CAMP NEAR NEW BRIDGE,
VA., June 20, 1862.
To-day we have had a little excitement. Our camp is on the
edge of a small strip of woods that fringes the Valley of the Chickahominy. The
enemy occupy the heights on the opposite side, where they are busily throwing
up fortifications, to dispute our advance. Our people very foolishly, as I
thought, undertook to interrupt their work by shelling their works. For a day
or two they were quite quiet and let us have it all our own way, but this
morning they opened on us with heavy guns at long range, and pretty soon gave
us evidence that two could play at this game. Their fire was at first directed
against our batteries, but my men, notwithstanding I had cautioned them to stay
in camp and not expose themselves to the view of the enemy, would rush through
the woods into the open ground beyond, to stare about like idiots. The enemy,
seeing the crowd, soon ascertained our position, and moving one of their long-range
guns, began throwing shot and shell right into our camp, scattering the curious
gentlemen and giving them a pretty good scare. Fortunately no one was hurt,
though the shell fell all around. I went in amongst them and remonstrated with
them for their disobedience of orders, which had brought this on them, and
after letting them stand the fire till they were pretty well subdued, I moved
the camp to another position, and all has since been quiet.
SOURCE: George Meade, The Life and Letters of George
Gordon Meade, Vol. 1, p. 277
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