Thursday, August 16, 2012

1862 August 17 on the march to Newport News

[from the diary of Samuel Johnson of the 1st Massachusetts Independent Light Battery]
                        Aug. 17th

On the 11th we received marching orders.  at 7
A M struck tents and packed up. and
awaited for orders to move.  On the 14th we
received orders to be ready to move at day-
-light;  were turned out at three A. M.
harnessed and packed up;  all night
long a steady column of troops & trains were
passing our camp on their way to Fort
Monroe and Newport News.  Remained in
harness all day and night, at three P. M
the entire army with the exception of our
corps ( the 6th) having evacuated their encamp-
-ments, the head of our corps column, took
up their line of march and followed the
remainder of the army to Fort Monroe.
At six P. M, halted and encamped for the
night.  Early the next morning were turned
out and by day light were moving.  crossed
the lower. Chickahominy by a pontoon
bridge.  at five P.M went into camp.
As usual our corps is the rear guard of
this movement.  The weather has been pleasant
but very warm and oppressive

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493


No comments:

Post a Comment

Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.