1862 August 31 Centreville, Va.

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

                        Aug 31^st

Lay in the stream all day of the 25^th.  On the

26^th the steammer Herald, took us in tow

and started for Aquia Creek.  Passed Fort

Monroe.  On the 27^th we entered the

Potomac, again arrived at Aquia Creek at

three P. M;  from this place we were ordered to Alexandria,

where we dropped our anchor at six P. M.  To day

the 1^st N. J. brigade of our div. (who had arrived

here before the remainder of the div. and had been

pushed on to Manassas.) had an engagement with

a vastly superior force at the Junction, and

after an obstinate fight were badly whipped.

Gen Taylor lost a leg, and soon after died from

his wound.  On the 28^th the remainder of the div.

arrived and disembarked, and at [ 2?] P. M we

were once more encamped out side of the city.

Gen Pope who has fallen back from the

Rapidan has made a stand at Manassas and

if all thing continue as they commenced, we will

doubtless annihilate the rebs this time.  At. 9. A. M

the next morning we hitched up (the 29^th) and

started to reinforce Gen Pope:  arrived at

Annandale at noon where we went into position

and remained for the night.  Harnessed up at

8. A. M on the next morning, and were soon

after on the move again.  Passed through the

village of Fairfax Ct. House;  at noon we

halted for a rest, at three P. M we again

started on, passed through Centreville and

kept on for the battle field, upon which we

arrived just in time to witness another

disgraceful retreat, fortunately in time to prevent

prevent a perfect panic.  Our forces had again,

owing to the mismanagement of Mc Dowell,

and Porter, been defeated on this fatal

field, when victory and the capture of the rebel

Army of Va. was in our grasp.  The army

fell back to Centreville, and encamped

in a confused mob.  Sunday the 31^st the

army was got in order and into position,

and a new line of battle was formed.  The

sick, wounded, and all the trains are being

sent to Washington and Alexandria.  Our

battery took a position in a fort which

the rebs built when they occupied this place.

In the evening were relieved by battery A.

Md. Artillery.  Cool and unpleasant.

[transcript by Mary Roy Dawson Edwards]

MSS 8493