Leverett Bradley: A Soldier-Boy’s Letters (1st Massachusetts Heavy Artillery.)

Aug. 20th. Same place. I stopped at the regt. hospital.

Aug. 19th. Kept on marching to the left, were put on picket. 9th and 5th Corps moved to the left. Have taken the Weldon R. R. Rebs came on to us, and took about 50 prisoners (on the run).

Aug. 18th. Layed in the same place until dark, rained; started for the front of Petersburg, walked all night; rained a little. Marched until Morning of the 19th.

Aug. 17th. Fell in with the Brigade as it passed on their way to our old Div. Layed in a close mass all day; it rained hard.

Aug. 16th. Moved to the left in the morning, and to front at 10 A.M. Our regt. in reserve. 10th corps charged well and took 800 prisoners. We performed several duties during the day. There was hard fighting all day. We lost one man (was taken sick and went to the rear).

Aug. 15th. [Battle of Deep Bottom.] Started at 9 A.M. for the right, having been assigned to the 19th corps of our Brigade; skirmish for four hours, through a dense forest to enable our cavalry to pass out on the right flank. Lost one killed and 7 wounded.

Aug. 14th. Disembarked at Deep Bottom. 1st and 2nd Divs. went into the woods and we layed in the sun. The 10th corps captured 6 guns. Layed here all night; rainy.

Aug. 13th. Layed on a hill all day. At 5 P.M. embarked on steamer Octorora; ran down the river about 3 miles, when the whole expedition started up the river. In all, about 20 vessels.

Aug. 12th. Same position till today; started at 2 o’clk for City Point, arrived at 7 o’clk. It was terribly hot, a great many were sunstruck.