1862 June 21 before Richmond, Va.

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


                        June 21st

Early this morning the rebs were discovered
drawn up in line of battle, but for some
reason they retired.  During the afternoon they
attempted to drive in the pickets of
Gen Sickle’s brigade, but the Excelsior
boys could not see it in such a light, so
the John Henry’s gave it up as a decidedly a
bad job.  Early in the evening they made
another attack on our piquet line, and
were again repulsed.  A heavy musketry fire
was kept up all night long.
     Warm and pleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493