nothing in particular. We are six miles from Hanover Court House and 14 from Richmond. I am now 63 p. m. sitting on the ground with my back against a hen coop. Our infantry are round taking prisoners."

Grows' Journal: "Tuesday, May 27, 1862. Raining awfully. At 5 we were on the march. After stopping at times to build roads and help the guns along, we arrived and stopped for a while in a large field to feed the horses and water them. At 9 this forenoon we took up the march again. It stopped raining and the sun came out. Occasionally stopping to rest, at 2 this afternoon we were within 8 miles of Hanover Court House. Here we heard heavy firing. There was a fight going on, so we were pushed ahead, and in a short time came in sight of a house with a red flag. (See p. 21.) It was a hospital for the sick and wounded. In passing it I saw some wounded being carried in. On my left in a wheat field lay two dead.

Our troops had started the 'Secesh' to running just before we came up. Alongside the road were strewn knapsacks, clothing, arms, &c., of the rebels in their retreat. The firing had now almost died away. We stopped in a large field to rest, and I went to see where the fight began. At 3 this afternoon we were on the road again. We had not marched more than a mile when we heard firing in our rear, and the whole Division was ordered back doublequick.

Louder and nearer grew the noise of musketry and cannon, as we drew near. It seems that a body of rebels, some state the number as 10,000, had come around in our rear with the intention of cutting us off, but they were mistaken.

Arriving on the field I found that two of the pieces of Martin's Battery were mired in the mud, and that the men had been driven from them.

Griffin's Regular Battery opened upon the rebels with four pieces, which soon drove them back.

We were stationed on the Left flank, held in readiness in

case they should show themselves out of the woods to open upon them, but we did not have to fire, for they soon began to fall back. From where we stood I had a great view of the battle. On our right the 22d Mass., 2d Maine, 25th N. Y. and 44th N. Y. were stationed. The Mass. 9th and 62d Penn. made a splendid charge on the 'Secesh,' driving them before them. About 8 or 10 rods from where I stood was a building, and it was quickly put in use for a hospital. Oh, the sights I saw there were awful! There lay friend and foe, sometimes side by side!

At 7 this evening the firing almost ceased, except, now and then, the discharge of a musket in the woods. Up to 10 this evening our troops had buried most 300 of the rebels.

About half past ten, I laid my blankets down on the battle ground, where were dead and dying and wounded, and laid myself down to sleep."

Porter's command pushed the pursuit of Anderson's forces, who were falling back upon Richmond, until dark, and then bivouacked on the field.

Chase's Diary: "Saw the enemy's dead for the first time today. Encamped in a wheat field with the dead and dy

ing all around us.

Picked up several trophies, such as cartridge boxes, belts &c. Met several squads of rebel prisoners coming in.

May 28, 1862. Large numbers of prisoners brought in this morning. Saw twenty-four of the rebel dead beside a fence this morning and 12 of the 25th N. Y. Regt. dead."

Grows' Journal: "Wednesday, May 28, 1862. Was called at 5 this morning. Got up, had some crackers and coffee, after which I took a walk over the battleground. The dead of the rebels were lying in every position and posture; some with hands extended as though they were using a gun, others drawn up as though they died in great distress, among them a boy not more than 14 years old.

I saw 314 rebel prisoners go by our camp in one lot. It

is estimated we have taken 1000 rebels. Most of them appear glad to be taken by our troops.

About 9 this morning we were ordered to report to General Stoneman. After marching about 5 miles we found his encampment and waited some time before we found out whether we were wanted or not. We found out, at length, that we were not wanted, so we marched five miles back to where we slept last night, arriving late this afternoon."

While they were waiting, General McClellan passed by. Grows' Journal: "Thursday, May 29, 1862. One on the field our troops are still burying the dead of the rebels in large trenches, and ours in graves with boards put up.

Horses are on the field, in some cases with awful wounds, more of them are dead.

