1862 June 18 before Richmond, Va.

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

                        June 18th

Were turned out early as usual, packed
and harnessed up, and at noon we were
releived by D. Battery 5th U S. Arty’
of Porters 15th Corps.  Left our position at
Mechanicsville, and were soon on the
tramp again.  At seven P. M halted and
encamped at Fair Oaks, crossing the
Chickahominy river, at Woodbury bridge,
This bridge a mile long (that is corduroying
and trussle work) was built by the U. S.
Engineer brigade in nine days.  We are
now but four miles from Richmond.
Pleasant during the day, cloudy and at
times rained hard during the night.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493