Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, April 1, 1862

Two French men-of-war and the Monitor, close to the Onrust. Eighteen men from the centre section were sent to Hampton Roads in a small boat, in the afternoon, to unload the battery from the Novelty. Some of the other sections arrived there before us. At dark the centre section was sent back to the schooner; but, unable to find it in the dark, had to go aboard of one of the schooners occupied by Battery B.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, April 2, 1862

Returned to Hampton at daylight. The battery and horses were unloaded at once. General Sedgwick ordered the battery to go to camp outside of Hampton, which was done in the afternoon.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, April 3, 1862

Hampton Roads. Great concentration of McClellan's army. Our battery has to give up the tents.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, April 4, 1862

The Second Corps on the move. Started by eight o'clock A. M.; by four o'clock we went into park at Big Bethel, to camp for the night.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, April 5, 1862

Marched at daybreak. Cannonading going on in front of Yorktown. General McClellan passed the line amidst great cheering of the troops. Strong intrenchments were found near Howard's Mills. At six o'clock P. М. we went to camp three miles from Yorktown.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, April 6, 1862

Great scarcity of food. Our battery went on a reconnoisance with General Burns' brigade. Only the pieces were taken along, with eight horses to each. We are in plain sight of Yorktown. See the rebel flag floating from the parapet. They fire very frequently at our troops. After running suddenly against some of the enemy's batteries, we returned to our former camp, "Winfield Scott."

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 37

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Monday, April 7, 1862

Siege of Yorktown. The engineers at work. Heavy ordnance on the way from Fortress Monroe.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 39

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, April 8, 1862

All the provisions and forage has to be brought on the backs of mules and horses from Shipping Point and Cheeseman's Creek, the roads being impassable for wagons.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 39

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, April 11, 1862

Our battery at rest since Tuesday. News of the battle of Pittsburg Landing.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 39

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Sunday, April 13, 1862

Governor Sprague, General Barry, and Lieutenant Colonel Reynolds in our camp to-day.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 39

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, March 1, 1862

Remained in our quarters up to [March 7].

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 34

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, March 7, 1862

Left Harper's Ferry. Detached to General Gorman's brigade. Marched till within a mile of Charlestown, Virginia, and went in camp to the left of the road, close to the First Minnesota, Colonel Sully.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 34

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, March 8, 1862

Remained in camp near Charlestown, and received new Sibly tents to-day.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 34

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Monday, March 10, 1862

Marched through Charlestown, and thence to Berryville. On this occasion, something happened that wants mentioning. When leaving Poolesville, Captain J. A. Tompkins ordered the men to carry the knapsacks on the back. This is contrary to regulations. It created a great deal of dissatisfaction. The lot of a soldier is hard enough, without irritating him unreasonably. But, honor to the lamented hero, General Sedgwick, who, riding by our battery, at Charlestown, peremptorily ordered Captain Tompkins to have no more knapsacks carried by any of his men. An engagement was anticipated. Rebels were seen beyond Ripton. By one and a-half o'clock, our left section unlimbered, and fired two shells towards Berryville. Van Allen's, and the Eighth Michigan cavalry, drove the rebel cavalry, two hundred and fifty strong, out of the town. Our battery followed closely—Gorman's brigade in our rear. The stars and bars were lowered from the church steeple, and a substitute furnished in the shape of the colors of the First Minnesota. The pieces of the battery were brought in separate position by sections.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, pp. 34-5

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Tuesday, March 11, 1862

Halted at Berryville during daytime. In the evening, the battery united outside the town, going in camp; but the guns in position.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 35

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Wednesday, March 12, 1862

Some men of the First Minnesota, and Corporal Butler, of our battery, took possession of Gregg's printing office, of "The Berryville Observator," and published quite a number of copies of said paper. News of McClellan's occupation of Manassas arrived, in consequence of which, a salute of forty guns was fired. In the evening, when Captain Tompkins rode into camp, the assembly was blown at once, and he addressed the men as follows: "Boys, a fight is going on at Winchester, and this battery must be there within twenty-five minutes." Camp was struck, and the battery on the road, when the order was countermanded.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 35

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Thursday, March 13, 1862

At Berryville. Marched by eight o'clock A. M. towards Winchester. When within two miles of the latter place, orders arrived for our division to return to Harper's Ferry. General Banks' troops were occupying Winchester already. Arrived at Berryville again by four o'clock in the afternoon.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, pp. 35-6

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Friday, March 14, 1862

Marched to our old campground, beyond Charlestown.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 36

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, March 15, 1862

Marched to Harper's Ferry, and occupied the government building, in which we were quartered before, again. A heavy rain-storm to-day.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 36

Diary of Private Theodore Reichardt, Saturday, March 22, 1862

We left Harper's Ferry in the morning. During the afternoon, the battery was loaded on railroad cars at Sandy Hook. The train started by seven o'clock in the evening, for Washington.

SOURCE: Theodore Reichardt, Diary of Battery A, First Regiment Rhode Island Light Artillery, p. 36