Commencement of the battles of the Seven Pines and Fair Oaks. At two o'clock P. M., the battle began on the south side of the Chickahominy. The enemy attacked Casey's division. The Second corps got ready immediately, the Second division, General Sedgwick, leading to the Chickahominy. We crossed at Grape Vine Bridge, built by the First Minnesota, Colonel Sully, Battery I, First United States Regulars, being the first artillery to cross, under great dificulties, the guns sinking in up to the axle. Our battery followed next. Great excitement seemed to prevail about getting artillery forward. But for the timely arrival of the Second and Thirty-fourth New York, Fifteenth Massachusetts, and First Minnesota Regiments, the day would have been lost especially, the two New York regiments, fought with great determination. Not until night set in, the battle ceased. Our battery stood in the middle of the road all night. The order was to be in line of battle by two o'clock A. M.
SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, pp. 44-5
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