10th. Friday. Cloudy this morning and a cool refreshing breeze stirring. Wrote a letter home. Would we could see the dear friends. Regt. relieved from picket. I feel happy and contented today. Would that these uneasy, dark, gloomy moments would never come again. Night of the 4th dreamed of a lost friend.
War Diary of Luman Harris Tenney.
9th. Read in “Queen Mab,” by Julia Kavanagh. Shoeing horses as rapidly as possible. A very sultry, oppressive day. A few drops of rain. Turned in to Capt. Viall 3 contraband mules temporarily. Hired David Brooks.
8th. Got an order from Col. Hammond and procured a forge of the 5th N. Y., an old one, shoes and nails. 2nd O. V. C. went out on picket. Relieved 1st Conn. Firing still continues at intervals along the line. Grant is getting siege guns up to the front. Everything looks encouraging. Railroad in progress.
7th. Our wagons came up. Went down again to train. Took four mules to draw forge. Q. M. away, so failed. Have worked pretty faithfully for a forge but yet without success. Saw Col. of 2nd N. Y. this morning and borrowed a forge—temporarily. Got some clothing and shoeing tools.
6th. During the morning the corps fell back to “Old Church Tavern,” near Newcastle on the Pamunkey to rest men and recruit horses. I went on to the train to see about forage, etc. Took supper with the boys. Like Capt. Viall very much. A very pleasant man but of little principle, I guess. Tom came back with me. He returned to company.
23rd. Moved on the R. R. destroying as we went till noon, when we got dinner. 12 miles from Burkesville a rebel force under W. H. Lee as reported of about 2000 cavalry got between Kautz and Wilson. Fight commenced immediately and lasted till dark— our brigade in rear. Drove the rebs at dark in a charge—our regt. on picket and in support of a battery. Got a good night’s rest. Pickets firing all the time.
Sunday, 5th. Rainy and cool this morning. Would that I could see some of the dear home friends. A letter from Minnie Friday did us much good. Hear the glad result of the fighting last night. Rebels charged our center from five to eight times and every time were repulsed. Passed the day mostly under the fly, visiting with the boys, reading my testament and thinking over old times, troubles, joys, blessings, etc. The phantom form still haunts me day and night. Cleared off before sundown. All the commissary corps here now. Gen. Wilson remarked today to Gen. Sheridan that the 2nd Ohio was the best regiment in the Div., that the 5th N. Y. was formerly but it had to yield to the 2nd now.
4th. Soon after daybreak Regt. moved up. Packs ordered up and breakfast got near the church. Regt. dismounted and put into the breastworks. Rebel cavalry charged and drove our boys from the first line of works, by flanking them. Soon column came up and rebs ran back. Had one killed and two or three wounded in their scrape. Tom came up in the evening, going back to the company, would like to go myself. About sundown the firing on Burnside’s right was the most terrific I ever heard and continued for nearly half an hour. It must have been an assault. Am anxious to hear the result. Gen. Torbert’s division of cavalry arrived. Regt. nearly all on duty.
3rd. Reinforcements coming in rapidly via W. H. and also Fredericksburg. 13th O. C. arrived. Saw paper of the 31st. News very encouraging. Reported move of rebel infantry around and to rear of Burnside’s right. Guess old Grant has fixed it so as to give them a warm reception. Rained yesterday and last night. Our troops in good spirits. 2nd Brigade in our advance. Fought over the ground near Salem Church where our Cavalry Corps had a severe fight with rebel infantry the day they crossed the Pamunkey. Col. Prescott, 1st Vermont, killed and Lt. Col. 1st Conn. wounded in the thigh. Rebs retreated beyond our fortifications. 1st Brigade Battery fired a little. Moved up to the outer works and remained till night. 2nd Brigade formed over to the left nearly at right angles to Burnside’s line. Three Divisions of rebel infantry, Heths of Ewell’s Corps, Rhodes of Hill’s, and one of Longstreet’s charged the flank of Burnside. Rebs were repulsed with great slaughter. 2nd Brigade did splendidly. The cross fire of artillery and musketry just mowed down the rebels. 1st Brigade moved back and formed where we formed in the morning. Slept till morning. Letter from home, May 15.
June 2nd. Lay in camp near Hanover C. H. at Dr. Price’s till dark when we moved towards White House. Went into camp about 2 A. M.
