1862 April 11 Manassas Junction

[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]

During the afternoon cleared up
and became quite pleasant. At two
P.M. we harnessed and packed up,
and after a hard pull we succeeded
in fording the creek. The south side of
the run was so soft and muddy that
some of the carriages had to be
taken to pieces before they could be
moved. they having become stuck fast
in the mud. After a most difficult
and toilsome pull, we succeeded in
getting upon good firm ground again,
and were marching along quite comfort-
-ably when we were met by an orderly
from Gen Franklin, with orders for us
to return to Alexandria. We counter-
marched and at six P.M. we arrived
and at Manassas Junction, where we
encamped for the night.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493