1862 May 7 near West Point, Va.

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

                     May 7th    

Our Maiden fight took place to day.  I
trust we may be as successful in all
our future ones.  At ten A. M. our
div. and a portion of Gen Sedgwich’s
having disembarked, a line of battle was
formed.  Bartlett’s and Newton’s brigades
were thrown forward into the woods
to reconnoiter, and if possible to draw
the rebs out into the open field: by
eleven A. M the right of our line began to
engage the rebs. and in half an hour
the entire line was engaged.  four peices
of our battery were sent to support. D.
battery  2nd N.Y. Art’y.  they being on the
extreme right.  the 1st N. J. supported by
F. 1st N. J. occupied the center.  our battery
the left. or rather a single section held,


the left.  supported by the Gun boats.  About
½ past 12, the rebs opened on our left.
and on the shipping, from the woods
opposite us.  A few well directed. 100 pdrs
from the Gun Boats, and some or our
parrott shells, soon caused them to cease
their firing.  From one P. M. until 4. all
remained quiet.  both sides were trying
hard to out manoeuver each other.
About 4. P. M the rebs were discovered
to be concentrating their artillery on
their right.  for the purpose of destroying
our shipping.  and turning our left flank.
a very rapid and heavy fire from one
of our guns caused them to abandon
their project.  Soon after, a general charge
of our entire lines drove the rebs at
every point, and gained for us a complete
victory.  At three P. M we received reinfor-
-cements, but they did not take part in
the battle.  We had from 15. to 20,000
men engaged on our side.  The rebs had
some 16,000 with a heavy reserve.  a few
miles in their rear.  The New York troops
have suffered the most of any, our loss
is from two to three hundred in all,
that of the rebs 500,   our piquets are
extended two miles to the front.  Mild
and pleasant.

[Maiden fight:  Battle of West Point]

[transcription by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493