Diary of Josiah Marshall Favill.

June 8th. Moved forward this morning, close up to the new works, and detailed two-thirds of the regiment to work upon them. They are making gabions, sand bags, abatis, etc., for the redoubts, which are something altogether out of the ordinary run of field works; our bivouac is within easy range of the rebel pickets and sharpshooters. Bullets are incessantly flying over us, or amongst us; once in a while, a shell or round shot comes buzzing along, but generally, passes us far out of sight, doing no harm. Last night we were in line of battle half the night, and are getting worn out, as well as disgusted, with so much hard work; we cannot understand why we should entrench ourselves so powerfully, when we came here for the purpose of attacking. Our commander-in-chief is very timid, certainly, and the prospects for a further advance upon Richmond seem extremely slender.