1862 May 2 before Yorktown, Va.

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

                       May 2^nd

Yesterday and to day.  also during the

entire nights of both day’s.  the rebs have

kept up a very heavy and rapid firing

upon our lines, but they have done

very little or no damage.  Their. Artiller-

-ists are very poor calculators of ranges

and distances: more than one half

 of their ammunition is foolishly wasted.

   Weather changeable, at times rains hard

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493