. Lee has not less than 80,000 men—veterans.
I saw, to day, Gen. Beauregard’s plan, dated May 14th. It was addressed to Gen. Bragg, “Commanding Confederate States Armies.” He suggested the falling back on the defenses of Richmond, and detaching 15,000 to the south side to crush or drive away Butler. He would then not only return the 15,000 to the north side, but bring over 25,000 additional to crush Grant.
This scheme was rejected by Bragg on the 19th, after consultation with the President and the Secretary: the latter indorsing his concurrence in the rejection, the President not committing himself in writing. But Beauregard was ordered to attack Butler without delay, which was done, and successfully; but he was not crushed, and still threatens our railroads with a portion of his army, while the rest has been sent to reinforce Grant.
Nevertheless, Beauregard is here with some 20,000, and Lee did fall back to the defenses of Richmond.
Congress has passed a bill increasing the compensation of themselves 100 per cent. Perhaps they will not adjourn now, but remain and await events.
Senator Hunter and the Secretary of War promenaded the Square yesterday afternoon in a long “confabulation,” supposed by some to relate to political matters.
5 O’CLOCK P.M.—Heavy and quick cannonading heard some eight or ten miles east of the city. It continued until night, when it was raining and cold; and Custis had no blanket, not anticipating such a change.
June 2nd, 1864.—There are many aching hearts in our land these bright, beautiful summer days. If it was not for the little children, who do not realize the danger we are facing, I do not believe we could stand it. Bless their dear young hearts, which are so light that they overflow with merriment no matter how black everything looks to us.
Fighting is almost continuous now and there is not standing room around the bulletin board, to do more than get a hurried glance at the list of “Killed, Wounded and Missing.” Oh, those horrible words, I seem to see them in letters of fire when I wake in the night.
Father has a very sick patient and Mother is helping to nurse him. Mrs. Manning, Aunt Robinson and I have been busy packing a large box of clothing to be sent tomorrow to the army of Northern Virginia.
A late supper of rice-cakes, Irish potatoes and squabs, cooked in Adeline’s best style, finished the day. It is now 10 o’clock and everybody ought to be abed and asleep. We will not hear from the front tonight. May the news, when we hear it, be good.
