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became engaged in a spirited skirmish, which was continued until dark, when it ceased by mutual consent.*

Before daybreak on the 11th, Hancock's corps was massed, and our division deployed to occupy the ground left vacant by them. It rained heavily throughout the day, and all remained quiet until the afternoon, when some slight skirmishing took place.

General Grant in an official report to the Secretary of War, dated this day, says: "We have now ended the sixth day of very heavy fighting. The result to this time is very much in our favor. Our losses have been heavy, as well as those of the enemy. I think the loss of the enemy must be greater. We have taken over five thousand prisoners in battle, while he has taken from us but few, except stragglers."

*

*

During the night, the position of the corps were changed, Hancock, finding himself in front of the Confederate division, under General E. Johnson, who were strongly entrenched. At daylight on the 12th, these works were charged and carried with a rush, the whole division, with its commander, being made prisoners. During the day, there was hard fighting along the lines, we taking between three and four thousand prisoners, including two general officers, and over thirty pieces of artillery. The fighting was of the most obstinate nature, lasting until after dark, and being renewed about nine o'clock continued off and on with more or less vigor all night.

At one A. M., we moved into rifle-pits, and at day.. break the enemy opened upon us a heavy fire of artillery, to which our guns promptly responded. Between us and the works occupied by the enemy, there was a vallcy, covered by a heavy pine and scrub underbrush, the pits of each party crowning the opposite crests. Through the morning our guns having silenced the fire of the enemy's, we leaped over the pits, and charging down through the valley, we went up to the breastworks, and planted our banners upon them, but such was the terrible fire of the enemy and the stubborn resistance that we were driven back to our own works. The boys were then laid down behind the pits and told to rest themselves and make coffee, after which we opened the fight again, charging twice over the valley and being driven back each time with heavy loss, Lieutenants Robinson, Company C, being severely, and Clark, Company F, mortally wounded. In the last charge, we maintained our position for a long while, and did not retire until relieved by Colter's brigade.

The 13th passed in comparative quietness, the rain that had been falling for two days past still continuing. On the 14th, we advanced southward crossing the Po, and passing the 15th and 16th without any fighting. On the 17th, we marched some distance, and threw up intrenchments within sight of the Court House.

On the 18th, the battle that had lulled for several days past, was renewed, Hancock attacking the enemy's right, carrying two lines of his intrenchments and capturing six guns. General Burnside at the same time attacked and drove the enemy's left some distance, but subsequently withdrew.

The 19th was passed in unusual quietness, until about six o'clock, when a sharp fire of musketry was heard to our right, and well to the rear. It was evident that the enemy had attempted to turn our right, for the purpose of cutting off our supplies on the Fredericksburg pike. Troops were immediately put in motion to meet them. A portion of General Tyler's division, consisting for the most part of raw recruits, being nearest, were the first to encounter them, and succeeded in recapturing the ambulances and wagons and driving the enemy back into the woods, but were in turn repulsed themselves and compelled to retire. The balance of the division, however, coming up, the prize was again wrenched from their hands and the enemy signally repulsed. Our loss

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was only nine hundred killed and wounded, while that of Ewell's was one thousand two hundred and fifty, besides five hundred taken prisoners.

When the firing was first heard, our division was put in motion and double-quicked up the plank road to the field, but, as by the time we arrived, the battle was over, we returned to our position and rested for the night.

Everything was quiet on the 20th, and the enemy in our front showing a disposition of friendliness it was reciprocated on our part, the boys exchanging newspapers, etc. That night, General Grant began to manœuvre to draw General Lee out of his intrenchments, for which purpose Hancock moved to the left, and in the evening advanced southward. He continued his march the next day, and in the evening occupied Bowling Green. Hancock's movement was discovered by the enemy and Longstreet an hour afterwards moved south also.

