JUNE 1862

Sunday, June 1

Somewhat cloudy is warm. The Rebels attached our lines this morning and were driven back over the ground they gained yesterday. Our Regt was not in the fight to day. I went down to the Railroad Depot to attend to our wounded. J. Randolph, W. Stoops, I. Noel, L. Barclay, R. Lyon, J.G. Brown were shipped off in the evening train. F. Robb, Harmon Setton, and Captain McLaughlin was wounded.

Monday, June 2

Sun shines clear and is very warm. There was a detail made from the Regt to fall trees across a road to prevent the Rebels from bringing Artillery up. Part of our Company went to the battlefield to bury our dead and to get our knapsacks. We drew rations of meat and crackers and coffee and sugar. I wrote one letter home this afternoon. Our Regt was drew up in line along the rifle pits this evening at sundown. Is a double line formed.

Tuesday, June 3

Did not put up our tents last evening. The rain came down in torrents last night, we got very wet. I got a letter from home this forenoon said they were all well. Milton recd one from Marrion. It rained some to day. We drew meat and crackers, coffee and sugar. The pickets was alarmed at dusk, we fell in line, nothing wrong we retired to rest. Is very warm to day.

Wednesday, June 4

Rained hard all night. Our company went out on picket this morning. Was some cannonading on the line to day. Is warm and cloudy rained considerable. The troops is coming in to the right of the line to day. All is quiet here to day, part of the Richmond and West Point Rail Road washed away with the late rains stopping the cars for a day or so. No mail in or out to day.

Thursday, June 5

Rained some last night. Cloudy all day. Milton White and myself was at the Depot in forenoon. The cars came in this evening. Mail came in this forenoon no letters for me. Got rations of sugar, coffee, potatoes, and crackers and whiskey for two days. Heavy cannonading on the right of the line. The Rivers and creeks is extremely high since the last heavy rains.

                                                                                         How The Soldiers Got Mail From Home

 Friday, June 6

Is very cloudy. Sprinkled rain some. I came out to the picket post this forenoon. Went on duty on the fourth. Is part of Company B. on the same post. We are four miles from camp on the left of the line, stationed beside the big Swamp, known as the white oak swamp, we are guarding at the fording. It is a very beautiful place. All quiet along the lines.

Saturday, June 7

Sun shines out very warm in morning. Soon clouds up and looks like rain. I went in to camp to help out with the provisions. Nixon Wade returned to camp he is not well. The mail came in yesterday and to day. We drew two days rations of crackers and coffee and sugar and meat and soap. It rained a very hard shower this evening. Very heavy cannonading on the right this evening.

Sunday, June 8

Morning cool. Very heavy cannonading on the right this forenoon, the Rebels show themselves and Gen Sumner Shells them and they retreat. I received a letter from Mr. Jos. Martin this evening stating all well at home. Is cool and cloudy all day. Wood Stewart died yesterday of Typhoid Fever and was buried to day. The health of our Company is increasing very much.

Monday, June 9

Clear cool and pleasant. Wrote a letter to Mr. John Martin. I recd a letter from Frederick Garwick stating all well at Whitestown. We drew one days rations of fresh beef, one of pork, two of crackers, coffee, beans, rice, &c. &c. Heard very heavy firing on the right this morning and evening. I traded some coffee for some flour and made some flat cakes. Quiet on the picket line.

Tuesday, June 10

Clear and cold last night, the same to day, it rained some in the forenoon. I wrote a letter to F. Garwick this afternoon. Capt Foster visited our post this evening, he stated that we took five or six hundred prisoners and six or eight pieces of Artillery yesterday. We had bean soup for dinner. Milk says here for twenty five cents per quart. The pay rolls came into camp to day.

Wednesday, June 11

Last night cool. Today is pleasant. Captain McLaughin and Lieutenant McBride took a squad of twenty men and crossed the Whiteoak Swamp, we went to the house of Fisher but we saw no Rebels, we returned bringing some corn blades to lie on. It is reported that Burnside is at the White House, and that memphis is taken. We signed the pay rolls this morning.

Thursday, June 12

Is a very nice day. Co B went into camp this forenoon and got two months pay. Captain McLaughlin went into camp this afternoon and drew our pay for two months, he gave it to us this evening. I received two ten dollar bills, one five and one gold dollar making twenty six dollars. Fisher and two other men was taken prisoner and brought over to this side of the swamp and put under guard.

Friday, June 13

Is nice and warm all day. I wrote one letter home, sent it into camp with Jacob Emery. Milton White, I. N. Hays and Frederick Wiles came out to the picket post this morning. We drew one days rations of fresh beef and one of crackers. I got one quart of sweet milk and some buttermilk this morning. Was some new pants brought to the company. All quiet here .

Saturday, June 14

Very warm all day. I went to camp this morning, went to the depot got some pickles, cheese, sugar and tea. We drew crackers, bacon, beans, rice, coffee, sugar, and whiskey. I received one letter from home, are all well there. Was a Rebel came over to our post this morning and gave himself up. Reported that the Bridge (railroad) over Chickahominy was burned last night. Lieutenant Crooks came to the post this evening.

Sunday, June 15

Somewhat cloudy but very warm. Lieutenant Brinker came to the post this evening, he says the Penn Reserves is lying at the Dispatch Station. Wm Kennedy came to camp this forenoon he looks well. It rained very hard this evening. We have three men on guard in daylight, and six on at night. There is six reliefs (sic) with six men each. I got one pint of milk.

