Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 07.djvu/515

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page has been validated.
Official Diary First Corps.
507

July 30—In the morning the enemy is discovered to have abandoned the Long Bridge road and retired to the other side of the river, leaving a force at Deep Bottom on the right of our line. Heth's division is sent back to Rice's turnout. His trenches are occupied by Field. In the evening Kershaw recrosses to the south side by Chaffin's Bluff to halt for the night near the Clay house.

July 31, August 1 and 2—Affairs unchanged.

August 3—Colonel Carter, with some artillery, moves down the river, escorted by two regiments of cavalry, to annoy the enemy's transports.

August 4, 5—Quiet and without change.

August 6—General Anderson visits Richmond to meet the President and General Lee. Soon after I receive orders to join him with the staff.

August 7—Leave Richmond at 7.30 A. M. by rail and arrive at Mitchell's station at dark.

August 8—Last of Kershaw's division arrives to-day.

August 9, 10—Quiet. Waiting for our transportations.

August 11—Cuttshaw's artillery horses and Fitz. Lee's cavalry division arrive. Hear of Early at Bunker Hill.

August 12—With Kershaw's division and Cuttshaw's battalion of artillery, we move from Mitchell's station soon after sunrise and halt at Culpeper at midday. At 4. P. M. Kershaw moves for Hazel run, on the Graded road, followed by the artillery battalion, and camped for the night on Hazel river. Fitz. Lee's division moves from Culpeper Courthouse, and passes the infantry at night.

August 13—March resumed. Camp two miles north of Flint Hill.

August 14—March continues at sunrise. Troops arrive at Front Royal in afternoon. Kershaw posts a regiment on picket at the ford on the south fork on the Winchester road and one on the Berryville road, a mile from town.

August 15—Enemy reported to have a brigade of cavalry at Cedarville, on the Winchester pike, and an infantry force on the Berryville road. The enemy sends a scouting party across Island ford, which, however, soon retires.

August 16—About 12 noon information is received of the advance of four brigades of the enemy's cavalry to Cedarville. To hold Guard Hill and cover the passage of the Shenandoah, Wofford's brigade of infantry and Wickham's of cavalry and artillery are sent to seize the position, which is done with the loss of but