“Early in the morning heard artillery firing in the direction Hooker had gone yesterday.” –Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

August 5th. At midnight last night the troops were ordered to fall in and be ready to march. We concluded this was a sure thing and packed up everything, waited on the color line almost two hours, and were then dismissed, and turned in again. Early in the morning heard artillery firing in the direction Hooker had gone yesterday. About nine o’clock it became very heavy, gradually receding, so we concluded the reconnoissance was pushing well forward. This is the first time a reconnoissance has been made since the second day of our arrival, and the enemy’s position is wholly unknown to us. It does seem as though the newspaper people find out more about the enemy than the general staff and War Department combined. During the day, the wounded returning from Hooker’s command, reported him several miles beyond Malvern Hill, meeting with little opposition. Early in the day, Major Potter went to work, and towards evening finished paying off the regiment. There were no drills or parade of any kind, on account of the paymaster. Weather intensely hot and sultry.