Rain. Rain. On
picket, wondering why we do not get relieved. It is past time for the relief to
show up. Lieutenant Kerr sends a detail to camp to learn the cause. Returned in
a short time, reported the regiment had left for parts unknown. The Lieutenant
called in the pickets to the reserve headquarters in the woods. Formed company
and were ready for action as we marched out of the woods to the pike, expecting
to meet the enemy's scouts. Instead we met our own cavalry scouts who reported
our regiment left in the night, going up the valley towards New Market. We
started on after them, making a forced march, wet, tired, hungry, well used up.
Some misunderstanding of orders was the cause of our being left on picket. It
was a wonder to us that we did not meet the rebel cavalry and have a hot time,
as they had been in this vicinity, scouting all around us. We were determined
to put up a hot fight, had we met the enemy. Lieutenant Kerr kept urging us on,
making a forced march up the pike. Duty having been so severe, and the lack of
rations for the past few days, we were near used up. The last two miles of the
march we ran, and joined the regiment as they were going into action, having
made a march of sixteen miles with hardly a rest, and very little to eat.
Colonel Moore,
Commander of our brigade, pushed our regiment and an Ohio regiment, with a
section of a battery, two field guns, about six miles in advance of the main
army, bringing on a general engagement. We could not hold the enemy in check as
they advanced with a long line of battle. Our battery fell back. The Ohio
regiment followed, when our commander, Lieutenant-colonel Peale, gave the
command to our regiment, “By the right of companies, to the rear in column,” so
we continued to march until we met the 34th Massachusetts Regiment, coming
running up with a battery, taking a good position. The enemy was held in check,
but for a short time. Sigel managed to get his main force in line, batteries
posted, so the enemy was held in check. Our brigade suffered heavy loss. Some
of the field pieces had to be abandoned as the horses had been killed and we
were in too much mud to draw them away, or back to the main line. It looked to
us like a case of mismanagement.
SOURCE: Charles H.
Lynch, The Civil War Diary, 1862-1865, of Charles H. Lynch 18th Conn.
Vol's, p. 59-61
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