About 10 this forenoon we were told to strike our tents and hold ourselves in readiness to march at a minute's notice. So we lay around in the hot sun till 3 this afternoon, when we took up our line of march for our old camp ground, (Dr. Gaines' Farm) 20 miles, that being the distance we came on Tuesday, to this place. It is a very hot afternoon, but on account of the good state of the roads we rode most of the way. Owing to stopping for baggage trains to pass, darkness overtook us, and still we were not in camp.

At 12 o'clock, midnight, we got into our old camp. Found my old tent frame still up; put the covering on, and soon after we had fires going to make some coffee."

In the three days they had been gone they had travelled 60 miles.

LIEUT. J. B. HYDE'S NOTES.

"We did not have much shooting to do there because we could not use artillery to good advantage, but the firing of musketry all day was the worst I ever heard. After the battle was over, General Butterfield said to us officers who were all there together, 'Having accomplished the object for which we came here, we will now return to camp.'

On the way back there was a small church, and seeing a large gathering outside, I rode my horse up to it and looked in at the open door. I saw a great many soldiers lying around on the seats; some singing and having a great time, and I think it was Lt. Colonel (James C.) Rice of the 44th New York Regt. said, 'Go right in, Lt. Hyde,' so I touched the spur to my horse and rode him up the low steps and straight up the aisle to the altar. Then I began to think, what if the floor should give way, but I rode out in safety and came down the steps just as the Battery was passing. They set up a tremendous cheer to see me riding out of a church on horseback."

LETTER OF CORPORAL SPEAR.

WRITTEN IN PENCIL ON THE BACK OF A CERTIFICATE BLANK FORM.

"ARMY OF THE POTOMAC
ENCAMPED 8 MILES FROM

RICHMOND VA.

Saturday, May 31, 1862.

Last Tuesday morning (May 27th) at 3 o'clock we were awakened and ordered to pack, strike tents, get breakfast, and be ready to move by daybreak. Tents were ordered to be packed, tents on caissons, and we to carry only a rubber blanket and an overcoat, as we were going out for a brush with the rebels. About 7 o'clock started, in the rain, with a little hard bread and salt pork for rations, and an overcoat and rubber blanket for covering.

After advancing 15 miles, we heard frequent volleys of musketry, and, now and then, the booming of a distant gun.

At 2 o'clock we came up to where the advance of our Division had had a skirmish, and two or three regiments of infantry with 2 pieces of artillery, were left behind to guard a road, while the rest of the Division advanced in the direction in which the rebels were supposed to have moved, and after advancing 3 miles the order came for the whole. Division to turn about, as the rebels were trying to flank us,

and then such an excitement as there was! Artillery, cavalry, and infantry, going on the double quick, back to where the regiments and pieces of artillery were left to guard the road, and when we reached the place found that two of the regiments had been nearly destroyed and the men with the artillery forced to leave their guns on the field; but not long, for as our infantry and cavalry came up, they made a charge and took possession of the pieces again.

Our Battery was not engaged, although we were on the field of action during the fight, ready to take part. One battery was engaged, and that was the 5th Regular.

At dusk they began bringing in the dead and wounded. on our side, and such sights! Oh! they were awful, and frightful. Some were pierced with bullets, others only slightly wounded.

That night we lay down on the battle field for rest, with only the broad heavens above us for a covering. When morning came received orders to retire about 2 miles to support infantry. So we went back. On arriving ascertained that they needed no assistance, so returned to the battle field, pitched our tents, and stopped all of the remaining day and part of the next, when we received orders to go back to our present encampment, at which place we arrived at 1 o'clock Friday morning, tuckered out and mighty hungry, our rations gone the day before. But now we are all right again. Today there has been considerable firing in the direction of Richmond."

THE SICK AND WOUNDED.

"Captain Allen," wrote Lt. Phillips, "is sick, and came back ahead of us in an ambulance. He is now quite weak and keeps to his bed."

NOTES BY CAPTAIN ALLEN, APRIL 19, 1900.

"This was the beginning of my first illness of malarial fever, and I was sent back to camp in an ambulance as it is said here. After a few days I made application for