His head and face are swollen to an unnatural size, and is of a dirty, greenish hue, positively the worst sight of a rebel I ever saw, and I am sure that a good many of my comrades will remember the same. Our regiment file by, and each one turns his head with loathing at the horrid sight. The dead of both friend and foe lie side by side, but it is remarked by all that the pleasant smile on the patriot's face contrasts strangely with the horrid stare of the rebel dead.

We advance over the stubbornly contested field of the day before, through a thick slashing made by the enemy to impede our progress, and get on the Richmond road again; march through the quaint old city of Williamsburg, where we get the news of the withdrawal of McDowell's forces, numbering between forty and fifty thousand men, who were to co-operate with our army, on the other side of York river, all under the brave Little Mac. They are ordered to get back to protect Washington, where there were not enough rebels to fight a corporal's guard. General McClellan protests bitterly against such a move, but all to no avail, and is ordered forward with the troops he has. Oh, why do they not leave all the army together, and no power in the South can check our onward march. Our gallant hero tells them he has not troops enough to follow up his advantage, but like a good soldier he obeys orders, and assures them in Washington he will do the best he can.

The army still keep up the Peninsula to the Chickahominy, where all the bridges have been burned by the enemy after they had crossed. After the heavy rains the roads are terrible, and it is very difficult to move artillery and supplies. Sometimes it takes sixteen horses to pull one gun. Casey's division have crossed the river and estab

lished their lines, having some heavy fighting on their outposts occasionally, while the pioneers are as busy as bees building bridges. At last our division cross and go into camp in rear of Casey's. We pitch our tents on the ever memorable 31st of May, and all think we are going to have some rest. We lie quietly in our little tents, when all at once, a tremenduous fire is opened in our front. The officers do not give the order to fall in, for every man is in his place in the line in an instant. Forward, double-quick march, is the order given by our noble Colonel Champlin. Marching by the flank we soon strike "ile," for we meet Casey's men coming out of the woods followed close by the enemy. By company into line, is the order, and we execute the order on a double quick, charge bayonets, and in we go with a cheer. The rebels open a tremenduous fire into our ranks and kill and wound nearly half our regiment. We close up our ranks and go for them with the cold steel, and a whole rebel brigade fly before the gallant old Third. They are driven through swamps and woods, and fly through Casey's camps into their breastworks in the field beyond. Surely this is a great charge, but we suffer fearfully in killed and wounded. We stand now at the edge of the woods and the enemy open up a galling fire with shot and shell. What is left of the Fifth and Second Michigan and Thirty-Seventh New York now come up in line with us, and we are ready for any charge the enemy may make. They form in our front, and we expect an attack. They are within good musket shot, and all open a vigorous fire on them, which throws them into utter confusion, and it is plain to us that they dare not charge. On our right our lines are hard pushed, but they hold their own, and all is well on the night of the first

more.

men.

day's fight. After the firing ceases, what is left of the regiment get back to camp under our gallant LieutenantColonel Stevens. Oh, how many of our comrades we leave behind, fallen in defence of their Nation's flag. The brave and heroic Captain Samuel Judd, of Company A, is no He was killed on the skirmish line leading on his He sold his life well, however, for when his body was found three large rebels lay by his side, whom he made bite the dust. The whole regiment mourn his loss. His brother, of the same company, has an arm off. He has given his mite to the cause of freedom, and it is hoped that Lieutenant Geo. Judd will survive his great loss. Our noble Col. Champlin was severely wounded while leading his regiment on the charge. Lieutenant Waters is wounded, and Peter Burgiman, of Co. H, has a leg off, and is borne to the rear. But I must stop giving names, for it would require a volume to name all the killed and wounded and give every little particular. Suffice it to say that the loss in our regiment was about two-thirds the number that went into the fight. During the night troops are crossing the river, and we are expecting to renew the fight in the morning; so we all lie down and get all the sleep we can. Sunday morning, June 1st, opens bright and lovely, and about 9 o'clock the ball is re-opened. Old Fighting Dick is in with his Division. The enemy charge under the rebel Gen. Longstreet, but are met by the gallant Irish Brigade, with their green flags flying in the breeze, side by side with the Stars and Stripes, headed by the brave Gen. Meagher. They do not stand long before the stalwart sons of Erin, but are hurled back to their works at the point of the bayonet. The fighting lasts about an hour, when the enemy retire inside their defences before Richmond, and thus ends the terrible battle of Fair Oaks.

CHAPTER XIV.

REINFORCEMENTS CALLED FOR-THE BATTLE-FIELD-A RECONNOISSANCE-BURYING THE DEAD-BUILDING BREASTWORKS-A HARD FIGHT FOR A FEW FEET OF GROUND— PREPARATIONS TO FALL BACK.

Our noble commander calls for more men to follow up the enemy, for he sees that it would be sheer madness to try to capture Richmond through the formidable works. built for its defence. But a deaf ear is turned to his entreaties for some cause or other, and he must get along the best he can without them. Our division go out on a reconnoisance, passing over the battle-ground, and advancing about a mile beyond. No enemy is in sight. We establish a picket line, and get back to our bivouac. Details are made to bury the dead, which now begin to smell, and make the air very unwholesome to breathe. The dead lay around thick, and in almost every instance the Union dead are stripped of their boots and shoes, coats, and sometimes pants and shirts, pockets turned inside out, by the rebel robbers of the dead, who held that portion of the field before they retreated.

The whole army form in line now, and build breast-works and redoubts, and await events. The enemy make a dash on our line once in a while, and every man is in his works, no matter how often, for we do not want them to come Casey on us. We are always ready to give them a warm reception, should they have a mind to pay us a visit. About the middle of June the enemy come down in force on our picket line, and drive them in. We are all in our

works, for we expect it is going to be a general attack. They come in plain sight, stop, and establish their picket line. Now this our one-armed Phil. Kearney does not like, to see them every day so close to our lines. So he makes a detail from every regiment of about fifty men to drive the rebels back and retake our own ground. The detail start over the works and soon drive the rebel pickets in, but they are met by their heavy reserves, and try to stand their ground. A beautiful fight here takes place. Our gallant Kearney rides up and tells us to give it to them, when the little army charge and drive the rebels from our lost ground; we establish our line in its former place and return in triumph to our breastworks, amidst the cheers of our comrades in camp.

We are now having the same routine of life as at Yorktown-digging, fighting, and picketing. Every one is getting tired of this place, for the air is impregnated with nauseous odors, caused by the decomposition of half buried men and horses.

On the 27th of June we hear great firing to our extreme right, at Mechanicsville. Jackson comes from the valley and reinforces Lee's army. It is evident that they mean to turn our right flank and destroy our army, or drive us back from the front of Richmond, for they think we are too close to their Capitol for comfort. Our men fall back at night, and we get the orders to destroy all our camp equipage, and one hundred and sixty rounds of ammunition is dealt out to each man, making a heavy load, enough to last until we get to our supplies, wherever that may be.