ENGAGEMENT AT GUINNEY'S STATION, MAY 21ST.The next day, the 21st, at noon, our division marched to the crossing of the Fredericksburg and Richmond Railroad, at a stream three miles south of Guinney's Station, where we arrived about three o'clock in the afternoon. We crossed the stream and advanced some five hundred yards, when a terrific fire from some twenty pieces of artillery was opened us, but quickly advancing a short distance we laid down behind a gentle rise of ground, and let the missiles pass harmlessly over our heads. As we had not the slightest idea under these circumstances, of interfering with the enemy's arrangements, and as they did not in the least disturb us, we had a comfortable rest of nearly two hours, during which time there was a great deal of harmless wrath vented upon us. The enemy afterwards withdrew and we occupied the heights.

ENGAGEMENT AT NORTH ANNA, May 23d. On the 22d we went on picket, and the next afternoon, at two o'clock, we marched down the Telegraph road, past Mount Carmel Church, to Jericho Ford, where we crossed the North Anna river about five o'clock. There we found the enemy in force, and after the usual preliminary shelling, he advanced his infantry to a charge, but they were signally repulsed. The battle lasted with considerable spirit until night, our division taking over four hundred prisoners, mostly South Carolinians.

On the 24th, we moved to the left and intrenched ourselves, and remained inactive and quiet until the 26th. By this time Grant's entire army was between the North and South Anna rivers, and within twenty-five miles of Richmond. On the north bank of the latter river was General Lee's new line of defence.

On the 25th, the three years term of service of our regiment expired, and General Crawford put the question to the boys, whether they would go home alone, or remain until the 31st, when the other regiments of the division would be relieved. They unanimously decided to remain with their comrades and see the old division through. This decision was highly gratifying to the General and all the officers.

On the same day, Lieutenant Justus, Acting Quartermaster, while out procuring forage for division headquarters, was captured by the enemy.

To all appearances, it was Grant's intention to assault Lee in his new line, as he did the former one along the Po. But, on the 26th, he commenced re-crossing the North Anna, and on the 31st he had his whole army south of the Pamunky and within ten miles of Richmond, with a new base of supplies established at White House.

On the 26th, our corps, bringing up the rear of Hancock and Wright's, crossed the North Anna and marched for the Pamunky, which we crossed on the 28th, at Hanovertown Ford, Gregg's cavalry division skirmishing and driving the enemy's before them. On the 29th, we advanced to Hawes' shop, meeting with no opposition.

THE BATTLE OF BETHESDA CHURCH, MAY 30TH. - On

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the 30th, General Warren pushed forward our division, the left of his corps, from Hawes' shop towards Mechanicsville, we passing Bethesda Church about noon, and reaching the neighborhood of Shady Grove church about two o'clock, where we met the enemy's skirmishers. It was about this hour of the day, and at this place, that we met the enemy under similar circumstances just before the battle of Mechanicsville, our first fight. Skirmishing soon coinmenced, and we fell back, making but little resistance until we reached the road running from Mechanicsville to Hanover Court House. Here we commenced throwing up breastworks, but had not worked more than half an hour before we were attacked on both flanks with great fury. From some of the prisoners taken, we ascertained that the attacking force consisted of Rhode's division and one brigade of Early's division of Ewell's corps, and orders were given to fall back. We retired slowly for three-quarters of a mile, delivering so steady and heavy a skirmish fire that the enemy did not follow us up vigorously.

Reaching a favorable position, the division was halted, and the line of battle formed across the road and through some fields into the woods. The Third brigade, Colonel J. W. Fisher, held the right of the line, the First brigade, Colonel M. D. Harden, the centre, and Kitchen's brigade of heavy artillery, armed as infantry, the left, with two sections of a Michigan battery posted near the centre. Our whole force did not number over five thousand five hundred men. After the line was formed, the Second regiment was moved to the rear and left, and posted to hold a piece of woods. The men immediately went to work throwing up breastworks, which were so formed as to enable us to deliver a cross fire. The artillery commenced shelling the woods in front at different points, feeling the enemy's guns, from which they soon received a response. Soon after, near sundown, the whole of Ewell's corps emerged from the woods, formed in three lines, and advanced to the charge. Scarcely had they