At daybreak, before the enemy was aware of our designs, the troops had all re-crossed the North Anna, and Taylor's Bridge was burned to the water's edge. On the following day, we marched at about eleven o'clock, A. M., passing through a very pleasant section of the country, via Concord Church. The heat and dust rendered our march a very fatiguing one. We proceeded about seventeen miles, and at midnight bivouacked in line of battle, whereabouts to the writer unknown.

At six o'clock, A. M., of the twenty-eighth, we resumed our march, crossing the Pamunky on a pontoon bridge at Nelson's Ford, at two o'clock, P. M., and halting at four o'clock in line of battle near the Elliot House, having marched about ten miles during the day. Here we threw up a line of breastworks, behind which we remained all night.

Mr. Elliot, near whose residence we bivouacked, was a very intelligent and sociable gentleman; and the writer is indebted to him for the following list of prices, which he had actually paid in Confederate money for the articles enumerated, within a few months:

Boots, - two hundred and fifty dollars per pair.

Hogs, two hundred dollars each.

Sunday, the twenty-ninth of May, was a beautiful day; and in the morning a Sabbath silence reigned in our front. In the afternoon, General Barlow's Division of the Second Corps, made a reconnoissance, and we were ordered to be under arms and in readiness to move out to their support in case of need. At four o'clock, the orders were countermanded, and it was announced that we would remain for the night; but we were, however, soon again en route, marching in the direction of the Mechanicsville Pike. After moving about four miles, we bivouacked in the vicinity of Tolopotomy Creek. On the following morning we threw up a line of works, under a severe shelling from the enemy's batteries, and a destructive fire from his sharp-shooters at short range.

At about dark, our artillery, and a mortar battery, which had been placed in position in our new line, opened a brisk fire on the enemy's works across the creek. This was the first time that coehorn mortars had been used during the campaign, and they proved very effective. This description of shell has a decidedly demoralizing effect on troops, dropping into their ranks and causing them, in the expressive, if not elegant language of the soldiers, to "git up up and git." Some picket firing occurred in the evening, and at intervals during the night.

Egan's First Brigade, on the following day, was again ordered to assault and capture the enemy's

.

works. They gallantly crossed the creek, and through a formidable abattis, charged up a steep hill, and drove the enemy from his entrenchments, capturing many prisoners belonging to Breckenridge's command.

On the first of June, the Seventeenth Maine was transferred to the First Brigade, Colonel Egan commanding. The brigade was composed of the following regiments:

Second United States Sharp Shooters.

Fortieth New York Volunteers.

One Hundred and Twenty-Fourth New York Volunteers.
One Hundred and Forty-First Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Ninety-Ninth Pennsylvania Volunteers.

Twentieth Indiana Volunteers.

Eighty-Sixth New York Volunteers.

Third Maine Volunteers.

One Hundred and Tenth Pennsylvania Volunteers.
Seventeenth Maine Volunteers.

At noon we moved out as a support to the Second and Third Brigades, where an attack was anticipated; but at dark returned to the second line, which we were ordered to hold until the other troops had withdrawn.

CHAPTER XV.

COAL HARBOR,

MARCH TO PETERSBURG,

HARE HOUSE.

G

T midnight of June first, the troops occupying thę front lines having been successfully withdrawn, we were ordered to move at once. Leaving our pickets, to be relieved

by the division officer of the day, we marched until nine o'clock on the following morning, when we arrived at Coal Harbor, at which place we found the Eighteenth Army Corps already arrived. On our route we passed the old homestead of STEP. HOPKINS, of Revolutionary fame. A neat white cottage, occupied by descendants of the "signer," and standing near the site of the old Hopkins mansion. The house where the patriot lived, was in ruins, only a pile of brick and stone remaining to indicate the spot where it stood.

During the day we marched about ten miles, and at night were assigned position on the extreme left of the army. Early on the morning of the third, we

changed position, moving with the brigade to the front and right, where we were held in reserve, supporting the First Division. Here we were under quite a severe shelling, and lost several men. Soon after, our division was ordered to the right, to fill a gap between the Fifth and Eighteenth Corps, which had been held merely by a skirmish line. During the evening, the enemy made a spirited attack on General Gibbon's front, and we were ordered under arms, to hold ourselves in readiness to move to his assistance if necessary. Our services, however, were not required, as Gibbon handsomely repulsed the enemy.

During the afternoon, much to the joy and relief of the men, the following order was promulgated:

"ORDERS:

"HEAD-QUARTERS ART OF THE POTOMAC,
June 3, 1864, 1.30 P. M.

For the present, all further offensive operations will be suspended. Corps commanders will at once entrench the positions they now hold, including their advanced positions; and will cause reconnoissances to be made with a view to move against the enemy's works, by regular approaches, from the advanced positions now held.

Should the enemy assume the offensive, and succeed in breaking through any point of our line, the corps commander nearest to the assaulted point will throw his whole force upon the enemy's column making the attack.

By command of

MAJOR-GENERAL MEADE.

(Signed)

S. WILLIAMS,

Assistant-Adjutant-General."