Friday 1st May 1863
Our Brigade left the woods about noon. Marched out to the plank road
about a mile then turned off to the right into an open field. We then marched into the
woods in the line of battle. Went through the woods about a mile when we were halted on
the top of a small hill. The Rebs began throwing shells at us. We lay there for about 1/2
hour, when we advanced about 1/4 mile farther in a small pine woods. We lay there about
1/2 hour with the Rebs throwing shells at us all the time. No one was hurt. Having found
out the position of the enemy we were ordered to fall back to camp. We got back to camp
about 5 PM and were ordered to build no fires and lay on our guns.
Saturday 2nd May 1863
The regiment that lay in front of us worked all night throwing up
entrenchments. There was heavy firing on the left of us during the forenoon. We were
mustered for pay in the forenoon. I was detailed with 3 others of our company to go on
picket. Our regiment furnished 40 men. We were sent into the woods in front of the
entrenchment about 1/2 mile. I was posted on the outer line of pickets. There was hard
fighting on both sides of us about 1/2 mile off. The enemy appeared to be driving our
forces on the right of us. About dark stragglers kept coming back to the picket lines. We
sent them back to the reserves. Everything was quiet on the picket lines at night.
Sunday 3rd May 1863
The fighting commenced on the right of us at daybreak. The Major of
60th NY who had command of the pickets told us last night not to fall back unless we were
attacked from the front. He did not come back to us this morning. The Rebs began to throw
shells, grape and canister at us but because we laid flat we did not get hit. About 9
o'clock Leut. Knapp of Co. B told us to fall back to reserve picket. We fell back about 25
rods when we came to a regiment of Rebs who were laying on the ground in thick bushes. We
came within 3 rods of them before we saw them. They jumped up and ordered us to surrender.
As we were only 10 we had to give up. They took our guns and cartridge boxes and marched
us a mile through the woods to the plank road. Here we found out that almost all of our
pickets had been taken prisoner. We stopped at a place called Gurinneys Station on the
railroad between Fredericksburg and Richmond. There was about 600 of us in all. About 100
calvary went to guard us. We marched about 25 miles to the station at 9 in the evening. We
were all about tired out. We lay down in the road and slept until morning.
Monday 4th May 1863
They marched us back to the station, about 60 rods, to an old corn
field. We lay there all day. The sun shone awful hot. They took down our names and the no.
of our Regiments.
Tuesday 5th May 1863
We drew rations for the first time this forenoon. One pint of flour
and a small piece of salt beef. In the afternoon we had an awful thundershower. Our camp
ground was flooded so they took us across the road to a drier piece of ground. We put up
our tents and it rained nearly all night. We were so cold we couldn't sleep.[letter]
Wednesday 6th May 1863
It was cold all day and rained most of the time. Drew two days
rations.
Thursday 7th May 1863
The weather was cold and chilly this morning. About 2000 of us
started for Richmond about noon. We went as far as Millford Station and after wading a
large creek we encamped for the night in the woods by the side of the road.
Friday 8th May 1863
It was quite cold last night and we didn't sleep much. Started at 7
and marched to Hanover Junction. Encamped for the night in a pine woods. Drew rations this
evening. Four pieces of hard tack and a small piece of bacon.
Sat 9th May 1863
Started about 7 and after marching about 25 miles. We got to
Richmond at sundown. After marching through the city about 2 miles we arrived at Libby
Warehouse or prison into which we were marched. We were all tired out and we laid on the
floor and slept till morning.
Sunday 10th May 1863
There are 350 men in this room. We get rations twice a day. A small
piece of bread and bacon for each man.
Monday 11th May 1863
All of the men in this room were paroled today, each man having to
sign his name on a paper.
Tues 12th May 1863 day
Nothing of importance took place today. The weather is warm.
Wednesday 13th May 1863
Left Richmond for City Point at 2 PM. The day was very hot and the
roads very dusty. We marched until about 9 o'clock when a thunder storm came up wetting us
through. It was awful dark but we kept on marching until 12 o'clock when it got so dark
and the roads so muddy that they had to halt us for the night. One of our men was killed
by being knocked down by one of the horses of the Calvary guard.
Thursday 14th May 1863
Started at daylight and arrived at City Point at noon. The men were
all tired out. Here we found steamboats ready to take us off. It was sundown before we
were all aboard. We started down the river and got as far as Harrison Landing where we
anchored for the night.
Friday 15th May 1863
Started at daylight and got to Fortress Monroe at noon. Sent a
letter home. We stopped here about an hour to take on coal. Started up the Chesapeake Bay
for Annapolis.
Saturday 16th May 1863
Arrived at Annapolis at daylight. Left the boat and marched about
1/2 mile to College Green Barracks where we got something to eat and drew some new
clothes. Slept in the barracks at night.
Sunday 17th May 1863
All of the New York Troops were sent to the parole camp two miles
from the city. There were no tents so we laid down on the ground and slept.
