1862 May 4 before Yorktown, Va.

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

                       May 4^th

This morning were inspected by. Capt Platt.

Chief of  Div. Artillery, who informed us

that Yorktown had been evacuated

during the previous day and night.

At eleven A. M we received marching

orders but did not move until

7. P. M at which time we embarked on

steam-transport Stars for West Point,

a point some 40 miles up the York River

By midnight all having embarked, we

 hauled out into the stream and anchored,

to await day light.  Pleasant and

warm.

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards] 

MSS 8493