                                                                  When The Army Relaxed

Monday, June 16

Rained some last night. Is clear and pleasant. I went to camp to help bring out the provisions. Wm Kennedy came out to the picket post. I received a letter from John Martin this evening. Washed one shirt this evening. Nixon Wade, Francis Eastman, Corporal Davernville, Eli Conn, John McGill came out to the picket post to day. Is seven reliefs (sic) now.

Tuesday, June 17

Last night cold. Today pleasant. I wrote a letter to Mr. Jos. Martin. The Captain took twelve of us across the swamp and made a reconnoisance for a mile or so but we found no enemy. I washed one pair of pants this morning. There was no mail came in this evening. It is reported that our Cavalry has captured a great many Gurillas (sic). The boys is amusing themselves pitching horseshoes.

Wednesday, June 18

Is warm but a good breeze blowing. Sargeant. Samuel E. Sullivan returned to the post this morning from the Hospital at Yorktown. John Reno came to the post to day, he had been at New York taking care of the wounded. I washed one pair of drawers and cleaned my gun. There was one hundred N. Carolina troops came into our lines and gave themselves up, one was Captain.

Thursday, June 19

Is very warm all day. I wrote a letter home and sent ten dollars in it of United States notes. We got meat, crackers, salt, &c. &c. I got a pint of sweet milk this evening. We sent twelve men down along the swamp to guard, they were relieved by two companies from the ninety eighth Pennsylvania Volunteers. All quiet at the Whiteoak Swamp.

Friday, June 20

Morning warm. Nice and pleasant all day, looks like rain this evening. I received a letter from the Reverend Alexander Cunningham this evening stating all well. We drew crackers, sugar and coffee &c. this evening. There was dozen of Cavalry went across the swamp on a scout. They found nothing. The boys is amusing themselves pitching horseshoes this evening.

Saturday, June 21

Is warm and pleasant all day. Nixon Wade and myself went into Camp got a pass from Peck, and Couch and went to Savage Station and got some tea; it sells at one dollar per pound. We carried out some salt beef. I bought one pint of sweet milk for one shilling. I received one letter from A. C. Martin. Pickets fired on the right and we fell into line, not attacked.

Sunday, June 22

Somewhat cloudy but very warm. There was three Rebels spying around the swamp, they were not taken. It is reported that General Fremont and Jackson had a fight and that Jackson was whipt and taken prisoner. There is nothing of importance going on around here. Benjamin Lavery went into camp this evening on account of sickness.

 Monday, June 23

Cloudy and warm. It rained some in the evening and thundered. I received a letter from Wm M. Martin this evening stating that he was coming back to join the Regiment as soon as he is exchanged. Company A of the 93rd Regiment P.V. came to relieve us this evening, there is sixty six men in the company. We stay at the post all night. All quiet.

Tuesday, June 24

We came into camp and built our shanties this forenoon. John Kaltenbaugh, Samuel Trimble, I. N. Hays and myself mess together. It is warm. Clouds up and is a very hard dashing rain before sundown. It blew into the shanties and wet everything. The Capt recd an official dispatch stating that Samuel Myers of our company died the 16th from a wound got at the battle of Fairoaks.

                                                              The Slaughter Field At The Battle Of Fair Oaks    

Wednesday, June 25

Last night very cool. Day is cloudy and cool. Got orders to fall in line at ten oclock behind the rifle pits. Started from there at eleven and came up to the battleground at Fairoaks. We are the fourth line. They are fighting occasionally all day. Most of us got no dinner. Were taken to the left and put along the rifle pits for the night guarding a Battery that was engaged. Gov Yates of Illinois is on the ground.

Thursday, June 26

Night cool, was brisk firing at intervals last night. The fighting quit this morning and we came to camp. Got orders to have three days rations in our haversacks and ready to march at a moments notice. Terrible heavy an studdy (sic) cannonading on the right this afternoon, lasts till nine oclock. Orders came that McCall game a great victory and the troops fell into line and gave three hearty cheers about ten oclock.

Friday, June 27

Looks like rain but is very hot. Our Brigade (Hows) was taken on picket in advance at ten oclock. Rebel pickets fired on us in afternoon we repulsed them. They brought a large force at dusk and attacked us and drove us out of the pits. I fired 13 shots. I gave out, and came back to camp at ten oclock. We can see the Rebels drilling in the second field from us. The Rebel sharpshooters shot at us, but hurt no one.

Saturday, June 28

Cloudy and warm. Our men went back to the pits last night and were attacked before daylight. M. Fair was wounded in the hand this morning. General Peck's division and part of Couch's dv started on the march this morning on the James City Road. Myself and all the sick in the camp started in the morning. We marched two miles past the Camp of Peck's Division and camped; are all very tired. I recd a letter from home this evening. The PA Reserves was in a fight yesterday evening.

Sunday, June 29

The pickets was attacked this morning by some Rebel Cavalry, the Rebels was surrounded and nearly all taken prisoners. We were called into line and laid on arms all day. The Pa reserves came up this evening. General Keys Corps started at six oclock this evening on the Charles City Road and marched all night; we came to the James River Monday morning at day light. Was very dark last night. Came through woods nearly all the way.

Monday, June 30

Morning cloudy. Day is very warm. General McClleland was here at the James River to day. The troops were all called into line at half past two and formed line of Battle as there was fighting going on on (sic) the right. Our Brigade was marched off to where the fight was going on. The Regiment lay on arms all night. It is very warm marching and lying in the sun.