Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, January 1, 1862

Battery in camp near Poolesville; we, the centre section, on picket at Conrad's Ferry. Our picket duty, at this place, has been a very pleasant one, being very light, except the guard duty. Firing of videttes was very frequent during the night. But never did either party disturb the other with artillery practice during our stay. Sometimes signal rockets were sent up on the Maryland side, by rebel sympathizers, which were generally answered from the Virginia shore. General Stone had strong block-houses, of solid oak-timber, built on the line from Muddy Branch to Conrad's Ferry, for the defence of the Maryland side, large enough to hold three hundred men each. May it be remembered, pigs had to suffer in our neighborhood. The weather, having been pleasant for weeks, became very wintry after the first of January.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 30-1

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, January 5, 1862

Battery G, Captain Owen, Rhode Island, (four twenty-pound Parrott guns and two howitzers,) arrived at Poolesville.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, January 7, 1862

Great liveliness in the rebel forts, bands playing and soldiers strengthening the fortifications.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, January 9, 1862

Severe cold since yesterday. The Potomac froze to-day. A steam tug coming up the river, was a rare sight to both sides.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, January 10, 1862

An officer of the First Minnesota Regiment appeared at our quarters, communicating that rebel pickets occupied Harrison's Island.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, January 11, 1862

Nothing stirring.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, January 12, 1862

Considerable picket firing. Nothing important up to Monday, January 20.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Monday, January 20, 1862

The centre section was relieved from picket at Conrad's Ferry, by the left section, under Lieut. Newton. The guns of the former remained there to be taken by the left section.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, January 22, 1862

Received two months pay. News arrived in the evening of the Union victory at Springfield, Kentucky, and death of the rebel General Zollicoffer, in honor of which a national salute of thirty-four guns was fired. Quiet in camp, the latter part of January.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 31

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, December 1, 1861 to Monday, December 9, 1861

Nothing of any consequence happened. Camp wore a wintry aspect. The time was mostly occupied in building stables for the horses. Colonel Tompkins, now on General Stone's staff, arrived at Poolesville; we did no longer belong to General Banks' division, but to General Stone's.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 27

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, December 10, 1861

Our division had quite an interesting sham-fight at Poolesville, four regiments of infantry, three batteries, and Van Allen's cavalry partaking in it. We fired blank cartridges. Van Allen's cavalry had several men injured in charging.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 27

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wedesday, December 11, 1861

While going to a drill, through Poolesville, on trot, Corporal Burrows was thrown off the limber-chest, and his leg broken by a wheel passing over him.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 27-8

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, December 12, 1861

Great artillery manœuvre.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 28

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, December 13, 1861

Batteries A and B were ordered to report near Conrad's Ferry, where we arrived before sunrise, it being only five miles from our camp. While going through the woods, orders were given not to talk loud, the distance between us and the enemy being not more than three miles at the time. The enemy's position, which was a fortified one, consisting of two forts, called Beauregard and Johnson, had already been reconnoitred from a balloon, the day before. At our arrival, we found General Stone and Colonel Tompkins, with two companies of Van Allen's cavalry, two companies of the Thirty-fourth New York, and two of the First Minnesota, already there. We opened on the two forts, without much effect. Lieutenant Perry was more successful, with his Parrott guns. The enemy could be seen standing in squads by his artillery, yet no reply was made. By four o'clock we all withdrew, except the Parrott guns of Battery B, doing picket duty. The old members will remember, when returning to camp, Lieutenant Perry rode that nigger down. Quiet up to Wednesday, December 18.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 28

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, December 18, 1861

The right section went to Conrad's Ferry, but returned in the evening.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 28

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, December 25, 1861

Christmas. Our officers presented the company with a barrel of beer.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 28

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, December 26, 1861

The project was started to build huts for winter-quarters. Details were made every day, to cut heavy timber, which was done for a week. But luckily, it failed completely, as it would have taken at least four months to get ready, by the plan worked on. Officers quarters had to be built first, then non-commissioned officers, and last, the poor privates. In fact, a great nuisance in the army, is the illegal using of soldiers for manual service for the benefit of comissioned officers, which is altogether contrary to army regulations. It is revolting to the mind, to see men, who perhaps never have been anything at home, make slaves of their equals, just because they happen to be in command of them, and this, they give the wrong name of discipline.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 29

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, December 27, 1861

Arrival of Battery B, Pennsylvania artillery, coming from McCall's division, after having participated in the battle of Drainesville.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 29

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Monday, December 30, 1861

The centre section, commanded by Lieutenant Jeffrey Hassard, relieved the section of Battery B, on picket at Conrad's Ferry. Our detachment accidentally changed its position in the battery—we were transferred to the centre section, being the fourth piece, sixth detachment. We arrived at the ferry by one o'clock P. M., and took up our quarters in a deserted nigger-shanty. Splendid view of the Potomac and Blue Ridge Mountains. At night, the camp-fires of the rebels were visible.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 29

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, December 31, 1861

On picket, at Conrad's Ferry. The rebel camp plainly to be seen. Infantry and cavalry drilling outside the forts.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 30