June 22.
The constant rains have ceased; the sky is clear, and the sun, so long hid, now shines out brightly.
Skirmishing on my line last night; rode to the top of the mountain quite early, to where I had placed nine guns in position.
During the night the enemy had moved a camp close to the base of the mountain.
It was headquarters of some general officers.
Tent walls were raised, officers sitting around, orderlies coming and going, wagons parked, and soldiers idling about or resting under the shade of the trees; and all this at my very feet.
Directed cartridges for the guns to be reduced, so as to drop the shells below, and that the enemy should be left awhile in his fancied security, for no doubt they thought we could not place artillery on the height above them, and they were not visible to my infantry on the mountain sides, by reason of the timber.
At length the gunners, impatient of delay, were directed to open fire on them.
They were evidently much surprised, and, disregarding rank, stood not on the order of their going, but left quickly, every man for himself; and “their tents were all silent, their banners alone,” like Senacherib's of old.
The enemy appear this morning to be moving permanently to our left, and the firing this afternoon extends further in that direction.
To-wards dark opened guns again on the enemy, also at 11 P. M.
